Utjecaj veličine tijela i obojenosti prilikom odabira partnera kod prugastog smrdljivca (Graphosoma lineatum L.) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)

Female as well as male mate choice has already been recognized in many insects. The traits responsible for the mate choice in a striped stink bug (Graphosoma lineatum L.) are not yet explored. This works concentrates on few possible traits responsible for mate choice in a striped stink bug. For this analysis free living copulating individuals as well as the single ones were collected. On two different locations animals were collected and their body length, pronotum broadness and coloration were measured. No differences were found in all measured traits between copulating and control individuals, showing no preferences when choosing copulation partner. Results also show no evidence of assortative mating, referring to the body length and the pronotum broadness of both sexes. All three measured traits seem not to have an influence on the mate choice of both sexes. Further experimental testing is needed to fully excluded importance of body size and coloration in mate choice of a striped stink bug.Odabir partnera od strane ženke, kao i mužjaka, već je prepoznat kod mnogih kukaca. Evoluirale su različite strategije odabira partnera na temelju veličine tijela i zabilježene su kod mnogih vrsta kukaca, uključujući i neke smrdibube (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Osim veličine tijela kod kukaca je zabilježen i utjecaj obojenosti na odabir partnera. Osobine odgovorne za odabir partnera prugastog smrdljivca (Graphosoma lineatum L.) nisu detaljno istražene. Ovaj se rad usredotočuje na utjecaj veličine tijela i obojenosti oba spola kod odabira partnera prugastog smrdljivca. Ukupno 10 dana su na dvije lokacije prikupljane kopulirajuće jedinke, kao i slobodne (nekopulirajuće) jedinke. Životinjama je determiniran spol, izmjerena duljina tijela, širina pronotuma i zabilježena boja. Jedinke u kopulaciji su brojevno označene u svrhu izuzimanja iz analize podatke ponovljenih parenja. Podaci uključuju ukupno 65 različitih kopulacijskih kombinacija, 44 jedinki kontrolnih ženki i 53 kontrolna mužjaka. Za sve tri mjerene osobine nisu pronađene statistički značajne razlike između kopulirajućih i kontrolnih (nekopulirajućih) jedinki, što ukazuje da ne utječu na preferencije prilikom odabira partnera. Rezultati također ne pokazuju dokaze asortativnog parenja, barem što se tiče duljine tijela i širine pronotuma. Kod oba spola čini se da sve tri mjerene osobine nemaju utjecaja na izbor partnera. Unatoč dobivenom, potrebna su daljnja ispitivanja kako bi se u potpunosti isključila važnost veličine tijela i boje u odabiru partnera prugastog smrdljivca, kao i ispitivanja vezana uz mogući utjecaj kemijskih i vibracijskih signala

Dynamics, Hydrological Relations and Pollution of Precipitation and Flood Waters in a Forest Ecosystem

Background and Purpose: Water in forest ecosystems can be present in various forms. The hydrological water cycle unfolds via fundamental hydrological processes such as evapotranspiration, precipitation, infiltration and outflow. Certain infrastructure works and recent climate changes within lowland forest areas have resulted in changes in flood water and ground water trends, and in quantities of precipitation and evapotranspiration. One of the chemical water quality indicators is the presence of metals in water. Higher metal concentrations in natural waters are undesirable since they are polluters of aquatic systems and detrimental to living organisms. Particularly dangerous are cadmium and lead. The objective of this paper was to analyse watercourse levels, ground water depths, and relations between precipitation waters, flood waters, ground waters, relative air humidity and evapotranspiration. An additional objective was to analyse the pollution of precipitation and flood waters in lowland forest ecosystems. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in the Posavina region in Croatia. Precipitation data from Nova Gradiška meteorological station, watercourse levels of the Sava River and ground water depth data from piezometer stations were used in the analysis of the hydrological relations. For water quality analysis, precipitation was collected at six sample sites during the spring of 2015 and 2016. Flood water and precipitation were collected in three repetitions during the spring of 2015 and 2016. Results: Trends of the Sava River water levels and ground water levels dropped significantly. The precipitation volume trend in the study area was positive, but not statistically significant, while evapotranspiration amounts increased significantly. Conclusions: A significant correlation has been found between particular water forms in the hydrological cycle, i.e. between precipitation waters, flood waters and ground waters, and between relative air humidity and evapotranspiration. No pollution of precipitation waters and flood waters with metals was found

