The shallow Vrana (Vransko) Lake in Dalmatia, Croatia, is a brackish water (oligohaline) lake that was artificially connected to the Adriatic Sea by the Prosika Canal, built in the 18th century. The aim of this study was to provide an updated overview of macro-crustacean diversity (class Malacostraca) in the Vrana Lake Basin. This synthesis includes all available records, combining the author's field observations with data from the scientific literature, and focuses on macro-crustacean taxa within the orders Amphipoda, Decapoda, Isopoda, and Mysida. Benthic macroinvertebrates were sampled using a hand net between 2011 and 2022, while baited crayfish traps were deployed during a one-night sampling effort in May/June 2024. Specimens of the invasive blue crab were collected manually in 2023 and 2024. In total, 32 sites were surveyed, 29 with a hand net and three exclusively with baited traps. A total of 21 macro-crustacean taxa were recorded in the Vrana Lake Basin between 2011 and 2024, comprising 16 species and five genera. The order Amphipoda was the most taxonomically diverse, with 11 taxa, followed by Isopoda (4), Decapoda (4), and Mysida (2). The highest species richness (16 taxa) was observed at the mouth of the Prosika Canal into the Adriatic Sea. The macro-crustacean fauna of the Vrana Lake Basin represents a unique assemblage of freshwater/oligohaline and brackish/marine species. The freshwater/oligohaline species, including the isopod Proasellus coxalis , amphipod Niphargus dalmatinus , and decapods Palaemon antennarius and Austropotamobius fulcisianus , were more abundant and widely distributed in the tributaries, with P. coxalis and P. antennarius also occurring in the lake. Most of the brackish/marine species were recorded only at the mouth of the Prosika Canal into the Adriatic Sea. Amphipods Gammarus aequicauda and Pectenogammarus stocki , and the isopod Lekanesphaera hookeri , were dominant in the lake and the Prosika Canal during, and immediately after periods of increased salinity. A recent addition to the brackish/marine group is the invasive blue crab ( Callinectes sapidus ), whose continued spread may pose a serious threat to biodiversity in the Vrana Lake Basin. The endangered white-clawed crayfish ( A. fulcisianus ) was recorded only in the freshwater Lateral Canal. Its continued monitoring is essential to assess the effectiveness of conservation measures, especially in light of planned sediment and vegetation removal to maintain flow in the canal. Salinization remains the primary threat to aquatic biodiversity in the basin. Urgent implementation of active management strategies, such as construction of a movable gate on the Prosika Canal, is necessary to mitigate this risk. The data presented in this study are critical for understanding and anticipating future changes in the macro-crustacean assemblages of this ecologically sensitive ecosystem.
Peatlands are unique ecosystems that differ significantly from other wetlands in terms of landforms, hydromorphology, water chemistry, nutrient availability, and the diversity of organisms and life forms they support. They are globally important for biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and the preservation of long-term paleoenvironmental records due to their slow accumulation of organic matter. In Croatia, the four southernmost peatlands (Sunđerac, Ljubica, Rakita, and Vodice kod Petrašice) are located along the Velebit Mountain range. However, for decades, scientific literature suggested the presence of an additional peatland known as “Sunđer.” This name caused confusion as it implied the existence of a separate site, distinct from Sunđerac. The misinterpretations probably stemmed from Pevalek’s 1925 report, where he misnamed Sunđerac, calling it “Sunđer”, and was inaccurate in his mapping of the location. The discovery of a permanent pond, Solila, close to the “Sunđer” locality, has reopened the debate and led to further ecological research. We investigated bryophytes, vascular plants and ground beetles, reliable indicators of peatland habitat quality, to test whetherSolila could represent the long-misidentified “Sunđer” mire. No species characteristic of peatland ecosystems were found in any of the indicator groups. The only vascular plant species associated with mire vegetation was Carex echinata , which also occurs in acidic grasslands and spruce mire forests. Nevertheless, in this relatively small area, we found a surprisingly high diversity of plants and ground beetles, including riparian species, that would not be found in this area without permanent surface water. Permanent ponds such as Solila can therefore make a significant contribution to localbiodiversity in karst landscapes.
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.
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.
The Mediterranean Sea is experiencing an increased impact of biological invasions, including along the coastlines of North Africa. The non-indigenous sponge Paraleucilla magna Klautau, Monteiro & Borojevic, 2004 was detected recently in the western Mediterranean coast of Morocco. In this paper we document for the first time the occurrence of this non-indigenous species (NIS) in Marchica Lagoon, a Ramsar site and protected area situated on the eastern Mediterranean coast of Morocco. Additionally, we report it from the Saidia Marina, the easternmost location in the country where the species has been found, demonstrating its rapid expansion. The Marchica lagoon and Saidia marina have become hotspots for the proliferation of NIS, underscoring the pressing need for monitoring and management strategies to address the issue of biological invasions in this region.
