Natura Croatica

Dubravka Sandev

Stručni rad

Dubravka Sandev Botanical Garden, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Marulićev trg 9a, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

This paper discusses the plant lists of glasshouse succulents, subfamily Alooideae, grown in the Botanical Garden since 1895 until 2025. The synonymy, nomenclature and origin of plant material were sorted. Lists of species grown in the last 130 years are constructed to show that throughout that period at least 172 taxa of succulent plants from subfamily Alooideae inhabited the Garden’s cold glasshouse collection.

Keywords

Zagreb Botanical Garden, Faculty of Science, historic plant collections, succulent col- lection, subfamily Alooideae, Croatia

Maria Špoljar, Mirela Sertić Perić, Renata Matoničkin Kepčija, Ivančica Ternjej, Fran Rebrina, Sven Horvatić, Damir Sirovina, Marko Miliša, Zoran Marčić, Goran Kovačević, Lucija Šerić Jelaska, Valentina Dorić, Jasna Lajtner

Review paper

Maria Špoljar Division of Zoology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Mirela Sertić Perić Division of Zoology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Renata Matoničkin Kepčija Division of Zoology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Ivančica Ternjej Division of Zoology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Fran Rebrina Division of Zoology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Horvatovac 102a, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Sven Horvatić Division of Zoology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Damir Sirovina Division of Zoology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Marko Miliša Division of Zoology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Zoran Marčić Division of Zoology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Goran Kovačević Division of Zoology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Lucija Šerić Jelaska Division of Zoology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Valentina Dorić Division of Zoology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Jasna Lajtner Division of Zoology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

The Division of Zoology at the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, celebrates 150 years of continuous contribution to zoological research, education and public engagement. As one of the oldest and most respected institutions in Croatia dedicated to zoological sciences, the Division has played a central role in shaping the development of zoology and related disciplines at both national and regional levels. This review article marks this significant milestone by providing an overview of the Division’s activities and achievements over the past decade (2014 – 2024). Key focus areas include scientific research, with an emphasis on biodiversity, ecological interactions, ecosystem functioning, biomonitoring and evolutionary biology; project involvement and educational contributions, reflecting a strong commitment to curriculum modernization, field-based learning and integration of contemporary pedagogical approaches. The Division continues to play a pivotal role in the Faculty’s academic structure, accounting for approximately 40% of teaching at the Department of Biology and actively participating in institutional leadership, professional associations and public science communication. In addition to its extensive publication record and project output, the Division maintains valuable zoological collections, necessary to support the professional development of students, young scientists and educators. The 150th anniversary represents not only a celebration of the Division’s legacy but also a reaffirmation of its ongoing dedication to excellence in science, teaching and community engagement.

Keywords

zoological research; biodiversity; science education; teaching; scientific projects; aca- demic legacy; institutional history; Croatia

Mihailo Vujić, Vukašin Gojšina

Short communication

Mihailo Vujić Institute of Zoology, University of Belgrade - Faculty of Biology, Studentski trg 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Vukašin Gojšina Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Serbia, Studentski trg 16, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia

Abstract

Xerobdella anulata is a rare species of land leech endemic to the Dinaric Alps, distributed from southern Slovenia to northern Montenegro. Previously, the only known locality where this species had been recorded in Serbia was the village of Rastište on Mt Tara, in the far west of the country. In this article, we present the second record of X. anulata in Serbia, found in the village of Sokolac, near Ljubovija. A single specimen was discovered on land near a stream in an area with a limestone substrate. We briefly describe the collected specimen, with particular emphasis on the arrangement of the gonopores. Despite the significant lack of distributional data for this species, we believe that western Serbia and the Podrinje region represent the easternmost limit of species’ complete distribution.

