Milica Caković

Ecological restoration in protected areas plays a key role in halting biodiversity loss, particularly within the context of global and national biodiversity targets. This study evaluates the success of a restoration project implemented in the buffer zone of the Special Nature Reserve “Ludaš Lake” and Nature Park “Palić”, encompassing wetland and Pannonian forest-steppe habitats, potentially contributing to the resilience of the landscape in the face of ongoing climate change. The goal was to restore degraded habitats using functionally diverse native plant species to enhance ecological stability. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the initial restoration phase, focusing on a 3-year assessment of the survival and establishment of 6,310 planted native tree and shrub seedlings. The monitoring of the initial restoration phase evaluated the performance of 29 planted native species. It also aimed to identify challenges in planning and implementation and to determine which species show the best adaptation to local conditions. Climate projections, a dynamic soil–vegetation model, and the Habitat Suitability Index were used to evaluate species’ future persistence. Results from the initial monitoring phase (3-year period), indicate that Acer campestre, Acer tataricum, Ulmus minor, Prunus spinosa, Prunus tenella, Viburnum lantana , and Ligustrum vulgare exhibited the highest survival rates. According to projections, shrub communities will dominate, with a limited persistence of tree species. The restoration approach presented in this study supports climate-adapted species selection and provides practical guidance for planning restoration in ecologically sensitive and climatically vulnerable areas.

Macrophytes represent important components of the aquatic ecosystem, providing ecosystem services and mediating nutrient cycling and storage. The aim of this study is to evaluate nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations in aboveground and belowground biomass. The biofilter potential of these three species was evaluated in the context of the shallow eutrophic Lake Palic. Results indicate that most accumulated N is in the belowground biomass, indicating rhizomes and root system as a reservoir of nutrients supporting regrowth. While the P content is different from spatial variability and is mostly related to the concentration of phosphorus in the soil, higher concentrations of P in the underground biomass were more precisely observed in localities where the soils in the immediate vicinity are richer in phosphorus. These findings highlight the ecological function of macrophytes in nutrient cycling and their potential for phytotechnology to lower nutrient loads and sustain ecosystem services in freshwater systems.

Climate change has a direct impact on flash floods, and indirectly on the environment, society, and economy, due to the rapid development and difficulty of predicting this hydrological phenomenon. The main objective of this study is to assess the potential flash flood hazard areas in the Likodra watershed (218.62 km²), one of the most vulnerable parts to flash floods in Serbia, using the flash flood potential index (FFPI) and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method. Recurring events from 1995 to this day and the devastating impact on settlements of the analyzed area show that this territory is extremely vulnerable. The data used include hydrological statistics (maximum daily rainfall) and spatial data on watershed geographical characteristics (slope, soils, land use, vegetation, drainage density) obtained or derived from various sources (maps, satellite images, digital databases) which were integrated into the GIS environment. The results indicate a severe flash flood hazard level, with high flash flood susceptibility classes occupying 76.20%, 87.78%, and 91.73% of the area, depending on the considered criteria and weights assigned to them.

Agricultural, industrial, and human activities in general threaten water quality, as well as the biotic integrity of aquatic ecosystems. The increased concentration of total nitrogen (TN) and phosphorus (TP) affects high concentrations of chlorophyll (Chl-a) in freshwater ecosystems, which causes the process of eutrophication of the waters of shallow lakes. Eutrophication, as an alarming threat to the global quality of surface waters, affects environmental degradation. This research assesses the risk of eutrophication caused by chemical oxygen demand (COD), TN, TP, Secchi disk (SD), and Chl-a using the trophic level index (TLI) in Palić and Ludaš lakes. Both lakes have been nominated as potential Natura 2000 areas in 2021 because they belong to important bird areas, and Ludaš Lake has the status of Ramsar site 3YU002. In the research period from 2011 to 2021, the results showed that the lake is in an extremely eutrophic state. Laboratory analyses indicate an increased concentration of Chl-a during autumn. In the paper, the normalized difference chlorophyll index (NDCI) was calculated using the Google Earth Engine platform, and the result indicates the loading of the lake throughout the year, with an emphasis on winter, summer, and autumn. By using satellite images and remote sensing, it is possible to determine the most degraded spots, which is a help to the researchers in choosing the places where the samples will be taken and thus act more efficiently on the most endangered parts, as well as reduce the costs of standard in situ methods. Graphical Abstract

Integrated watershed management is based on the application of various biological and technical works, and administration measure to reduce the degradation process. The paper presents an analysis of the effects of performed biological...

Diffuse water pollution from agriculture (DWPA) is one of the major factors causing water pollution in Lakes Palić and Ludaš, the two largest shallow lakes of the Pannonian Basin in Serbia. These two lakes are protected under national and international law. On the basis of the number of strictly protected bird species, Ludaš Lake has been classified as a wetland of international importance since 1977 (Ramsar site 3YU002); in 2021, both lakes were nominated as potential Natura 2000 areas. Despite the degree of protection and ecological significance of the area, agricultural land prevails. By a process of land expropriation during 2019, the buffer zone began to expand around the lakes, which should lead to a reduction in pollution. One of the goals of buffer-zone development is to enhance and restore the ecological connectivity of the remaining forest-steppe habitats. During the expropriation process, soil was sampled to record areas with the highest pollution. This paper assesses the environmental risk caused by phosphorus, nitrogen, and the accumulation of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Pb, Cr, Ni, Mn, Cd, and Hg). For each heavy metal, the corresponding pollution indices (Igeo, PI, EF, Eri, RI, Nemerow) and soil contamination level were calculated. Pollution indices indicate the ecological risk under the influence of heavy metals in the following order: Cd > Cu > Ni > Zn > Pb > Cr > Hg. Results showed that concentrations of Cd exceeded the maximal permissible concentration in all examined soil samples, and high ecological risk areas were determined. High concentrations of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium were detected, which could be as a result of intensive agricultural activity. Current conservation measures in this area have not provided adequate protection of the natural environment. Accordingly, existing measures must be controlled or new, more restrictive measures must be prescribed.