Forest Residue Management Impact on Rodent (Rodentia: Murinae, Arvicolinae) Damage in Pedunculate Oak (Quercus robur L.) Forests in Croatia

Small rodents (Rodentia, subfam. Murinae: real mice, Arvicoline voles) greatly affect natural regeneration, stability and dynamics of forest communities worldwide. Every 3–4 years rodent damage in Croatian state forests is the most severe in forest regeneration stands, especially in pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) and narrow-leaved ash (Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl.) forests, where rodents can seriously impede natural regeneration by damaging seeds, stems and roots of saplings. These negative interactions are an even bigger challenge nowdays as pedunculate oak and narrow-leaved ash have become more vunerable in the last decades and are known as the most sensitive species of lowland forests in Croatia due to microclimatic and macroclimatic changes and the unfavourable interaction of a whole series of anthropogenic, abiotic and biotic factors. In the last 40 years, in Croatian state forests, rodent management consisted of monitoring and mainly rodenticide use. Trying to implement IPM (Integrated Pest Management) postulates into practice over the years, different prevention methods against small rodents were tested, but not many came to use. The aim of this research was to look into different logging residue management approaches and their effect on the rodent damage in two pedunculate oak forest regeneration stands in central Posavina in Croatia. Rodent damage on stem and root of tree saplings was recorded by visual inspection on three plots (5x5 m) with scattered logging residue, and one plot (5x5 m) with no residue at one micro-depression site (95 m a.s.l.), and on one micro-elevation (99 m a.s.l.) site. Plots with scattered logging residue represented a type of forest residue management in which logging debris (branches) is cut to smaller lengths and distributed evenly at the forest regeneration stand. Plot with no logging debris represented a residue management method in which wood mass is completely removed from the regeneration stand after felling. We counted, determined and inspected tree saplings found at chosen plots for rodent damage (on stem and roots) and also determined the average weight and moisture content of logging residue (branches around 5–7 cm in diameter) found at the site. In spring 2017, 3380 tree saplings (2978; 81% pedunculate oak, 7; 0.2% narrowleaved ash and 395; 11.7% other deciduous species) were inspected for rodent damage. At micro-depression site, on a plot with no logging residue, only 13.4% of the saplings were damaged, while the average share of damaged saplings on three plots with scattered residue was more than six times higher; 87.8%. The average mass of the logging residue weighed at site with scattered residue was 10.14 kg kg/m2 and moisture content was 19.2%. At microelevation site, 25.4% of the saplings were damaged on a plot with no logging residue, while the average share of damaged saplings on three plots with scattered residue was two times higher; 51.4%. The average mass of the logging residue weighed at SRP 1–3 was 5.1 kg/m2. We also determined moderately strong positive correlation (R=0.69133) between the mass of logging residue and rodent damage and strong negative correlation (R=–0.89598) between wood moisture content of the logging residue and rodent damage. In years ahead, with unpredictable climate effects and potentially very variable small rodent dynamics, removing the logging residue after the felling could represent a residue management that contributes to a more effective and ecologically based rodent management. It could also become a usable preventive method within IPM and help prevent sever rodent damage, even during the outbreaks in pedunculate oak regeneration stands

Uzročnik crvene pjegavosti borovih iglica (Dothistroma spp.) u šumskim kulturama običnoga (Pinus sylvestris L.) i crnoga bora (Pinus nigra J. F. Arnold) na području šumarija Pazin i Đurđevac