Keywords

Annelida, gonopore, limestone

Sebastian Ćato

Short communication

Lamia Boutabia, Mohamed El Hadi Derguini, Salah Telailia

Original scientific paper

Lamia Boutabia Agriculture and Ecosystem Functioning Laboratory, Department of Agronomy Sciences, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, Chadli Bendjedid University, P.O. Box 73, 36000 El Tarf, Algeria
Mohamed El Hadi Derguini Naturalist
Salah Telailia Agriculture and Ecosystem Functioning Laboratory, Department of Agronomy Sciences, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, Chadli Bendjedid University, P.O. Box 73, 36000 El Tarf, Algeria

Abstract

The El Kala wetland complex, located in the far northeast of Algeria, provides ideal ecological conditions for wintering migratory waterbirds. Among these sites, the Mekhada marsh, designated a Ramsar site in 2004, stands out as one of the most biologically diverse wetlands in the region. It supports several emblematic waterbird species, including the Red-crested Pochard (Netta rufina), which is the focus of this study. This species is rarely observed in Algerian wetlands and typically occurs in very small numbers. In June 2025, an exceptional observation was made of a female Red-crested Pochard accompanied by her ducklings at the Mekhada marsh. To our knowledge, this represents the first documented breeding record of Netta rufina in the El Kala wetland complex.

Keywords

Netta rufina, Nesting, Wetlands, Mekhada marsh, Algeria

Mladen Kučinić, Nazymgul Akimbekova, Danijela Gumhalter, Maja Pintar, Ainagul Balgauovna Kaliyeva, Ana Šalinović Steinbacher, Mirna Klaić, Zarina Sergazinova, Josip Skejo

Original scientific paper

Mladen Kučinić Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Horvatovac 102A, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Nazymgul Akimbekova Department of Biology and Ecology, Toraighyrov University, Lomova str. 64, KZ-140008, Pavlodar, Kazakhstan
Danijela Gumhalter Bernsteinstrasse 58, D-70619 Stuttgart, Germany
Maja Pintar Croatian Agency for Agriculture and Food, Centre for Plant Protection, Gorice 68b, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Ainagul Balgauovna Kaliyeva Department of Biology and Ecology, Toraighyrov University, Lomova str. 64, KZ-140008, Pavlodar, Kazakhstan
Ana Šalinović Steinbacher Postelska ulica 10, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
Mirna Klaić Croatian Natural History Museum, Demetrova 1, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Zarina Sergazinova Department of Biology and Ecology, Toraighyrov University, Lomova str. 64, KZ-140008, Pavlodar, Kazakhstan
Josip Skejo Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Horvatovac 102A, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

This paper reports on the first finding of the species Stenophylax malaspina (Schmid, 1957) in the Croatian fauna, also providing a brief review of the history of Trichoptera research in Croatia. The distribution of S. malaspina is discussed, indicating the highly isolated nature of its occurrence in Croatia. Although the new finding of S. malaspina in Croatia was made in the Mediterranean region, which corresponds to the biology of this Asian-Mediterranean species, the location was almost 400 kilometres away from the western border of its range in southern Italy. On the Balkan Peninsula, the nearest previously known record of this species is situated to the east, approximately 500 km from the site in Croatia.

Keywords

aquatic insects, caddisflies, south Croatia Kučinić, M., Akimbekova, N., Gumhalter, D., Pintar, M., Balgauovna Kaliyeva, A., Šalinović

Toni Kočevar, Jelena Kralj

Original scientific paper

Toni Kočevar Ulica Marina Držića 9, 47000 Karlovac, Croatia
Jelena Kralj Institute of Ornithology, Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Trg Nikole Šubića Zrinskog 11, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Clutch and egg sizes in birds are affected by intrinsic and environmental factors. Clutch size is affected by food availability and predation risk, while egg size is influenced by parental age and environmental conditions during both the breeding and pre-breeding period. In the Common Tern Sterna hirundo, egg size decreases with the laying sequence, and the survival rate of the last-hatching chicks is lower than that of their siblings. We studied the differences in clutch size, egg volume, and egg volume reduction in Common Terns inhabiting marine and freshwater habitats. Clutch size varied in the studied regions. Egg size differed annually, but the greater volume reduction of second- and third-egg was found in marine habitats and among late clutches, regardless of the year. Egg volume and reductions were correlated with females’ body characteristics.

Keywords

egg volume reduction, habitat, female morphometry, Adriatic Sea, Croatia

Natura Croatica, Vol. 34 No.2

Abstract

Keywords

Abstract

Keywords

Abstract

Keywords

Abstract

Keywords

Abstract

Keywords

Abstract

Keywords

Abstract

Keywords

Museum

Visiting museum

Information

Subscribe to News