Volume 17 (2024)
Geology
Djordjević Milutinović, D.
Permo-carboniferous flora of the Mlava-Pek Coal Basin (Eastern Serbia)
Approximately 400 fossil plant remains from the Late Stephanian and Stephanian-Permian periods had been found in eastern Serbia, in the area between the rivers Mlava and Pek. They were classified into two collections: ‘Mlava-Pek sensu lato’ and ‘Borogin Potok, Ranovac village’. The fossil materials are remnants of a tropical Carboniferous forest that was dominated by seed ferns, primarily Alethopteris, Linopteris, Odontopteris, Neuropteris, Autunia, and tree ferns, mostly Pecopteris / Asterotheca, Cordaites, and to a much lesser extent by Lepidodendrales and Equisetidae. The ‘Mlava-Pek sensu lato’ collection contains Late Stephanian paleoflora and includes swamp plants Lepidodendrales and Equisetidae, while the ‘Borogin Potok, Ranovac village’ collection is composed of a slightly younger, Stephanian-Permian flora and does not include Lepidodendrales. It is dominated also by seed ferns, but there is no Odontopteris while Autunia conferta, as a species that is associated with the boundary layers of the Carboniferous-Permian, can be found in smaller quantities in both collections.
In addition to its scientific value, the ‘Mlava-Pek sensu lato’ collection also has an exceptional cultural and museological values because it contains the first paleobotanical fossils that were collected in Serbia in the course of the 19th century. In 2022, this collection was declared a Cultural Heritage of the Republic of Serbia.
Key words: seed ferns, Alethopteris, Linopteris, Odontopteris, Carboniferous, Stephanian, Permian
Full text (Bulletin 2024_01.pdf)
Tubića Cave, one of the major speleological sites in Serbia, is located within a short distance of Sjenica, on the Pešter Plateau (Pešterska visoravan). It has been explored on several occasions since 1914. In the period 2018–2024, the authors of this paper conducted field research of Tubića Cave, with a focus on the cave’s hydrographic characteristics. Considering that the Cave was listed in the Inventory of Geoheritage Sites in Serbia in 2004, the aim of this paper is to define its qualitative and quantitative characteristics in order to carry out its geoconservation as successfully as possible. The methodology used in the paper is based on determining the total value of geoheritage site Tubića Cave according to the following criteria: scientific value, other values, the functional value and vulnerability. Research results show that there are possibilities for increasing the total value of the cave and its importance from the current, regional level to a higher level, as well as for sustainable development of the entire region by connecting the cave to other geoheritage and cultural-historical sites in the vicinity through geotourism.
Key words: Tubića Cave, geodiversity, geoheritage, geoconservation.
Full text (Bulletin 2024_02.pdf)
Biology
Niketić, M., Stojanović, J., Kuzmanović, N., Lakušić, D., Tabašević, M., Stojanović, V., Vukojičić, S., Buzurović, U., Djurović, S., Bokić, B., Radak, B., Rat, M., Veljković, M., Djordjević, V., Tomović, G
Material on The Annotated Checklist of Vascular Fora of Serbia. Nomenclatural, taxonomic and floristic notes VI
This study proposes a novel nomenclatural combination and establishes a previously unrecognized synonym. We have also designated lectotypes for Pedicularis brachyodonta and P. heterodonta. Our research identifies three vascular plant taxa as new additions to the Serbian flora and confirms the occurrence of four species within the country. Furthermore, one native plant taxon is reported as new to the territory of Serbia proper and one spontaneous hybrid for the Kosovo and Metohija province. Conversely, we have refuted the reported presence of five taxa within Serbia or its constituent regions.
Key words: vascular flora, checklist, nomenclature, taxonomy, Serbia
Full text (Bulletin 2024_03.pdf)
A novel stenoendemic species, Hieracium stevanovicii Niketić (Asteraceae), is described from the subalpine and alpine limestone screes of Mt. Durmitor (Montenegro, SE Dinarides). Morphologically distinct from its closest relative, H. coloriscapum Rohlena & Zahn, primarily in its more robust growth, as well as by wider glaucous foliage, thickened blackish peduncles, and a denser thicker indumentum of plumose yellowish to reddish-brown trichomes, this taxon is restricted to four glacial cirques (1600–2400 m). Field surveys (1992–2014) and herbarium revisions revealed a syntopic coexistence with H. coloriscapum, though the ecological specialization to unstable screes and the morphological divergence support its microspecies status. Chemotaxonomic analyses (flavonoid/phenolic profiles) cluster H. stevanovicii closer to the unpublished H. paratrichum Niketić (nom. inval.) than to H. coloriscapum, indicating distinct hybrid origins: while H. coloriscapum arose from H. gymnocephalum (sect. Pannosa) and H. naegelianum (sect. Naegeliana), H. stevanovicii likely originated from H. paratrichum (a H. gymnocephalum-affiliated taxon) and H. naegelianum. With fewer than 2000 mature individuals across ten localities (two UTM grids) and >90% habitat loss indirectly projected under RCP8.5 by 2080, H. stevanovicii meets IUCN Critically Endangered (CR) criteria. Its discovery underscores the role of Mt. Durmitor as a refugium and highlights the need to conserve cryophilous alpine flora threatened by climate-driven niche contraction. Karyological validation of hybrid origins and polyploidy is urged to resolve speciation mechanisms in this taxonomically complex genus.
Key words: Taxonomy, Hieracium, hybrid origin, IUCN status, biogeographic significance
Full text (Bulletin 2024_04.pdf)
Vukojičić, S., Lakušić, D., Stevanoski, I., Kuzmanović, N.
