The land snail Nesovitrea hammonis (Ström, 1765) was found at Je{kovo Lake, near the village of Gola in the Podravina region, making this the first find of this species in Croatia.
land snails, Nesovitrea hammonis, Croatia [tamol, V. & Klete~ki, E.: Nova vrsta kopnenog pu`a u fauni Hrvatske (Mollusca: Gastropoda),
In this short communication a new locality of the species Botrychium matricariifolium (Retz.) A. Br. ex Koch in the Risnjak National Park area (Croatia) is reported. Thirty years ago, after this species became extinct on Medvednica mountain, which was the only known locality in Croatia, it got the status of Regionally Extinct taxon (IUCN category RE). The new finding brings this species back to the list of recent national flora.
Botrychium matricariifolium, new locality, Risnjak NP, Croatia
Carex punctata Gaudin 1811. Agrost. Helv., 2: 152, (Cyperaceae), was found in Croatia in three localities in the period of 2004-2009. This species has never before been noted in Croatia. It was found by the second author, the former confirming the determination.
Carex punctata Gaudin, Croatia
A total of 27 skulls of stone martens (Martes foina Erx., 1777) from the Mediterranean island habitat were examined for dental abnormalities. Irregular arrangement of lower incisors was observed in 7 individuals (25.9%). The P1 was absent bilaterally in 6 (22%) and unilaterally in 5 individuals (18.5%). In contrast, the P1 was absent only unilaterally in 2 cases (7.4%). Of other teeth, I1 was absent unilaterally in 2 cases (7.4%), while I2, C1 and P3 were missing in one case respectively (3.7%). We found only one supernumerary tooth, the upper right premolar. This condition was associated with rotation of P2 and P3 as a consequence of overcrowding. Rotation was observed on 6 premolars in total (two lower and four upper). Complicated crown fractures were observed on three skulls (11%). Fractures were only found on canines. Porosity of the alveolar bone was observed in one case of a fractured canine. Pronounced tooth wear was recorded in 7 skulls (25.9%). Congenital absence of teeth is a frequent finding in all carnivores, reflecting the evolutionary trend to a reduction of the number of teeth. The relatively low incidence of tooth fractures and the almost complete absence of periodontal diseases can be attributed to the fact that the majority of examined skulls originated from adolescent animals.
stone marten, tooth, dental abnormalities * corresponding author: dean.konjevic@vef.hr, member of the Martes Working Group Croatian Natural History Museum, Demetrova 1, Zagreb, Croatia 216
In this study, some key aspects of the breeding performance of the pied wagtail are reported for the first time in northwestern Croatian. Only first clutches are included. The average egg length was 20.04 mm, breadth = 14.96 mm, volume = 2276.41 mm³ and egg shape index = 1.34. Egg dimensions and shape index did not vary significantly among the years in the study period (2006 to 2008). Egg size differences of the pied wagtail in different clutch size classes were also not significant. Egg length and egg breadth had the significant positive correlation. Average full clutch size for three years combined was 5.29, ranged from four to six eggs and modal clutch size was five (63.1 %). There was no significant difference in clutch size across the three years. We did not find any evidence for negative or positive relationships between clutch size and egg size in the researched bird species.
pied wagtail, egg dimensions, clutch size, northwestern Croatia
This study presents the periodical but irregular appearance of pike (Esox lucius L.) in the Danube River and its inundated ponds. During 14 years, 1076 pike were captured at nine sites. The fish appeared in large numbers in years when the average water level was high in spring (R = 0.738, P < 0.01, n = 14). During the study, there were two periods when there were no pike, either in the river or in the inundated ponds. Furthermore, observation showed that prey fish might also affect the presence or absence of pike in late spring in the study area.
water level, Spearman correlation, river, inundated ponds, Pike, Esox lucius, »Gornje Podunavlje«
The subgenus Troglorhynchus Reitter, 1854 of the genus Otiorhynchus Germar, 1824 is redescribed, revised and differentiated from other subgenera of Otiorhynchus, which has the micro or anophthalmus species. T. anophthalmoides omeros Colonnelli, 2003, T. pretneri F. Solari, 1955 as well as T. celejensis G. Müller, 1924 are synonymized to T. anophthalmoides Reitter, 1914.
Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Entiminae, Otiorhynchus, Troglorhynchus, revision, bio- speleology, Austria, Slovenia, Italy, Croatia, taxonomy
The aim of this study was to determine aquatic insect (Heteroptera: Nepomorpha, Gerromorpha and Coleoptera: Hydradephaga, Hydrophilidae) fauna in two temporary and two permanent ponds and to relate assemblage structure, abundance and diversity with respect to hydroperiod, habitat size, shading of ponds and altitude. Field work was conducted out in four karst ponds in the municipality of Mrkopalj (Gorski kotar) from June to September 2005. Altogether, 247 specimens belonging to 24 species of water bugs and beetles were collected. A large number of species was recorded in the Sungerski lug pond (S1) while great species diversity in relation to abundance was recorded for the Sunger pond (S2). The occurrence of Anacena limbata and Anacena lutescens from the family Hydrophilidae and Hydroporus melanarius from the family Dytiscidae is an important faunistic result, because they are new to the fauna of Croatia. According to the results of our study, water bugs and beetles prefer large, permanent, open ponds at a lower altitude. The proportion of species differed between temporary and permanent ponds, and temporary and small ponds (S2) had especially diverse fauna of aquatic insects.
Aquatic Heteroptera, aquatic Coleoptera, diversity, karst ponds, Gorski Kotar
An updated check-list of the aquatic and semi-aquatic bugs of Croatia is provided. Altogether, we list 14 families and 59 species (Nepidae – 2, Belostomatidae – 1, Ochteridae – 1, Micronectidae – 2, Corixidae – 21, Naucoridae – 1, Aphelocheiridae – 1, Notonectidae – 7, Pleidae – 1, Mesoveliidae – 2, Hebridae – 2, Hydrometridae – 1, Veliidae – 7, Gerridae – 10). However, for 11 of the listed species no exact locality record has ever been published. Five species, Micronecta minutissima (Linnaeus, 1758), Velia caprai Tamanini, 1947, Velia rivulorum (Fabricius, 1775), Velia saulii Tamanini, 1947, and Limnoporus rufoscutellatus (Latreille, 1807) are omitted from the list for the time being due to the lack of reliable records. Based on an examination of new material, we provide two new records for Croatia – Corixa panzeri Fieber, 1848 and Sigara semistriata (Fieber, 1848), first exact records of Hesperocorixa linnaei (Fieber, 1848) and Notonecta meridionalis Poisson, 1926, as well as new findings of Aphelocheirus aestivalis (Fabricius, 1803) and Anisops sardeus sardeus Herrich-Schaeffer, 1843 not recorded from Croatia for many decades.
Heteroptera, Nepomorpha, Aphelocheiridae, Corixidae, Notonectidae, Gerromorpha, check-list, Croatia
This study presents the results of dragonfly fauna research in the Turopolje region of Croatia. Faunal analyses were conducted in the period from 1986–2009, with some interruptions, while an ecological analysis (composition of dragonflies according to habitat characteristics such as vegetation structure, air temperature, cloudiness) was conducted in the period 2007–2009. Faunal and ecological analyses were carried out at seventeen and nine localities, respectively. A total of 35 dragonfly species was recorded, indicating high species richness in comparison to the total number of 67 species known in Croatia. Zoogeographic analysis of the recorded dragonfly species showed the domination of the Holo-Mediterranean element which indicates complex glaciation and interglaciation processes during the geological past in Europe, when the Croatian territory served as a refugium. The results show that the distribution and abundance of dragonflies are indicative of habitat characteristics (vegetal structure, cloudiness and air temperature). Dragonflies prefer mosaic habitats (diverse vegetation structure) with average air temperatures ranging from 26–28°C and sunny weather. Since this research was conducted in only a part of the whole Turopolje region, and only adult specimens were sampled, further research should be focused on the life cycles of dragonflies and their distribution throughout the entire Turopolje region.
dragonflies, Turopolje, fauna, distribution, habitat characteristics
In the continuation of the revision of the brachyuran system some additions are given. A good number of new higher taxa are established: families, subfamilies, tribes and genera. New taxa are briefly diagnosed, named and their systematic position is indicated.
Brachyuran crabs (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura), new higher taxa, reclassifica- tion, addition [tev~i}, Z.: Dodatak reklasifikaciji kratkorepih rakova (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura). Prvi
New data on Aegilops uniaristata Vis. (syn.: Triticum uniaristatum (Vis.) K. Richt.) in Apulia are given. A new locality of A. uniaristata in Apulia on the Adriatic coast of the Italian Peninsula is discovered. The taxon was already known from the Mediterranean East and Croatian coasts. A. uniaristata is deemed relevant and is included into the Regional Red List of plants (Apulia) as endangered (EN) and into the Red Book of Croatian vascular flora as near threatened (NT).
new data, distribution, Aegilops uniaristata Vis., Apulia Region
Floristic researches of the 14 islets and reefs near Vrgada Island (Zadar archipelago, eastern Adriatic) were conducted in the period from 2009 and the spring of 2010. For the 13 islets and reefs, 264 vascular plant taxa were recorded and classified in 184 genera and 63 families. No taxa were recorded for one reef. The domination of therophytes (42.42 %) and plants of the Mediterranean floral element (49.62 %) confirmed the Mediterranean character of the islets’ flora.
vascular flora, Vrgada Islets, eastern Adriatic, North Dalmatia, Croatia.