Crvena pjegavost uzrokovana patogenom Dothistroma spp. smatra se jednom od najvažnijih mikoza borovih iglica u svijetu zbog svoje rasprostranjenosti u različitim područjima i zbog pridolaska na velikom broju vrsta i podvrsta roda Pinus. U Republici Hrvatskoj prvi je put uočena na crnom boru u okolici Slavonskoga Broda 1963. godine, odakle se proširila i u druga kontinentalna i obalna područja te je otkrivena na više vrsta borova (Pinus spp.), ali zasad postoji malo podataka o njezinoj distribuciji te osjetljivosti različitih domaćina. U ovom je istraživanju provedeno skupljanje i analiza simptomatičnih iglica crnoga i običnoga bora na području šumarija Pazin i Đurđevac tijekom 2015. i 2016. godine radi utvrđivanja brojnosti i stupnja zrelosti plodišta Dothistroma spp. te prisutnosti drugih vrsta potencijalno patogenih gljiva. Istraživanje je potvrdilo uzročnika bolesti, patogena Dothistroma spp., kao dominantnoga na istraživanim iglicama. Prema dobivenim rezultatima patogeneza se crvene pjegavosti borovih iglica te biologija uzročnika u Republici Hrvatskoj poklapaju s onima opisanim u drugim zemljama sličnih ili jednakih klimatskih prilika, iako postoje određene razlike između dvaju istraživanih područja i domaćina, pri čemu se crni bor pokazao osjetljivijom vrstom

MALL RODENT DAMAGE ON STEM AND ROOT OF PEDUNCULATE OAK (Quercus robur L.)

