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Prolonged Spring Stopovers of European Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster) on Gavdos Island Give a False Impression of a Large Migratory Influx: It’s Only a Few Flocks, Not Thousands of Birds
No full textThe spring passage of European Bee-eaters over the small island of Gavdos, the southmost point
of Europe, is a conspicuous event, as loud flocks numbering 30-50 birds congregate around
cultivations, beehives and fresh-water resources. Birds consistently arrive from south and depart
toward Crete, 38 km to the north, suggesting brief stopovers. Based on visual observations and
bird behaviour only, and over six years (2002-2004, 2022-2024), we estimated that 900-1500 birds,
split into 30 flocks, use Gavdos as a stopover site during spring. However, intense ringingrecapture
efforts in 2024 revealed the actual number of staging birds is up to three times lower than estimated from visual observations, and likely doesn’t exceed 500 individuals, repeatedly
observed over successive days and weeks. Recaptures were frequent throughout spring, with
prolonged stopovers most notable for birds arriving in late April. Of 373 ringed individuals (April
19-May 12), 145 were recaptured 373 times, averaging 2.6 recaptures per bird. The average time
between ringing and final recapture was 4.9 days, with a maximum of 20 days recorded three times
for birds ringed on April 22. Notably, 40.7% (59) of these individuals were last recaptured at ≥5
days, and 14.5% (21) at ≥10 days. The majority of ringed/recaptured birds had depleted fuel
reserves approaching emaciation, with the average muscle score of 1,7 and fat of 0,8 respectively.
Refuelling was minimal and slow, despite available prey. These findings highlight Gavdos as a
critical stopover for migrating bee-eaters, underscoring its conservation importance within the
Natura 2000 network. Funded by NECCA
Spruce (Picea abies L.) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii Mirb.) as bioindicators: Field study of heavy metal uptake
No full textUrban growth and development have introduced many pollutants - such as trace elements, pesticides, and other compounds - that remain in soil and threaten ecosystems and human health. Trace elements are of particular concern because they are toxic, persistent, and tend to be built up in plants, animals, and the environment [1]. Vascular plants, particularly trees, are useful indicators of such pollution. Parts like leaves, bark, seeds, and tree rings are often studied to track contamination. With their large biomass, long lifespan, and strong roots, trees can take up and stabilize trace elements through phytoextraction, helping to keep them from moving deeper into soil and groundwater [2].
To explore this, we carried out two experiments (I and II) focusing on spruce (Picea abies L.) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii Mirb.) seedlings. The seedlings were subjected to elevated amounts of lead, strontium, cobalt, and nickel by adding them to the soil. Our field-based approach enabled us to study how these metals accumulate under natural conditions. Using Inductively Coupled Plasma–Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES), we quantified the concentrations of these metals, along with manganese and zinc, in the soil, wood, and bark. The analysis revealed that both tree species accumulated the added metals, with particularly pronounced increases observed in Douglas-fir [3]. In Douglas-fir wood, lead levels rose to 7 times the control in experiment I and 4 times in experiment II, while nickel concentrations reached 18 and 10 times higher than the control in the respective experiments. These results highlight the capacity of Douglas-fir wood to accumulate and stabilize lead and nickel, indicating its potential role in phytostabilization strategies
Navigating climate threats in forestry across five European regions: Stakeholder's adaptive management and policy strategies to resilience
No full textThis study explores the perspectives and adaptive strategies of forest stakeholders across five regions of Europe, North to South—Finland, Lithuania, Romania, Serbia, and Greece—regarding climate change challenges in forestry. 129 stakeholders were surveyed, including forest owners, professionals, environmental NGOs, government representatives, and recreationists, who pointed at soil quality, biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and timber production as the main concerns. Regional threats varied, with storms and pests prevailing in Finland, illegal logging in Lithuania, Romania and Serbia, and fires and unsustainable grazing in Greece. Proposed solutions emphasise active forest management, stakeholder engagement and policy reforms. While Finland and Serbia are optimistic about future forest resilience, Lithuania and Romania are neutral. Greece shows mixed reactions, mainly due to concerns about the political will to implement effective forest policy. The study highlights nuanced regional responses to climate-related forest challenges and the need for region-specific approaches to forest management and policy, with broader implications for environmental governance strategies
INFLUENCE OF DRYING TREATMENT ON ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY IN FOUR DIFFERENTLY PIGMENTED MAIZE (ZEA MAYS L.) SEED CULTIVARS - Abstract
No full textConsidered as one of the major food sources worldwide, maize contains a significant quantity of bioactive compounds that contribute to certain health-promoting benefits. Seed quality is influenced by drying conditions. In this study, the effects of drying treatment and temperature on the antioxidant activity of four differently pigmented maize seed cultivars were evaluated. The seeds were dried for 1 hour at 45 °C and 90 °C, while the control seeds were at room temperature (25 °C). DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay was used to determine the antioxidant activitiy of the analyzed pigmented seeds before and after drying. Obtained results exhibit a statistically significant increase (p0.005) in the white and yellow seeds in the same conditions. The percentage of antioxidant activity also increases with rising temperature, being higher in seeds that were exposed to drying at 90°C than at 45°C. Results of the fluorescent spectroscopy analysis of the four maize cultivars indicate the differences in their emission spectral parameters. The drying conditions and the increase in temperature to which the seeds were exposed resulted in an increase of the fluorescence spectral maximum intensity. Both of the used methods are proven as reliable indicators not just for monitoring changes resulted from the drying of the seeds but also for the estimation of seed quality
Innovation Know-How Workshop.