Insight into the chorology and ecology of some rare and endangered plant species in Serbia
The most recent estimates indicate that the vascular flora of Serbia comprises approximately 4,246 species and subspecies, native and non-native naturalized. It is estimated that approximately 20 % of this total number of taxa is considered to be endangered. Despite the extensive research conducted on the flora of Serbia over the past decades, new species are still being discovered as well as new localities for the species that were previously considered extinct or critically endangered. During the field research carried out in Serbia in previous years, new sites were discovered for the following rare and endangered taxa: Cardamine amara L. subsp. amara, Cardamine waldsteinii Dyer, Hypericum androsaemum L., Onoclea struthiopteris (L.) Roth, Tulipa sylvestris subsp. australis (Link) Pamp. and Typha shuttleworthii W. D. J. Koch & Sond. The distribution of these taxa was determined through a comprehensive review of numerous floristic literature, herbarium collections, and our own field data. This information is presented on UTM grid maps at a scale of 10 × 10 km. In addition, the habitats in which the abovementioned plants are found, and the status of the populations are described, thereby providing a comprehensive overview of their current status in Serbia.
Key words: vascular flora, distribution, habitat, red lists, Serbia
Full text (Bulletin 2024_05.pdf)
Bogosavljević, S., Simić, M., Zlatković, B.
Serapias bergonii E. G. Camus (Orchidaceae): a new genus and species in the flora of Serbia
Serapias bergonii E. G. Camus (Orchidaceae) was recorded as a new species in the flora of Serbia. In addition, Serapias L. is a new genus for the flora of Serbia. The species was found on Mt. Rujan (Southern Serbia) in 2014 and on Mt. Seličevica (Eastern Serbia) in 2019. It inhabits dry, shrubby habitats, forest glades, and the edges of oak forests. This study presents data on morphology, distribution, ecological and biological preferences and population size of the newly recorded species. The distribution map, created within the 10 × 10 sq. km UTM grid system, shows two records of S. bergonii in Serbia. The IUCN threat status of this taxon in Serbia was assessed as Critically Endangered.
Key words: Serapias bergonii, Orchidaceae, Balkan Peninsula, Serbia, threatened status
Full text (Bulletin 2024_06.pdf)
This article is a contribution to the study of ascomycetes from the class Leotiomycetes in Serbia. The list of new records that have not been found before represents a continuation of research and activities on their documentation. In two earlier publications (Savić & Karaman 2016 and Savić 2020), data from the literature and all new data obtained from field research of a large number of localities throughout Serbia were combined. The paper presents data on 70 species, of which 66 are the first findings for the territory of Serbia and 4 are from the literature.
Key words: Helotiales, Phacidiales, Rhytismatales, Thelebolales.
Full text (Bulletin 2024_07.pdf)
New data about spiders collected in the Balkan Peninsula are presented. A new species Harpactea bistra n. sp. is described from Mt. Bistra in Macedonia. Harpactea simovi Deltshev & Lazarov, 2018, recently described from northwestern Bulgaria, is recorded from Serbia for the first time. The detailed descriptions and illustrations of the two species are provided.
Key words: Taxonomy, description, spider, MSS, Stara Planina Mts., Mt. Bistra
Full text (Bulletin 2024_08.pdf)
Ljubisavljević, K., Gvozdenović-Nikolić, S., Iković, V.
First overview of the batrachofauna and herpetofauna of the Zeletin and Visitor mountains in Montenegro
We present the distribution of amphibians and reptiles in the Zeletin and Visitor Mountains in eastern Montenegro based on our field records. Seven amphibian and nine reptile species were recorded at 33 locations between 900 and 2100 m a.s.l. The most frequently recorded species were Ichthyosaura alpestris, Rana graeca and Lacerta agilis. Notable records include Bombina variegata and Vipera ursinii, species of European Community interest. Several threats to batrachofauna and herpetofauna were identified. Our study provides important information for the potential protection of the Zeletin and Visitor Mountains at both national and Natura 2000 levels.
Key words: Amphibians, Reptiles, species diversity, distribution pattern, Balkan Peninsula
Full text (Bulletin 2024_09.pdf)
Novčić, I., Radaković, M., Stevović, T., Raković, M.
Characteristics of a mixed colony of bee-eaters, starlings and swifts within the protected habitat “Glinara”, Belgrade, Serbia
We examined the characteristics of a colony of European Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster), Common Starlings (Sturnus vulgaris), and Common Swifts (Apus apus) in a loess bank located within the Protected habitat “Glinara”, Belgrade, Serbia. Using video observations recorded during the 2023 breeding season, we documented 305 active bee-eater nests, 127 starling nests, and 13 swift nests. Bee-eaters and starlings placed significantly more nests in the top and mid portions of the bank compared to the bottom portion, while swift nests were exclusively recorded in the mid and top portions of the bank.
Key words: cavity-nesters; nest position, Merops apiaster, Sturnus vulgaris, Apus apus
Full text (Bulletin 2024_10.pdf)
In memoriam
Niketić, M.
Academician Vladimir Stevanović (1947–2024)
Full text (Bulletin 2024_11.pdf)
Maran Stevanović, A.
Academician Vidojko Jović (1956–2024)
Full text (Bulletin 2024_12.pdf)
Maran Stevanović, A.
Dr Milena Nena Mihajlović Pavlović (1929–2024)
Full text (Bulletin 2024_13.pdf)
Ivanović, A., Tomović, L.
Prof. Dr. Miloš Kalezić (1949–2024)
Full text (Bulletin 2024_14.pdf)