Sitni glodavci iz podporodica Murinae (pravi miševi) i Arvicolinae (voluharice) u šumama hrasta lužnjaka (Quercus robur L.) tijekom godina masovne pojave otežavaju prirodnu obnovu šuma, uzrokujući štete na sjemenu, stabljici i korijenu mladih hrastovih biljaka. U okviru istraživanja provedenih od 2011. g. do 2013. g. na području šumarije Lipovljani utvrđena je relativna brojnost glodavaca zajedno s udjelom dominantnih podporodica u populaciji te njihovim prostornim rasporedom. Analizirane su također štete od glodavaca na stabljici i korijenu lužnjakovog pomlatka, u okviru čega je provedena morfološka obrada oštećenoga i neoštećenoga korijenja te njihova usporedba. Utvrđeno je da pri relativno niskoj brojnosti glodavaca (0–16 %) više od petine hrastova pomlatka (22 %) može biti uništeno zbog posljedica grizenja korijena, osobito ako u strukturi populacije glodavaca dominiraju voluharice. Nadalje, pokazalo se da hranjenje glodavaca korijenjem hrasta starosti do pet godina posljedično znači gubitak do 77 % volumena korijena, 96 % korijenovih vrhova te smanjenje duljine korijena i do 97 %, čime je potvrđeno da je preživljavanje oštećenih biljaka potpuno onemogućeno. Hranjenje glodavaca korom stabljike za posljedicu je imalo stvaranje grizotina površine od 16,5 mm2 do 766,5 mm2 i to prosječno na 1,6, a najviše na pet mjesta na stabljici. Utvrđeno je da su štete na korijenu i stabljici rasle sa starošću biljaka. Usporedbom prosječnih vrijednosti volumena, duljine i broja vrhova korijena oštećenih i neoštećenih biljaka, ustanovljeno je da su razlike među njima statistički značajne kod gotovo svih visinskih kategorija biljaka i debljinskih kategorija korijena za koje je provedena usporedba. Ovim je istraživanjem dobiven kvalitativni nalaz šteta od glodavaca na korijenu hrastova pomlatka, te je potvrđeno da je sustavno praćenje dinamike, ali i udjela podporodica u strukturi populacija sitnih glodavaca, zajedno s evidentiranjem stanišnih prilika i prouzročenih šteta, preduvjet ekološki i ekonomski odgovornoj zaštiti šuma.Small rodents from subfamilies Murinae (real mice) and Arvicolinae (voles) during the years of their mass occurrence can impede natural regeneration of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) forests by causing damage to seeds, stem and roots of young plants.. Such damage on different tree species is being recorded throughout Europe periodically. In Croatian forestry an area size on which rodent damage occures in the years of their high abundance extends on 4500 hectars on average. The mere observing of the damage and of rodent presence is the most common method of evaluating rodent abundance while thorough analysis of the two is generally missing.The aim of this research was to conduct qualitative and quantitative analysis of rodent damage made to stem and root system of pedunculate oak saplings in accordance to rodent abundance, dynamics and population structure in young-growth pedunculate oak forest (Genisto elatae – Quercetum roboris Ht. 1938) situated within the region of Central Posavina (Lipovljani, Opeke). Quantitative analysis included monitoring of rodent abundance (linear transect method, three transects, 112 snap traps) and counting oak saplings on five experimental plots (5m 5m) where saplings that had gnawing marks on their stem or roots were sampled and counted as damaged. Qualitative analysis included measuring dimension of gnawing marks (widh x hight) along with scaning, analysing and comparing damaged and undamaged root systems of sampled oak saplings. The latter was done using scaner Epson Expression 10000 XL while the WinRhizo software was used to determine root varables: lenght, volume and the number of root tips. Data classification of the root lenght and number of root tips was made in accordance to four categories depending on the diamentar of root sections: 0–1 mm, 1–2 mm, 2–5 mm, > 5 mm. Roots of 115 damaged and 33 undamaged oak saplings was sampled, scaned and sorted into three categories depending on a plant hight: <40 cm, 40–80 cm, >80 cm. Plant and rodent sampling were done in November 2011, April 2012 and in May 2013. Morphological determination of rodents was done according to Niethammer and Krapp. Georeferencing of trapped animals was made using the GPS (Garmin Oregon 450). Collected data was analysed using Garmin MapSource ver. 6.16.3., Microsoft Office Excel 2007 and STATISTICA 8. Differences between undamaged and damaged roots of the saplings were tested by Student t-test, or in case of inhomogeneous variences, by nonparametric Mann-Whintey U-test. In all the analyzes 5 % error was considered statistically significant. Monitoring of the rodent population showed that in period from November 2011 till May 2013 rodent abundance varied from 0 % to 16 % and that ratio of subfamilies Arvicolinae and Murinae changed seasonally (Graph 1). Analysis of the rodent spatial distribution showed that most of real mice were trapped on transect covered by dense vegetation, while voles were mostly trapped on other two transects with less vegetation coverage. Quantitative analysis showed that the ratio of damaged pedunculate oak saplings varied from 0,0 % to 42,05 % within individual experimental plots, while the highest overall recorded ratio was 22 %. Qualitative analysis showed that the extent of damage made by rodents increased with the age of oak saplings (1–5 years), both on the root system (Graphs 2–6) and on the stam. Feeding on the stems of the saplings resulted in gnawing marks that varied from 16,5 mm2 to 766,5 mm2 in size and were 182,5 mm2 on average. Number of gnawing marks recorded on individual plant varied from one to five and was 1,6 on average. Rodent feeding on root system resulted in loss of 57–77 % of root volume, 71 %–97 % of root lenght and 65 %–96 % of root tips of pedunculate oak saplings depending on the hight of a plant. Statistically significant difference in volume, rooth lenght and number of root tips between damaged and undamaged oak saplings within almost all high and root categories was determened. This research confirmed that rodent abundance and population structure varies seasonally and is therefore important to be aware of it while it provides basic information for predicting the damage made by rodents on the pedunculate young-growth. It also showed that, in accordance to root volume, lenght and number of root tips of pedunculate oak saplings damaged by rodents – that were measured for the the first time within this research – the plant itself cannot recover from the loss

Uzročnik crvene pjegavosti borovih iglica (Dothistroma spp.) u šumskim kulturama običnoga (Pinus sylvestris L.) i crnoga bora (Pinus nigra J. F. Arnold) na području šumarija Pazin i Đurđevac