The silver-striped hawk-moth ( Hippotion celerio ) is a quite rare species of the Croatian fauna, having only five past records from the 19th and 20th century. Given the lack of recent records, the species' presence in the country was deemed questionable. Here presented and discussed are three new records of this species from coastal Croatia which give us new distribution data while simutaneously confirming its occasional presence in the country.
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.
Accurate species distribution data are essential for effective conservation planning, which requires taxonomic identification. We conducted molecular and morphological analyses, which revealed that the Carniolan lizard Zootoca carniolica Mayer, Böhme, Tiedemann and Bischoff, 2000 has been largely overlooked in Croatia as records were previously attributed to the Viviparous lizard Z. vivipara (Lichtenstein,1823) or the Pannonian viviparous lizard Z. v. pannonica (Lac & Kluch, 1968). Z. vivipara has been listedin the national fauna of Croatia, and Z. v. pannonica was listed as a species monitored and reported by Croatia under Article 17 of the European Habitat Directive. We analysed genetic (mitochondrial COI and cytb genes), morphological (differences in the ratio of mean ventral scale rows and number of femoral pores) and distributional data of the Croatian population. Our findings indicate that Z. carniolica , not Z. vivipara , is the species present in Croatia. However, given the limited sample size, we cannot exclude the possible occurrence of Z. vivipara in Croatia. Consequently, the occurrence of Z. carniolica entails conservation and management implications that differ from earlier assumptions. We emphasize the need for further studies involving a significantly larger number of samples to confirm these findings.
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.
Targeted field survey in Dalmatia to locate Mirlatia arcuata Hausmann, Mayr, László & Huemer, 2023 resulted in the capture of a single male specimen, rising the number of known specimens in collections to three. Physical and ecological aspects of the collection site are discussed. It is concluded that the species was able to survive more than 40 years in Dalmatia, it is more or less attracted to artificial light and, in accordance with the original description, shows particular sexual dimorphism in wing pattern and is confined to rocky habitats with sparse vegetation.
The Mediterranean house gecko inhabits the Mediterranean region of Southern Europe, Northern Africa, and Western Asia, but has been introduced in Northern America, in the United States and Mexico in 2015 and 2016. The species has been reported in 2014 in Serbia and then again from 2020 to 2022 in the same country. Here, we report more scattered findings from Romania and Central Europe: Croatia, Austria, Slovenia, Czechia and Hungary, from 2013 to 2025. In Zagreb, Croatia, the species has a small population established, as continuous records exist from 2013 till today in numerous localities, and with specimens observed throughout the year. On the other hand, records from continental Austria and Romania are known to be recently imported specimens.
Epiphytic bryophytes of Maksimir Forest Park were investigated during the winter of 2023 and the spring of 2024. Sampling included five tree species: sessile oak, common hornbeam, European beech, black locust, and European spruce, each represented by five individuals. A total of 35 bryophyte taxa were recorded, of which 31 were mosses and 4 were liverworts. The tree species harbouring the highest bryophyte diversity was beech, while black locust and spruce were species-poor and had low bryophyte cover. The most frequent and abundant bryophyte was Hypnum cupressiforme , followed by Metzgeria furcata , Platygyrium repens , Frullania dilatata and Radula complanata . During the research, a NATURA 2000 target species Dicranum viride was found on beech and oak. The predominant life form on all tree species was the smooth mat, which provides more photosynthetic surface and is thus advantageous in shaded forest habitats, while the most common life strategy was stress-tolerant perennial, indicating that most of the sampled environment is stable with minor stressors. The ANOSIM testrevealed that bryophyte assemblages on different tree species differed significantly, however, with considerable overlap, with those on black locusts being the most distinct, with Dicranoweissa cirrata being characteristic of this tree species. The DCA analysis with host tree parameters (bark roughness, tree trunk circumference, total/dominant bryophyte coverage) and Ellenberg indicator values passively projected as vectors revealed no discrete separation of tree species based on epiphytic bryophyte composition; however, some patterns were evident. Black locusts and certain species-poor oak trees formed a loose group associated with rougher bark and pleurocarpous species such as Hypnum cupressiforme and Platygyrium repens . Beech and hornbeam, grouped on the opposite side of the ordination, shared similar bryophyte assemblages associated with smoother bark and higher ecological indicator values for light, nitrogen, and substrate reaction, with beech additionally harbouring bryophytes indicative of higher moisture. This was true for species-rich oak individuals as well.