Here we give a review of the taxonomic composition, depth distribution, and phytogeographic characteristics of benthic marine macroflora from Rijeka Bay. It is based on our research from 1950 to 2000, and on both a nomenclatural and a taxonomic critical revision of previous records from that region. The list contains 380 taxa belonging to the Rhodophyta (231), the Ochrophyta (74), the Chlorophyta (71) and the Magnoliophyta (4), 338 of which are at the species level while 42 are infraspecific (4 subspecies, 31 varieties, 7 forms, 1 stage). The established ratio between the number of Rhodophyta and Phaeophyceae (R/P Index; FELDMANN, 1937) was 3.1, and the relation between the number of Rhodophyta + Chlorophyta and Phaeophyceae (R+C/P Index; CHENEY, 1977) was 4.1. Both the above values show the subtropical character of benthic macroalgal flora in the surveyed area. With regard to its origin, the Rijeka Bay benthic flora is not homogenous. It comprises floral elements from several phytogeographic regions. Predominant by number and percentage are Atlantic (86 taxa – 23%), subcosmopolitan (75 taxa – 20%), Mediterranean (70 taxa – 19%), and Indo-Atlantic (53 taxa – 14%) floral elements. Other phytogeographic regions contribute only 96 taxa to Rijeka marine algal flora – 25% of total the 380 taxa recorded. Only 3 species (1%) are included in the category of Adriatic endemic (Polysiphonia adriatica, Feldmannia irregularis var. lebeliides and Fucus virsoides). The analysis of benthic flora in relation to littoral bionomical zones reveals that the highest number of algal taxa is recorded in the upper infralittoral zone (325), and the lowest (the supralittoral excepted) in the eulittoral zone (109). With regard to depth distribution, marine benthic flora of Rijeka Bay consists of a very small number of algal taxa which live only deeper than 6 m (36 taxa – 9.4%), in comparison with the relatively high number of algal taxa which live only as far as 6 m deep (153 taxa – 40.3%), and those living both above and below the depth of 6 m (191 taxa – 50.1%).
marine benthic macroalgae and seagrasses, check-list, taxonomic composition, depth distribution, phytogeographic characteristics, Rijeka Bay, north Adriatic Sea Croatian Natural History Museum, Demetrova 1, Zagreb, Croatia 54
This paper presents a checklist of 129 lichens recorded for the Papuk Nature Park, including one species new for Croatia, Umbilicaria hirsuta, and eight species new for the area. The fieldwork was carried out at 17 localities in the period 2005-2007. The rare lichen Lobaria pulmonaria was found on old trees at three new sites. A further survey of forest-associated lichens will enable better integration of biodiversity conservation issues in forest management.
Papuk, biodiversity, Umbilicaria, Lobaria, forest, management
This paper presents the results of fundamental hydrogeological research of springs in the @umberak – Samoborsko gorje Nature Park during the period 2007–2008. The research resulted in 847 recorded springs whose basic physicochemical parameters and discharge were measured in situ at least once. Distribution of springs by lithostratigraphic units and altitude are analyzed. Spring discharge distribution and their basic physicochemical parameters are presented.
springs, distribution, lithostratigraphic units, altitude, discharge, hydrochemistry, @umberak, Samoborsko gorje, Nature Park
Forty four brazilianite crystals from several localities in Brazil, Rwanda and Canada were measured on a two-circle goniometer to determine brazilianite morphology. Twenty forms were recorded; six of them have not been recorded before. All faces in the [001] zone are striated along crystallographic axis c. All striated forms in the [001] zone exhibit multiple signals. Two of the signals observed on the form {110} are always very clear. There is an exception on one crystal where just one face, (110), exhibits only one clear signal. Five groups of habits were recorded, two of them new to this mineral species. Eleven samples were examined by X-ray diffraction for calculation of the unit cell parameters yielding a=11.201(1)–11.255(2) Å, b=10.1415(5)–10.155(1) Å, c=7.0885(7)–7.119(2) Å and b=97.431(7)–97.34(1) °. All X-ray diffraction patterns show a peculiarity: some diffraction lines are widened or doubled with the appearance of additional diffraction lines systematically on lower °2Q. These diffraction lines have smaller intensities and cannot be indexed in accordance with brazilianite crystal structure.
brazilianite, morphology, two-circle goniometer, Brazil, Canada, Rwanda ^obi}, A., Zebec, V., Scholz, R., Bermanec, V. & de Brito Barreto, S.: Morfologija kristala i