Crvena pjegavost uzrokovana patogenom Dothistroma spp. smatra se jednom od najvažnijih mikoza borovih iglica u svijetu zbog svoje rasprostranjenosti u različitim područjima i zbog pridolaska na velikom broju vrsta i podvrsta roda Pinus. U Republici Hrvatskoj prvi je put uočena na crnom boru u okolici Slavonskoga Broda 1963. godine, odakle se proširila i u druga kontinentalna i obalna područja te je otkrivena na više vrsta borova (Pinus spp.), ali zasad postoji malo podataka o njezinoj distribuciji te osjetljivosti različitih domaćina. U ovom je istraživanju provedeno skupljanje i analiza simptomatičnih iglica crnoga i običnoga bora na području šumarija Pazin i Đurđevac tijekom 2015. i 2016. godine radi utvrđivanja brojnosti i stupnja zrelosti plodišta Dothistroma spp. te prisutnosti drugih vrsta potencijalno patogenih gljiva. Istraživanje je potvrdilo uzročnika bolesti, patogena Dothistroma spp., kao dominantnoga na istraživanim iglicama. Prema dobivenim rezultatima patogeneza se crvene pjegavosti borovih iglica te biologija uzročnika u Republici Hrvatskoj poklapaju s onima opisanim u drugim zemljama sličnih ili jednakih klimatskih prilika, iako postoje određene razlike između dvaju istraživanih područja i domaćina, pri čemu se crni bor pokazao osjetljivijom vrstom