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.
Trithemis annulata (Palisot de Beauvois, 1807) is a widespread Afrotropical species that substantially expanded its range in Mediterranean Europe in the second part of 20th century and very recently in the West Balkan region. A field study was carried out from June to September 2024 in the southern parts of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Neretva River delta in Croatia in order to investigate the species’ presence in this area. During the survey, T. annulata was found at 14 locations, seven in each country. The observations from Bosnia and Herzegovina represent the first record of this species for the country. It was found in a wide variety of habitats, both lentic and lotic, including lakes, reservoirs, rivers, larger ponds and canals. Considering that, at several of these locations, the species was not found during surveys in 2022 and 2023, it most likely spread to this area recently. Additionally, two observations of T. annulata from North Macedonia that were found in the online databases Observation and iNaturalist represent the first documented reports for this country. These findings constitute a substantial increase in species range and abundance in the region. The species’ distribution andspread in the Balkan Peninsula is also outlined and discussed.
The cynipid gall wasps (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) are among the main insects associated with oaks of the genus Quercus . In the tissues of the host plant, they form galls, specialized structures that provide shelter and nutrients for the developing insect larvae. The aim of this study was to determine the oak gall wasp community of the species Quercus virgiliana . The galls were collected from oak buds, leaves, cupulae and catkins in the Lepenica region (Central Dalmatia) in the years 2023-2024. The collected galls were dissected and observed under a stereomicroscope to examine their morphological characteristics as well as larvae, pupae and/or adult wasps. With 17 recorded species, Andricus is by far the largest genus, followed by Neuroterus with 3 species, Cynips with 2 species and a single species from the genus Biorhiza . We identified 18 types of galls, with bud galls being the most common and conspicuous, followed by leaf, cupula and catkin galls.
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.
This research provides a detailed report on a new record of Limnatis paluda (Tennent, 1859) from the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, Azerbaijan, emphasising its significance and the morphological features that confirm its identification. This finding is particularly significant as it fills a geographical gap, provides insights into the distribution patterns of Limnatis leeches and underscores their reliance on water bodies frequented by livestock. The new record corroborates the previously hypothesised distribution range of the species extending from Central Asia to the South Caucasus and the Middle East.
Mistletoe is a hemi-parasitic flowering plant. There are five taxa (three genera) in Bosnia and Herzegovina, all of which are native. A wide range of woody species may be infected by mistletoe including some introduced trees. This study reviews the taxonomy, hosts, and distribution of mistletoe in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The hosts of the five mistletoe taxa in Bosnia and Herzegovina belong to 14 families, 26 genera and 58 taxa.
This paper presents the results of a phytosociological study of the two southeasternmost islets in Croatia, Veliki Školj (0.16 km²) and Supetrić (0.88 ha), near the village and port of Molunat (Dubrovnik region). Drawing on 20 phytosociological relevés collected in 2023 and 2024 using the Braun-Blanquet approach, the study identified four plant associations (Myrto communis-Pistacietum lentisci, Myrto communis-Quercetum ilicis, Limonietum anfracti, and Posidonietum oceanicae), one subassociation (Centaureetum ragusinae limonietosum anfracti), and three communities (Euphorbia dendroides-Quercus ilex, Dactylis glomerata subsp. hispanica, and Cynodon dactylon), spanning six vegetation classes. The stands of the Myrto-Quercetum ilicis association covers more than 95% of Veliki Školj’s area. Importantly, the islet is at the southeasternmost line of the distribution range of Centaurea ragusina. Intensive goat grazing has significantly impacted the floristic diversity of both the maquis and grassland ecosystems.
Seventy-nine species of terrestrial, freshwater and brackish water molluscs were found on the island of Brač during our long-term field survey and literature review. The species diversity on Brač is the highest among the Croatian islands surveyed. The current occurrence of rare species and species with small ranges is commented on in more detail. Twenty-two taxa are newly recorded for the island, and two of them (Lucilla scintilla (T.R. Lowe, 1852) and Limax wohlberedti Simroth, 1900) are the first confirmed records in Croatia. Only four historically published taxa from the island were not confirmed by our fieldwork, three of them living in caves we did not visit. Most of the recorded species have small ranges in the Mediterranean; according to current knowledge, two species are endemic to Brač, Medora hiltrudae Nordsieck, 1970 and Tandonia bolensis De Mattia & Nardi, 2014. As there is a lot of confusion in the identification of Mediterranean fauna, we created ample photographic documentation of the species found. Although we found most of the species in the first three years of our research, new species were added almost every year during the thirteen years of fieldwork.
