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Vodeni kornjaši ekološka su grupa kukaca koja je, uz ostalo, pokazatelj kvalitete staništa. U Hrvatskoj je još uvijek nedovoljno podataka o mnogim porodicama. Porodica Scirtidae svojom brojnošću često dominira u bentičkim zajednicama tekućica. Ličinka živi u vodi dok odrasli stadij emergira na kopno. Preferiraju lotička staništa sa čistom vodom. Emergencija ove porodice do danas nije nikada sustavno istraživana. Na području Plitvičkih jezera odrasle jedinke su prikupljane mjesečno na tri lokacije u razdoblju od 14 godina. Postavljene su emergencijske klopke na različitim tipovima mikrostaništa. Cilj istraživanja je utvrditi sastav faune porodice Scirtidae, populacijske, fenološke i emergencijske značajke te utjecaj okolišnih čimbenika. Zabilježene su tri svojte: Hydrocyphon novaki, H. deflexicollis i Elodes sp. Rod Hydrocyphon utvrđen je na barijerama, dok je rod Elodes sakupljen na izvoru. Emergencija je sezonalna i traje ljeti. Kod roda Hydrocyphon mužjaci su dominantniji, a omjer se smanjuje u korist ženki prema kraju emergencije. Porodica Scirtidae pozitivno korelira s brzinom strujanja vode i preferira supstrate s mahovinom. Brojnost ovisi o temperaturi vode koja utječe i na obrasce emergencije. Dokazana je povezanost bioloških i ekoloških značajki porodice o okolišnim uvjetima kroz dugo vremensko razdoblje, što ima osobit značaj u vrijeme klimatskih promjena i kao takvo temelj je budućim istraživanjima. Water beetles are an ecological group of insects often used as bioindicators. Nevertheless, they have been poorly studied, especially the family Scirtidae. Scirtids are often dominant in benthic communities because the larval stages are aquatic, while the adults emerge into land. They prefer lotic habitats with clear water. Their emergence has never been studied before. Therefore, in Plitvice Lakes NP, emergence traps were placed at three sites with different microhabitats and sampled monthly for 14 years. The aim was to determine taxonomic, population, phenological, and emergence characteristics of the family and the influence of environmental conditions. Three taxa were identified: Hydrocyphon novaki, H. deflexicollis and Elodes sp. The genus Hydrocyphon is recorded at barriers, while the genus Elodes inhabits spring area. The emergence of the family is seasonal and occurs in summer. The sex ratio of the genus Hydrocyphon is biased to males, but it turns toward to females by the end of the season. Abundance is positively correlated with water velocity and the presence of bryophytes. Water temperature plays a key role in determining emergence patterns. Scirtids are closely related to environmental conditions over a long period of time, which is particularly important in light of serious climate changes.

Although the amphibian and reptile fauna of the Vugrovec area has already been the focus of systemic research in recent history, it represents only a part of the Eastern Prigorje and not all is still well known. Here we present the results of both a focused and sporadic six-year long exploration of the reptile and amphibian fauna in a sub-/periurban part of Eastern Prigorje, which took place since 2016 till 2021. For some species data is given from before the aforementioned period. Reptiles were recorded by visual observation or were caught by hand or photographed in situ. Amphibians were recorded visually, caught by hand or amphibian hand-held nets, photographed in situ and by audio recordings of male anuran calls. A total of ten reptile and nine amphibian species are known from the study area, one of which is accidentally/intentionally introduced (Testudo hermanni). The greatest threats are habitat loss, changes in land use and climate change. Gathered data present a contribution to the knowledge of the reptile and amphibian fauna of Eastern Prigorje and can be used for planning and implementation of effective conservation measures, especially for species listed on the Annexes II and IV of the Habitats Directive.

Habitat loss, along with climate change, represents one of the main pressures and threats for the survival of frog species in the world and in Croatia. One measure which tries to mitigate this is the restoration of existing and creation of new spawning habitats where they are lacking. In Eastern Prigorje, in the Vugrovec area (≈ 13 km northeast of the Zagreb city centre), a rapid decline in potential breeding sites for frogs was observed and agile frogs (Rana dalmatina) were encountered less and less frequently. To improve the situation, in 2012 and 2018 one smaller and one larger garden pond, 750 l and 5000 l respectively, were created on land owned by the first author, on the very edge of the Natura 2000 site Vejalnica & Krč. During 2021 the population in the second, larger, pond was monitored. Due to the transparency of the water and relatively small surface area of the pond, adults were counted visually at dusk. Spawn clusters were also counted visually, but during the day. The first adult agile frog was observed on 10.01., the highest number was counted on 25.02. (58). The first egg clump was observed on 21.02., with a total of 57 by 24.04., of which 52 were present at the same time (on 18.03.). The long egg-laying interval is probably due to the two cold weather spells at the end of January and in February. Collected data, although basic, can serve as a foundation for future monitoring of this species in the Natura 2000 site Vejalnica & Krč.

Mediteransko more sadrži lokalne populacije dvije vrste morskih kornjača, zelene i glavate želve, dok je sedmopruga usminjača samo povremeni posjetitelj. Svjetske i Mediteranske populacije navedenih vrsta zakonom su zaštićene i nalaze se na IUCN-ovim popisima ugroženih vrsta. U ovom radu izložen je kratak pregled razloga ugroženosti mediteranskih populacija morskih kornjača i može se uočiti da je ljudska populacija glavni izvor negativnog utjecaja. Tijekom zadnjih desetljeća uočen je pad u brojnosti jedinki morskih kornjača te se puno sredstava i truda uložilo, i nastavlja ulagati, u razvoj i provođenje programa zaštite i očuvanja. Bitno je naglasiti da buduće stanje i oporavak lokalnih populacija u Mediteranu ovisi o provođenju kvalitetnih programa zaštite koji uključuju suradnju znanstvene zajednice i educirane šire javnosti. The Mediterranean Sea contains local populations of two species of sea turtles, the green and the loggerhead turtle, while the leatherback turtle is only an occasional visitor. Global and Mediterranean populations of these species are protected by law and are on the IUCN lists of endangered species. This paper presents a brief overview of the reasons for the endangerment of Mediterranean sea turtle populations and it can be observed that the human population is the main source of negative impact. Over the last decades, there has been a decline in the number of sea turtles, and a lot of money and effort has been invested, and continues to be invested, in the development and implementation of protection and conservation programs. It is important to emphasize that the future situation and recovery of local populations in the Mediterranean depends on the implementation of quality protection programs that include the cooperation of the scientific community and the educated general public.