ANALYSIS OF BEAVER (Castor fiber L.) MORTALITY IN CROATIA AND SERBIA

U sklopu monitoringa dabrova u Hrvatskoj i Srbiji nakon njihove reintrodukcije, evidentiraju se gubici dabrova prema mjestu i vremenu uginuća, uzroku, spolu i starosti jedinke. Podaci se prikupljaju pomoću mreže suradnika, odnosno po evidenciji događaja. Na temelju analize prikupljenih podataka o stradanju dabrova u proteklih 18 godina, uočava se porast stradalih dabrova, posebice nakon porasta populacije i prostornog širenja dabrova, odnosno 10 godina nakon ispuštanja u Hrvatskoj. U promatranom razdoblju u Hrvatskoj je evidentirano ukupno 111 gubitaka dabrova, dok je u Srbiji taj broj znatno manji i iznosi 36 jedinki. U Srbiji nije primjetan proporcionalni porast stradanja dabrova u odnosu na dinamiku populacije. Najviše dabrova stradava u prometu, 40 % u Hrvatskoj i 17 % u Srbiji, te nezakonitim lovom i ribolovom 22 % u Hrvatskoj i 19 % u Srbiji. Iznimku čini jedna jedinka koja je stradala uslijed pada stabla na odraslog dabra. Često se kod pronalaska lešine ne može utvrditi uzrok uginuća 21 % u Hrvatskoj i 28 % u Srbiji. U Srbiji je utvrđen značajan udio uginuća zbog bolesti, čak 25 % evidentiranih gubitaka. Što se tiče starosne strukture stradalih dabrova, najvećim dijelom stradavaju adultne jedinke a potom subadultne, dok je, s obzirom na brojne nepotpune informacije, često starost nepoznata. Kada se analizira spol stradalih jedinki, također je nepoznato najviše zastupljeno, što je donekle razumljivo jer ne postoji kod dabra izraženi spolni dimorfizam, a kod utvrđenog spola neznatno više stradava mužjaka. S obzirom na vrijeme stradavanja, najviše jedinki je evidentirano u proljeće i jesen, dok najmanje dabrova stradava tijekom zime. Kao mjere zaštite dabrova u prvom redu poziva se na poštivanje zakonskih propisa vezano za ilegalni lov i ribolov, a stradavanju u prometu moguće je smanjiti ili ponegdje u potpunosti spriječiti postavljanjem žičane ograde uz prometnicu na problematičnim prijelazima. Također se mogu uspješno spriječiti gubici kod radova na vodotocima u području koje nastanjuju dabrovi, da se stručno i tehničko osoblje koje obavlja zahvat na uređenju vodotoka educira i orijentira na mjere zaštite dabrova kod izvođenja radova (zaštita nastambi i jedinki od radnih strojeva). Takozvani „opasni“ objekti u koje dabrovi mogu upasti i u njima stradati, mogu se prilagoditi na način da se dabrovima onemogući ulazak u takav prostor ili da se osigura mogućnost izlaska iz takovog prostora. U biti, zaštita dabrova provodi se dobrom medijskom prezentacijom i informiranjem javnosti o dabru i njegovom način života, mjerama zaštite i edukacijom građana. Takva izravna komunikacija omogućava i jednostavnije prikupljanje podataka o dabrovima, uključujući i podatke o stradalim ili uginulim jedinkama.Population monitoring of beavers in Croatia and Serbia is being continuously run since the first release of beavers in 1996. in Croatia(Grubešić i Krapinec, 1998, Grubešić, 2014). Serbia has started with monitoring in 1999. When the first beak has been registered in the north of Vojvodina and it has been intensified since 2004. when they started with inhabitation – reintroduction (Ćirović, 2010). As a part of monitoring beavers in Croatia and Serbia since their reintroduction, beaver losses are being recorded by place and time of death, cause, sex and age of individuals. Information is being gathered with help of a network of associates, and by evidence of events. Based on the analysis of gathered information on beaver killings in the past 18 years a growth of killed beavers has been noticed, especially after the population growth and territorial expansion of beavers, and 10 years after the release in Croatia. In the observed period in Croatia a total of 111 beaver losses have been registered, while in Serbia this number is significantly lower and amounts to 36 individuals. Based on registered beaver losses a significant rise in beaver losses in the past 7 years has been noticed on the territory of Republic of Croatia. Actually the number of killed individuals has risen significantly when the beaver population has stabilized and increased its numbers and after 10 years since the inhabitation. In Serbia, despite the stabilization and territorial expansion, registered losses are relatively small, and stagnation or slight drop in killed or died animals has been noted. The main factor of mortality in Croatia and Serbia has been traffic. About one third of beavers (50 individuals) have been killed in traffic accidents. Traffic share in beaver mortality is equal or even somewhat smaller when compared to results from some parts of Germany, where this share is from 50 % to even 86,5 % (Pokorny and associates 2014., Muller 2014).Strangulation in fishing nets has been the second most significant beaver loss in populations on the territory of Posavina and Podravina (22 beavers – 15 %). Autopsy unquestionably proved that 17 beavers (11.6 %) died from illness. For 33 of them (22,4 %), due to untimely findings or delivery to autopsy, a precise cause of death could not have been determined. When we look at beaver loss causes on the territory of Republic of Croatia traffic absolutely dominates, followed by unknown causes, and in third place illegal hunting and fishing (especially gillnets). In Serbia alongside unknown causes significant influences have diseases. From all 147 losses, only one beaver has been killed underneath a tree. Even though it has been noted he has been “killed at work” the position of the beavers body and tree points that the killing was not a consequence of knocking down the tree in question (Picture 1 and 2), but that the tree fell on the beaver as it has been passing by, most likely as a consequence of wind blowing the bitten tree down or exceptionally that an another individual knocked down the tree and it fell on the beaver passing by.Mostly adult individuals are being killed (Croatia 39, Serbia 14 beavers) which is linked to their increased activity in search for food and in moving about in general. Reasearch of other authors also shows that adult individuals are mostly being killed and mainly females (Pokorny and associates 2014).Sub adult individuals are being killed when exploring the territory (new locations) or when they inhabit a zone where the get killed easily, especially in traffic. This age group has mostly been killed in Serbia (15 beavers).In relation to sexual structure in Croatia and in Serbia a larger number of males were killed than females. Unfortunately, for half of killed beavers we were not able to tell the sex.If we look at beaver killing on a seasonal level, then two periods stick out, mostly spring then autumn. In spring beavers move more, especially the sub adult ones in search for foo and exploration of new habitats, while in autumn when they are more active in agricultural lands, they are being killed in traffic or in illegal hunting (this influence is most likely significantly bigger than the recorded one, but the prefix “illegal” points to unavailability of information and data on individuals killed this way).Illness for now are not a more significant cause of population loss, but in the future, especially in areas overcrowded by beaver, the might have a more significant role in the reduction of population, considering that we are dealing with a species (rodents) that are sensitive to certain diseases (leptospirosis, tularemia) (Parker and ass. 1951, Hopla 1974, Hornfeldti sur. 1986, Morneri sur., 1988, Wolli sur. 2012).Certain problems or flaws in delivering information on losses emerge due to associates not being educated; these are accidental findings by people who have seen this species most likely for the first time. Apart from that some information has been delivered without details that would give a clearer picture in determining a cause of death, age and sex.As a measure of protecting beavers first in line is respecting the legislation connected to illegal hunting and fishing, and the traffic killing might be decreased or somewhere completely prevented by setting up a wire fence alongside roads in troubling crosses. Also losses can be successfully prevented in watercourse construction in territories inhabited by beavers, that the personnel that is carrying out the construction is being educated and pointed to beaver protection measures while carrying out the work (lodge and animal protection from excavators). So called “dangerous” objects in which beavers can fall into and get hurt, can be adjusted in a way that beavers are enabled to get into such spaces but also to ensure the possibility of getting out from such a space. Beaver protection is being carried out by good media presentation and informing the public of beavers and their way of life, protection measures and citizen education. Such direct communication enables and simplifies information gathering on beavers, also including information on killed or died individuals

