Volume 2 (2009)
Geology
The rich Oligocene flora collected at Janda (Mt. Fruška Gora, Serbia) included Lauraceae, Cupressaceae and Arecaceae, a large number of trifoliolate leaves of Platanus neptuni mf. fraxinifolia. In spite of similar dimensions (3-5 cm in length and 3-4 cm in width), these leaves are very variable in structure and the shape of leaflets and may be mesomorphic or xeromorphic, lanceolate, elliptic or obovate, with distinctly or partly irregularly serrate to sub-entire margins. These differences in leaflets were used to divide these compound leaves into three groups, which show a number of transitional forms.
The structure of the association of Janda makes it particularly suitable for our study, as it is simple and well-defined. There are only four types of leaves that appear in large numbers: trifoliolate compound leaves (Platanus neptuni mf. fraxinifolia); palm leaves (Sabalites and Phoenicites); laurel-like leaves (mostly Daphnogene); and conifers (Cupressaceae). From the perspective of fossilization, the presence of compound leaves of Platanus and Arecaceae is particularly interesting, as both types of leaves have a smaller probability of fossilization in normal conditions than, for example, the simple leaves of Daphnogene or a twig of Cupressaceae. The large number of tree trunks, the heavy leaves of the Arecaceae and the compound leaves of the Platanaceae indicate the possibility that this association did not fossilize during the usual seasonal deciduous season, but is due instead to immense weather-related disasters such as strong winds or floods, which tore off large masses of Platanus and palm leaves in the middle of the vegetative season and transported them to the deposition environment by great force.
Key words: Platanus, trifoliolate, Serbia, Oligocene
Krstić, N., Olujić, J., Đajić, S., Djordjević-Milutinović, D., Tanasković, Lj.
Fossils from the drill hole GS-1 near Gacko, SE Dinaric Alps
This paper presents the study of a part of a column under the main coal measure at the drill hole GS-1, including the first and the second underlying coal seams and some of the sediments beneath them. Among the recorded fossils gyrogonites of Charophyta prevail; previously unknown among meiofossils in the area, they indicate depths of water to ca. 7 m. The mollusks comprise species known from Gacko and other sites in the Dinaric Alps. The ostracodes are comparable to those known from freshwater biofacies of Middle Europe.
The age was corroborated by Nitellopsis merianii, an organ-species of Eurasian Miocene and “Harrisichara” sp. a descendant of the Eocene-Oligocene genus Harrisichara. The final decision on age was reached according to the presence, in close lying Plevlja, of the organ-species Rhabdochara langeri, a key fossil for Lower Miocene upper part and equivalents of Burdigalian.
Key words: Charophytes, gastropodes, ostracodes, freshwater, Lower Miocene, Hercegovina
Nenadić, D., Knežević, S., Bogićević, K.
Stratigraphical and palaeogeographical characteristics of Pleistocene series in the Sava riparian area at Belgrade (Serbia)
The older Pleistocene sediments of the Sava River at Belgrade are covered almost everywhere and insufficiently studied; the available information has been acquired from exploratory boreholes. Among them, four successive units with different lithological and palaeogeographical characteristics are distinguished: 1. bog-lake-terrestrial sediments (Pliocene-Pleistocene); 2. polycyclic fluvial deposits (Lower Pleistocene); 3. fluvial-palustrine deposits (Middle Pleistocene) and 4. aeolian sediments – loess (Upper Pleistocene). Their lithological and palaeontological contents are described and palaeogeographical reconstruction of the area during the formation of these deposits has been performed.
Key words: stratigraphy, palaeogeography, Quaternary, Pleistocene, the Sava River, Belgrade
Biology
Niketić, M., Perić, R., Škondrić, S.
Cerastium subtetrandrum (Caryophyllaceae), a new species to the flora of Serbia
During field studies of saline meadows and salt marshes carried out in the vicinity of Apatin (Serbia: Vojvodina), an interesting specimen of the genus Cerastium L. (Caryophyllaceae) was collected and identified as Cerastium subtetrandrum (Lange) Murb. This annual species has never before been recorded in Serbia. The newly recorded plant grows in open grassland communities [Peucedano-Asteretum punctati (Rapcs.) Soó and Artemisio-Festucetum pseudovinae (Magyar) Soó] on saline-alkaline pasture near forest edging, on moderately risen flattened solonetz polygons between saline microdepressions and their slopes. The population in Vojvodina represents the southernmost point in the species range. The current IUCN threatened status of the species in Serbia is estimated as Critically Endangered (CR).
Key words: Cerastium subtetrandrum, floristic, distribution, threatened status, Serbia, Vojvodina
Jović, M., Andjus, Lj., Santovac, S.
New data on some rare and poorly known Odonata species in Serbia
In spite of the relatively long tradition of studies on Odonata fauna in Serbia, its territory remains a “blank space” on distribution maps of many European Odonata species. The real distribution of almost all species is poorly known, so this paper presents new data on the least known species (Lestes viridis, Erythromma lindenii, Brachytron pratense, Anax parthenope, Anax ephippiger, Cordulegaster heros, Somatochlora flavomaculata, Somatochlora metallica, Epitheca bimaculata and Sympetrum vulgatum), including overview based on modern tendencies in taxonomy. Also included is a comment on the needs and present state of conservation of certain species as natural rarities and assets of Serbia.
Key words: Odonata, Serbia
In spite of the relatively long tradition of The Heteroptera collections of the Natural History Museum in Belgrade include 24 species of the family Saldidae. To date 16 species from this family have been recorded in Serbia. Chartoscirta elegantula longicornis (Jakovlev) is a new species for the Heteroptera fauna of Serbia, while Saldula pilosella hirsuta (Reuter) is a new species for the Heteroptera fauna of Croatia.
Additions and corrections to data on species of the family Saldidae published within the Catalogue of the Heteroptera of the Palearctic Region (Aukema & Rieger 1995) and the Catalogue of the Heteroptera of ex Yugoslavia (Protić 1998) are the substance of this paper.
Key words: Heteroptera, Saldidae, Serbia, collections
Investigating the rearing of the grape leaf-roller Sparganothis pilleriana (Den. et Schiff.) from the larvae and pupae collected between 1998-2003 in two vineyards of southern Romania, 7 chalcidoids species were obtained as primary parasitoids: Brachymeria intermedia (Nees), Pteromalus sp., Cyclogastrella deplanata (Nees), Dibrachys cavus (Walker), Dibrachys sp., Colpoclypeus florus (Walker) and Elasmus viridiceps Thomson. These species realized a reduction in the populations of S. pilleriana by 6.58%. Of those, the greatest importance is held by Brachymeria intermedia as a primary pupal parasitoid (3.6%), and by Colpoclypeus florus as a primary larva parasitoid (1.6%). All of the host-parasitoid relationships are new for Romania. A case of multiple parasitism was recorded as well when a female of Elasmus viridiceps parasitized with a female of Colpoclypeus florus, a mature larva of S. pilleriana.
Key words: chalcidoids, parasitoids, vineyards, grape leaf-roller, Romania
Faunistic data on 27 species from the Balkan Peninsula and Turkey are reported. Of them one subfamily and one species are new records for Greek fauna, 2 species are new records for Turkish fauna, 10 species are new records for Bulgarian fauna, one subfamily and 2 species are new records for Macedonian fauna, 2 species are new records for former Yugoslavian fauna and one species is a new record for the fauna of Montenegro (in the text they are marked by an asterisk *).
Key words: Ichneumonidae, Fauna, Bulgaria, Balkan Peninsula