No full textOur team at the University of Belgrade has developed a microalgae-based alternative concept of urban greening named urban photo-bioreactor LIQUID3. This concept represents a nature-based solution that targets urban areas and pockets, which cannot accommodate traditional greening due to the lack of space, high value of land, excessive air pollution, or harsh climate, such as squares and pedestrian areas, streets with intensive traffic, public indoor spaces, and cities in the regions with arid climate. The solution relies on the high efficiency of photosynthetic microalgae in CO2 fixation and O2 production and their capacity to sequester heavy metals from particulate matter of highly polluted air. LIQUID3 is an excellent example of a viable innovation and could be used as a model for learning the key aspects of the innovation development process. The dissection of the innovation process produced the innovation know-how that could be transferred to other innovators through interactive workshops. “Innovation know-how workshop” participants can learn about the process of innovation development and identify the aspects essential for a viable innovation, i.e., for bringing the concept to the public and the market
Allium Sativum Production and Therapeutic Uses
No full textTherapeutic Potential of Medicinal Plants: The Science Behind Natural Remedies, investigates the bioactive compounds and functionality of medicinal plants and herbs which are recommended to help certain health conditions and overall well-being while highlighting cultivation that can be done sustainably to promote biodiversity conservation
Genetic resources and agrobiodiversity: Foundations of sustainable agriculture in Serbia
No full textIn addition to wild biological species, domesticated species also represent an important component of species diversity, forming agrobiodiversity as an integral part of overall biodiversity. Agrobiodiversity encompasses all microorganisms, plants, and animals essential for maintaining the structure and function of agroecosystems, as well as for ensuring the sustainable production of safe and healthy food. Also, agrobiodiversity, is the central object of studying agroecology. The aim of this paper is to point out, based on the available scientific literature, the importance of agrobiodiversity in preserving ecosystem sustainability and food production. The research presented in this manuscript is theoretical and of an overview nature, based on data analysis of information collected from relevant scientific journals. A review of the literature, including the scientific works of the author of this paper, indicates that a significant part of the total species diversity of Serbia is represented by cultivated plant and animal species that constitute a significant genetic resource. Most varieties are the product of the selection of suitable species and artificial selection. 193 plant species are grown in Serbia, which include cereals, industrial and fodder plants, vegetable plants, fruits, and vines, and constitute a significant genetic diversity. It is estimated that around 25. 000 seed accessions of old varieties and local populations are stored in agricultural institutions in Serbia today. Most of the plant species grown in Serbia have their wild relatives that grow wild in natural ecosystems. Based on the review of conducted scientific research, it can be concluded that the preservation of agrobiodiversity is a key factor that enables the sustainability of the ecosystem, the survival of living organisms on Earth, as well as the production of safe food
Novel multidoped solid ionic conductor based on CeO2 for application as electrolyte in IT-SOFC devices
No full textWith progress in modern technologies, conventional methods for ceramics production are facing technical limits, therefore, some innovative synthesis procedures are needed to develop high-performance and eco-friendly materials with applications in different industries [1]. Cerium (IV) oxide (CeO2) based ceramic materials are proven to possess several advantages over other similar heat-resistant materials, for that reason, they are considered very attractive among researchers nowadays [2]. Consequently, the application of ceria-based electrolytes in solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) has grown significantly, as the technology aims to deliver excellent energy outputs within an intermediate temperature range (500–800 °C), enabled by the notably high ionic conductivity of ceria at these lower temperatures [3,4]. In this study, the synthesis of CeO2-based multidoped nanopowder by application of a time-effective, low-energy consumption, yet very simple SelfPropagation Room Temperature (SPRT) method is presented. Nanopowder of CeO2 was doped with rare earth