Katarina Zorić

Analiziran je diverzitet vodenih makrobeskičmenjaka na pet lokaliteta donje Studenice. Zabeleženo je 63 taksona iz 13 taksonomskih grupa, sa dominantnom zastupljenošću insekata (Trichoptera, Ephemeroptera i Diptera), sa preko 90% učešća u ispitivanoj zajednici. Najzastupljenije vrste su Brachycentrus subnubilis, Cheumatopsyche lepida i Ephemerella ignita, zabeležene na svih pet lokaliteta. Zabeležena su i dva balkanska endemita: Dina dinarica i Gammarus balcanicus. Analiza saprobne valence pokazuje prevladavanje taksona osetljivih na umereno organsko zagađenje, što ukazuje na nizak stepen organskog opterećenja reke Studenice. Rezultati istraživanja ukazuju na potrebu za zaštitom celokupnog toka radi dugoročnog očuvanja ekološkog integriteta i prirodnih vrednosti sliva Studenice.

In the summer period of the year 2024, periphyton samples were collected from four localities in the Belgrade area of the Danube River using standard methodology. The goal of this study was to determine diatom community composition, as well as the ecological state according to ecological guilds and to assess preliminary ecological status/potential by the national regulations established on the EU Water Framework Directive. A total of 76 taxa were identified and ecological guilds were described, of which motile is the most numerous, followed by low profile and planktonic. Preliminary ecological status/potential at the investigated localities, based on diatom indices IPS and CEE was a "satisfactory" and "moderate".

Recent molecular analyses of the stone crayfish have revealed a high degree of genetic diversity. The greatest diversity is found in the western Balkans (Dinarides), where more than half of the known phylogroups exist in a relatively small geographical area, some of them having smaller distribution range than the others. While the Croatian and Slovenian parts of the Austropotamobius torrentium areal are well described, data from Bosnia and Herzegovina (BA) are lacking. Here we provide data from 13 different localities in the northwestern parts of BA. We analysed two mtDNA markers and the results revealed high genetic diversity with a total of 12 MT-COI and nine MT-16SrRNA haplotypes, with the majority of novel haplotypes. Both genes confirmed the presence of two known phylogroups and the discovery of a new group named VOJ. The CSE phylogroup was the most widespread and restricted to the Vrbas basin. The first detection of the BAN phylogroup in BA indicates its wider distribution and connects previously isolated findings from Croatia. The discovery of 18 unique haplotypes as well as a new phylogroup is of particular interest, but further studies are needed to clarify their exact relationship to other lineages.

Reconstructing the origin and historical biogeography of the Austropotamobius torrentium is hampered by insufficient phylogeographic coverage of the Balkans and deep contradictions in previous molecular dating. The present work extends the phylogeographic coverage to Serbia, a country crucial for understanding the species southward dispersal. Our analysis revealed that the Southern Balkans lineage occurs in most of the country, the Central and southeastern Europe lineage is restricted to the southwest and northeast of the country, while a single population in the north of the country harbors the Lika and Dalmatia lineage, which was previously thought to be restricted to the northern-central Dinarides. Dataset expansion led to revised phylogenetic relationships, which indicated that the Apuseni lineage is not nested within Northern-central Dinarides lineages but arose after the most basal split within Austropotamobius torrentium. This ‘Apuseni first’ phylogeny provides a new perspective for molecular dating, according to which the split between Austropotamobius pallipes and A. torrentium took place in the Late Oligocene, while the formation of the phyletic lineages and the dispersal from the Dinarides to Serbia occurred in the late Miocene and is probably associated with the complex and protracted process of disintegration of the Neogene freshwater lakes in southeastern Europe.

Rana temporaria is one of the most widespread Palearctic brown frogs. We aimed to clarify distribution pattern of two main genetic clades in the understudied Balkan peninsula by using 16SrRNA and MT-CYTB sequences, already widely applied in analyses of populations from other parts of Europe, while focusing on the broad area along the Morava river (central Balkans) as a known gap in the species distribution. Additionally, we were interested in revealing the extent of haplotype diversity within the main genetic clades in the Balkans, particularly around the supposed suture zone. The results revealed a suture zone between the Western and Eastern Clades in the central part of the Balkan Peninsula. This indicated the existence of a historical barrier between the Balkan Mountain Belt and geographically close mountains surrounding the Vlasina Plateau (Rhodope/Serbian–Macedonian Massif). The overall observed haplotype diversity in populations of R. temporaria from the Balkan Peninsula seems high. Harboring both main genetic clades of R. temporaria qualifies the Balkan Peninsula as another important center of species’ genetic diversity, as well as rich in unique haplotypes. This points out the necessity of applying conservation measures focused on the common European frog populations and habitats in this part of the species’ distribution area.

The aim of the study was to test the significance of the EPT index in the water quality assessment of three types of water bodies in hilly and mountainous region of Serbia. The aquatic macroinvertebrate community was dominated by the group of insects, of which 95 taxa represent the EPT group. We compared the obtained values of biological indices used for the assessment of water quality according to the national legislation with the overall status assessment represented by the ecological quality classes (EQC). The results of the Spearman correlation test showed a negative correlation of EQC with the EPT index, BMWP score, H′, total number of taxa and number of sensitive taxa, while a positive correlation was observed for the values of SI and Tubificinae %. The values of EQC and biological indices were subjected to principal component analysis (PCA). The results showed that the parameters that contributed most to the differences were the EPT index, the BMWP score and the number of sensitive taxa. The results indicate that the EPT index is an excellent indicator of changes in water quality and an important tool for the ecological categorization of water bodies in mountain regions.

The aim of the study was to test the significance of the EPT index in the water quality assessment of three types of water bodies in hilly and mountainous region of Serbia. The aquatic macroinvertebrate community was dominated by the group of insects, of which 95 taxa represent the EPT group. We compared the obtained values of biological indices used for the assessment of water quality according to the national legislation with the overall status assessment represented by the ecological quality classes (EQC). The results of the Spearman correlation test showed a negative correlation of EQC with the EPT index, BMWP score, H', total number of taxa and number of sensitive taxa, while a positive correlation was observed for the values of SI and Tubificinae %. The values of EQC and biological indices were subjected to principal component analysis (PCA). The results showed that the parameters that contributed most to the differences were the EPT index, the BMWP score and the number of sensitive taxa. The results indicate that the EPT index is an excellent indicator of changes in water quality and an important tool for the ecological categorization of water bodies in mountain regions.

The aim of the study of the aquatic macroinvertebrate community of the Ribnica River is to provide a starting point for assessing the impact on the diversity of the community and defining protective measures during the construction of the "Struganik" dam on the Ribnica River. The material was collected in seven sites in 2019 and 2022. Macroinvertebrates community with a dominance of insect groups, is typical and reflects the preserved habitats of the studied river. A total of 121 taxa from 12 taxonomic groups were recorded. Four species protected by national and/or international legislation were recorded. The dam construction could lead to habitat changes, but would not significantly affect the population of protected species as they would move to the upstream parts of the river and tributaries.

Research of fish communities was carried out in November 2023 in artificial lakes in the area of Bela Crkva. Using a multiparameter probe, the basic physical and chemical parameters of water quality were measured, according to which the waters of these lakes belongs to the class I and II waters. In total, the presence of nine species from six families was registered. Of the total number of registered species, two are listed in the Berne Convention, while one species is listed in the Habitats Directive. According to national legislation, one species is strictly protected, while three species are protected. It can be concluded that the biological diversity of the ichthyofauna of the studied lakes is solid, and that the basic characteristic of the ichthyofauna is a high level of autochthonousness.