Sternbergia colchiciflora Waldst. et Kit. (Amaryllidaceae), a new genus and species in the flora of Kosovo

This paper reports Sternbergia colchiciflora Waldst. et Kit. as a new genus and species for the flora of Kosovo. Almost 30 adult individuals of this species were recorded for the first time in southwestern Kosovo during 2015, within the Canyon of the White Drin at Fshajt Bridge. Considering the low number of individuals and very limited distribution, this species should be treated as a critically endangered taxon in Kosovo

Galanthus elwesii Hook (Amaryllidaceae) in the flora of Kosovo

Flora of the southern part of Kosovo is studied in a limited way due to the difficult terrain and the fact that up to 1990s it was a military area. Through this article, we report Galanthus elwesii Hook for the first time from Kosovo. This species is found in different habitats mainly in siliceous substrate or wet meadows of Dragash Municipality. This species was collected in Vraça mountains near Restelica (part of National Park “Sharri”) on the road leading to the border with Macedonia. The study area consists of territories belonging to phytogeographic system Skardon - Pindik (Sharri - Pindi) and includes the mountain ranges of Sharri and Korabi. This research includes the presence, description, spread and mapping of this endemic plant

The future distribution of wetland birds breeding in Europe validated against observed changes in distribution

Wetland bird species have been declining in population size worldwide as climate warming and land-use change affect their suitable habitats. We used species distribution models (SDMs) to predict changes in range dynamics for 64 non-passerine wetland birds breeding in Europe, including range size, position of centroid, and margins. We fitted the SDMs with data collected for the first European Breeding Bird Atlas and climate and land-use data to predict distributional changes over a century (the 1970s-2070s). The predicted annual changes were then compared to observed annual changes in range size and range centroid over a time period of 30 years using data from the second European Breeding Bird Atlas. Our models successfully predicted ca. 75% of the 64 bird species to contract their breeding range in the future, while the remaining species (mostly southerly breeding species) were predicted to expand their breeding ranges northward. The northern margins of southerly species and southern margins of northerly species, both, predicted to shift northward. Predicted changes in range size and shifts in range centroids were broadly positively associated with the observed changes, although some species deviated markedly from the predictions. The predicted average shift in core distributions was ca. 5 km yr(-1) towards the north (5% northeast, 45% north, and 40% northwest), compared to a slower observed average shift of ca. 3.9 km yr(-1). Predicted changes in range centroids were generally larger than observed changes, which suggests that bird distribution changes may lag behind environmental changes leading to 'climate debt'. We suggest that predictions of SDMs should be viewed as qualitative rather than quantitative outcomes, indicating that care should be taken concerning single species. Still, our results highlight the urgent need for management actions such as wetland creation and restoration to improve wetland birds' resilience to the expected environmental changes in the future

Ecological barriers mediate spatiotemporal shifts of bird communities at a continental scale

This study was supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (grant P2BEP3_195232) and by the Academy of Finland (project 323527 and project 329251).Species' range shifts and local extinctions caused by climate change lead to community composition changes. At large spatial scales, ecological barriers, such as biome boundaries, coastlines, and elevation, can influence a community's ability to shift in response to climate change. Yet, ecological barriers are rarely considered in climate change studies, potentially hindering predictions of biodiversity shifts. We used data from two consecutive European breeding bird atlases to calculate the geographic distance and direction between communities in the 1980s and their compositional best match in the 2010s and modeled their response to barriers. The ecological barriers affected both the distance and direction of bird community composition shifts, with coastlines and elevation having the strongest influence. Our results underscore the relevance of combining ecological barriers and community shift projections for identifying the forces hindering community adjustments under global change. Notably, due to (macro)ecological barriers, communities are not able to track their climatic niches, which may lead to drastic changes, and potential losses, in community compositions in the future.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

The future distribution of wetland birds breeding in Europe validated against observed changes in distribution

Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Author(s). Published by IOP Publishing Ltd.Wetland bird species have been declining in population size worldwide as climate warming and land-use change affect their suitable habitats. We used species distribution models (SDMs) to predict changes in range dynamics for 64 non-passerine wetland birds breeding in Europe, including range size, position of centroid, and margins. We fitted the SDMs with data collected for the first European Breeding Bird Atlas and climate and land-use data to predict distributional changes over a century (the 1970s-2070s). The predicted annual changes were then compared to observed annual changes in range size and range centroid over a time period of 30 years using data from the second European Breeding Bird Atlas. Our models successfully predicted ca. 75% of the 64 bird species to contract their breeding range in the future, while the remaining species (mostly southerly breeding species) were predicted to expand their breeding ranges northward. The northern margins of southerly species and southern margins of northerly species, both, predicted to shift northward. Predicted changes in range size and shifts in range centroids were broadly positively associated with the observed changes, although some species deviated markedly from the predictions. The predicted average shift in core distributions was ca. 5 km yr-1 towards the north (5% northeast, 45% north, and 40% northwest), compared to a slower observed average shift of ca. 3.9 km yr-1. Predicted changes in range centroids were generally larger than observed changes, which suggests that bird distribution changes may lag behind environmental changes leading to 'climate debt'. We suggest that predictions of SDMs should be viewed as qualitative rather than quantitative outcomes, indicating that care should be taken concerning single species. Still, our results highlight the urgent need for management actions such as wetland creation and restoration to improve wetland birds' resilience to the expected environmental changes in the future.Peer reviewe

Distribution, migration and dynamic of Kosovo white stork (Ciconia ciconia) population