Monitoring of Hard Ticks at Urban Recreational Sites in the City of Zagreb from 2016 to 2018

Kako se učestalost i rasprostranjenost krpeljnih bolesti širom svijeta povećava, postoji stvarna potreba za boljim razumijevanjem distribucijske ekologije njihovih vektora. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je odrediti raznolikost faune tvrdih krpelja (Acari: Ixodidae) i njihovu sezonsku dinamiku na različitim staništima u tri urbana rekreacijska odredišta u glavnom gradu Hrvatske, Zagrebu, poznatom kao prirodnom žarištu lajmske borelioze i krpeljnog meningoencefalitisa. Tijekom trogodišnjeg razdoblja (2016. - 2018. god.) jedina determinirana vrsta bila je Ixodes ricinus Linnaeus, 1758. Metodom krpeljne zatege, prikupljeno je 506 jedinki tvrdih krpelja, od čega 273 (54%) u razvojnom stadiju nimfe, 166 (33%) u stadiju ličinke i 64 (13%) u odraslom stadiju. Najveći broj krpelja sakupljen je u šumskom staništu. Sezonska aktivnost krpelja dosezala je maksimume sredinom proljeća i sredinom ljeta. Kontinuirano praćenje populacije tvrdih krpelja u urbanim područjima trebalo bi, i moglo bi, postati standardna metoda prevencije bolesti koje prenose krpelji.As tick-borne disease incidence and distribution is increasing worldwide, there is a true need for better understanding of the distributional ecology of their vectors. The aim of this study was to determine the diversity of hard ticks fauna (Acari: Ixodidae) and their seasonal dynamics in different habitats at three urban recreational sites in Croatia\u27s capital, the City of Zagreb known as the natural foci of Lyme borreliosis and tick borne encephalitis. Within a three-year period (2016 - 2018), the only species detected was Ixodes ricinus Linnaeus, 1758. Using flag dragging method 506 ticks were sampled; 273 (54%) in their nymphal stage, 166 (33%) as larvae and 64 (13%) as adults. The highest abundance of ticks was recorded at forest habitat. Seasonal activity showed their peaks at midspring and midsummer. Continuous monitoring of hard tick population in urban areas should and could become a standard method of tick-borne diseases prevention