oxides in order to obtain a highly efficient electrolyte for IT-SOFC fuel cells. Initially, obtained nanopowder oxide, with composition Ce0.8Nd0.05Sm0.05Gd0.05Dy0.01Y0.02Yb0.02O2-δ, was submitted to XRPD analysis and single phase solid solutions of fluorite structure were confirmed. Then, the sample was sintered in an air atmosphere for 2 h at 1550 °C, which induced a densification process. A rather low density value of 86 % of the theoretical value was achieved. SEM micrograph showed a highly ordered microstructure. Ionic conductivity of the sintered sample, recorded by complex impedance method, amounted to 1.03×10-2 Ω-1cm-1 at 700 °C. Finally, the investigated ceramic material shows potential for application as an electrolyte for IT-SOFC technology, though further optimization is necessary
Changes in Soil Properties Under the Influence of Microplastics in Plastic and Open Field Production in Three Serbian Valleys
No full textCrop production in plastic greenhouses is one of the major sources of plastic pollution worldwide. The main hypothesis of this study is that the regular use of mulch film in greenhouses leads to the cumulative accumulation of microplastic particles (MPs) in the soil, which ultimately leads to changes in the soil properties. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to identify the possible changes in the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soil in greenhouses in three regions of Serbia. The following chemical parameters were determined: electrical conductivity, soil acidity, cation exchange capacity (CEC), total carbon (TC) and nitrogen (TN) content, plant-available phosphorus and potassium content, and trace element content. The following physical parameters were determined: particle size distribution, volumetric mass, specific mass, and porosity; the biological parameters that were determined were microbial respiration and labile carbon. The obtained data were processed using network analysis (NA) to identify the complex relationships between MP content and soil parameters. The NA results support the main findings that the presence of microplastics leads to the destruction of soil structure, which reduces bulk density and increases soil porosity. A strong positive correlation of MPs with soil particles < 0.02 mm and a negative correlation with CEC were found. In the Danube Valley, soil respiration was 78% higher in the open ground compared to a plastic greenhouse. The results contribute to a better understanding of the influence of MPs on soil properties and its ecological functions
Exploring the effects of untreated wastewater on metal concentrations and DNA damage in common bream Abramis brama (L, 1758) in the Danube River, Serbia
No full textThe Danube River is the largest international river in the world, running through 10 countries and home to 83 million people in its basin. As it flows, the river encounters several challenges, particularly from untreated wastewater discharge in developing countries like Serbia. This pollution includes both inorganic and organic waste, with a key concern being the presence of metals and metalloids, due to their persistence and bioaccumulation potential. They may affect DNA directly and indirectly, potentially causing alterations at higher levels of biological organisation and decline in biodiversity. This study aimed to analyze the concentrations of 19 micro and macro elements (Mn, As, Ni, Zn, Pb, Li, Fe, Ba, Mo, P, Se, Al, Cd, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Cr, Cu) in the liver, gills, and muscle of common bream Abramis brama (L, 1758), as well as DNA damage level in blood, liver and gill cells. The element concentrations were measured using ICP-OES, and DNA damage was evaluated with an alkaline comet assay, focusing on 10 specimens collected during 2022 at the site on the Danube River in the capital of Serbia, which is affected by untreated communal wastewater. Findings indicated that DNA damage was most pronounced in all three tissues during the summer months, with blood exhibiting the highest level, followed by gills and liver. The gills contained the highest concentrations of most elements, with the liver and muscle following. A significant negative correlation was identified between Ni and Mn concentrations in the gills and the degree of DNA damage in blood. Conversely, a significant positive correlation was observed between DNA damage in blood and that in the gills. This study emphasizes the severe impact of metals and metalloids on affected organisms and highlights the increased DNA damage observed during the summer. The elevated levels of analyzed parameters in the gills suggest that water is the primary source of pollution.
Key words: Danube River, wastewater, metal accumulation, DNA damage, comet assay, common bream