2017 ve 2018 yıllları ilkbaharında başlayan bu çalışmada, Kosova'daki Leylek (Ciconia ciconia) populasyonlarının dağılım, göç ve dinamiği ilk kez araştırılmıştır. Daha önceden bilinen 22 yuvaya ilaveten bulunan 61 yeni yuva ile birlikte ülke genelindeki toplam yuva sayısı 83'e ulaşmış ve 72'si yavru çıkartan başarılı çiftler olduğu görülmüştür. Başarılı çiftler toplamda 461 yavru yetiştirmiştir. Kullanılan bütün yuvalara göre yavru sayısı iki yıllık toplamda 3,18 ve başarılı çiftlere göre yavru sayısı ise toplamda 3,19 olarak bulunmuştur. Ortalama üreme yoğunluğu, 100 km2'de 0,013 üreyen çift olarak hesaplanmıştır ve biyolojik populasyon yoğunluğu, 100 km2 nehir havzası başına düşen çiftlerin sayısı, toplamda 4,83 olarak belirlenmiştir. Kaydedilen yuvaların % 48,61'i farklı elektrik direklerindedir. Kaydedilen yuvaların çoğunluğu kuru tarım alanlarında (% 39,95) (CAÖ sınıfı 211) ve karışık tarım alanlarında (% 18,85) bulunmaktadır (CAÖ sınıfı 242). Kosova'daki ilk leylek takibi 2016-2018 yıllarında bu çalışmalar sırasında gerçekleştirilmiş ve 8 yavru leyleğe GPS vericileri takılmıştır. Elde edilen veriler sonucunda Kosova'da üreyen leyleklerin Orta, Doğu ve Güney Afrika'daki kışlama bölgelerine ulaştıkları tespit edilmiştir.In this study during 2017 - 2018 for the first time in Kosovo the research on distribution, migration and population dynamics of the Kosovo White Stork was made. 61 new nests were found in the whole country territory and together with 22 known nests the total population is estimated to 83 nests and 72 breeding pairs. In total 461 chicks raised in the succesfully nests. Breeding success for the country territory during the observation period of all breeding pairs was 3.18, and 3.19 of all breeding pairs that raised chicks. The mean breeding density, breeding pairs/100 km2 of country territory, was 0.013 and the biological population density, breeding pairs/100 km2 of river basin was 4.83. 48.61 % of all recorded White Stork nests were located on various poles. The majority of the recorded nests (39.95 %) were located in non-irrigated arable land (CLC class 211), followed with those in the areas of complex cultivation patterns (CLC class 242) – 19 %. White Stork tracking was possible for the first time to track with GPS loggers in 2016 - 2018 for 8 juveniles from the population in Kosovo. Our results enable us to document, for the first time, the passage of White Storks from their breeding ground in Kosovo into the wintering places in central eastern and southern Africa

Epimedium alpinum subsp. albanicum new subspecies for the flora of Kosovo

This paperwork provides data on the endemic taxa Epimedium alpinum subsp. albanicum Kit Tan, Shuka & Hallaçi, which is observed and identified for the first time for the territory of Kosovo. This taxon was found in Qafë Morine (Pass of Morina) within the locality of Devë, and Qafë Prush Municipality of Gjakova, on the road toward the border with Albania. Epimedium alpinum subsp. albanicum, is found in serpentine substrates which has a limited extent of presence in the investigated areas. This research includes the presence, description and distribution of this new taxa for the flora of Kosovo

Results of the International Waterbird Census in Kosovo in period 2019 - 2021

This paper represents the results of the International Waterbird Census, made for the first time in Kosovo within the period 2019-2021. Here are included summarized data from all locations that were gathered during the January period. A total of 26.760 birds were recorded in all surveyed sites during three years. The most common species is the Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) with about 70% of the total number of waterbirds where Obiliq, Radoniq and Batllava lakes, registered the highest number of waterbirds, which indicates the most important water habitats in the country.</p

A rare case report - Ovary attached to testicle inside hernia sac

We report the case of a 67-year-old man, father of 3 children with left indirect inguinal hernia containing uterus with cervix, fallopian tube and an ovary attached to the testicle, also spread ovarian tissue and right congenital cryptorchidism. Coincidentally detected during an operation for left inguinal hernia. Persistent Mullerian duct syndrome is a rare form of male pseudo-hermaphroditism detected coincidently during surgical operation on cryptorchidism or inguinal hernia

The future distribution of wetland birds breeding in Europe validated against observed changes in distribution

Wetland bird species have been declining in population size worldwide as climate warming and land-use change affect their suitable habitats. We used species distribution models (SDMs) to predict changes in range dynamics for 64 non-passerine wetland birds breeding in Europe, including range size, position of centroid, and margins. We fitted the SDMs with data collected for the first European Breeding Bird Atlas and climate and land-use data to predict distributional changes over a century (the 1970s–2070s). The predicted annual changes were then compared to observed annual changes in range size and range centroid over a time period of 30 years using data from the second European Breeding Bird Atlas. Our models successfully predicted ca. 75% of the 64 bird species to contract their breeding range in the future, while the remaining species (mostly southerly breeding species) were predicted to expand their breeding ranges northward. The northern margins of southerly species and southern margins of northerly species, both, predicted to shift northward. Predicted changes in range size and shifts in range centroids were broadly positively associated with the observed changes, although some species deviated markedly from the predictions. The predicted average shift in core distributions was ca. 5 km yr−1 towards the north (5% northeast, 45% north, and 40% northwest), compared to a slower observed average shift of ca. 3.9 km yr−1. Predicted changes in range centroids were generally larger than observed changes, which suggests that bird distribution changes may lag behind environmental changes leading to 'climate debt'. We suggest that predictions of SDMs should be viewed as qualitative rather than quantitative outcomes, indicating that care should be taken concerning single species. Still, our results highlight the urgent need for management actions such as wetland creation and restoration to improve wetland birds' resilience to the expected environmental changes in the future