Analysis of biological spectrum of Divčibare flora

One of the essential analyses which is performed during the floristic study of a region is the analysis of the biological spectrum. The analysis of the biological spectrum of the flora includes the determination of the type of life form for each taxon described in the flora of the study region. If it is considered that life form is a specific structural-functional response to the environmental effects and the result of the adaptation during the species evolution, it is clear that the basic characteristics of the site are more or less reflected in any life form. This fact is confirmed by the analysis of the biological spectrum of Divčibare flora. The study results are in correlation with the results of the analysis of the biological spectrum of the flora of Serbia and the Balkan Peninsula

Morphological characters and the range of the species Echinops banaticus Rochel (Asteraceae) in the flora of Serbia

The species Echinops banaticus Rochel. is one of the five plant species in the genus Echinops L. which have been found to grow in Serbia. The morphological descriptions in our and in foreign floristic literature contain a number of contradictory or incomplete data, which considerably impedes the regular and correct determination and identification of this species. This paper points to the above controversial morphological characters, presents the correct description of the species and the localities where it has so far been found in Serbia, according to field research and the inspection of herbarium material By morphological studies it was found that in the flower region, as correctly reported by Javorka (1925) and Nyarady (1964), pappus scales are joined together throughout their length, and that free tufts appear only at the top The leaves are, after Nyarady (1964), more or less pinnately lobed, green on the adaxial surface, covered with thin, soft, curved, glandular hairs As the range of the species in Serbia has not been sufficiently investigated, it was stated that the species Echinops banaticus Roch. was recorded at 14 localities in Serbia. All the localities are mainly situated in east parts of Serbia, east of the river Velika Morava as far as the borders of Romania and Bulgaria

The content of heavy metals in the leaves of Hypericum perforatum L. on serpentinite soils in Serbia

St John's wort is one of the best known and used medicinal plants. The demands for St John's wort in Serbia is still supplied by the collection of native plants. Therefore it was necessary to examine the concentration of heavy metals in the soil and in plant material on serpentinites and to assess the potential safe harvesting and further utilisation of this plant species. The research was performed on three serpentinite sites in Serbia: Zlatibor, Divčibare and Goč. The main soil types were determined and the contents of 7 chemical elements were analyzed in the soil and in the plant material. It was determined that the soils of all three localities had increased concentrations of nickel, chromium and manganese. The St John's wort plant material (leaves) showed the increased concentrations of iron, nickel and chromium. It was concluded that St John's wort was a tolerant species regarding the heavy metal content, and it was recommended to avoid its harvesting on the investigated localities

Seed quantity and quality in fruit heads of Aster lanceolatus Willd.: Implications for invasion success

Aster lanceolatus Willd. is a herbaceous perennial that is considered invasive in many European countries. In Serbia, this plant inhabits wet habitats and forms widespread monospecific stands. The objective of this research is to determine whether generative reproduction has an important role in the expansion of this species to new areas. In 13 different localities, fruit heads were collected from lateral and terminal parts of infructescence. Seed quantity and germination parameters were determined for seeds in the fruit heads. The results showed that the position of the fruit heads did not have a major impact on germination parameters. However, germination parameters differed among the localities. The findings of this study suggest that A. lanceolatus produces a great amount of viable seeds that germinate in an amount sufficient to ensure a successful spread of this invasive species to new areas. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 43007: Studying climate change and its influence on the environment: impacts, adaptation and mitigation

Distribution of the genus Galanthus L. (Amaryllidaceae) in Serbia

The distribution of species from the genus Galanthus in Serbia is presented, and notes on their taxonomy and ecology are given in the paper. To date, only two species from the genus are known to be present, namely G. nivalis and G. elwesii. Further research on delimitation of the taxa occurring in Serbia is needed

Biotope mapping of the Kumodraž stream watershed

Increasing negative changes in the biosphere, many of them irreversible, impose the need for the recording of the state of abiotic and biotic environmental factors in order that, with adequate measures, left over significant areas protect, degradation process slows down and lost area compensation accordance with possibilities. Therefore, for ecological planning in many developed countries, method of mapping and assessment of biotopes was introduced, firstly in rural areas and later in urban zones as well. Due to characteristic position in the transition direction from the city frindge to towards its core, area of the Kumodraž watershed area offered good basis for the application and examination of urban biotope mapping procedures. Different ways of land use, preservation of the relatively large area of open urban areas between two types of build structures and part of the free course of the Kumodraž stream offer good base for the assumption that habitats worth being preserved can be expected. The paper present results of the investigations carried out in 2006, which were compared with previous investigations as well as with the state in 2009. Prominent heterogeneity of and use, spreading of illegal settlements, but also existence of structures, which can be significant for encasement of the system of green and open spaces indicate on inadequate development of this area and also need for further investigations, which would lead to adequately planning solutions. By the mapping of the whole stream waters head and collection of attributes which characterize biotopes in details information bases for the further work on the assessment of the town biotope was obtained, as well as for argumentation for the directing the development towards protection of the remaining green areas of the city fringe

Nektarska produkcija vrsta roda Galanthus L. (Amaryllidaceae) sa područja Srbije

As a contribution to the study of the melliferous flora of Serbia, nectar production in two species of the genus Galanthus L. (G. nivalis L., and G. elwesii Hook.) was investigated. The intensity of nectar secretion was determined directly, using the microcapillary method. The study included determination of the total daily nectar amount per flower, and an analysis of nectar secretion dynamics during the day and during the flower ontogeny. The results show that the total daily amount of nectar per flower is low, and flowers of both species exude nectar only once during the day and during the flower ontogeny. However, despite the low nectar production, Galanthus species represent a first valuable source of nectar and pollen to pollinators in the early spring period, when only a small number of species are in the flowering phenophase.U ovom radu je prikazana nektarska produkcija dveju vrsta roda Galanthus L. (G. nivalis L. i G. elwesii Hook.), kao doprinos proučavanju apiflore Srbije. Intenzitet nektarske sekrecije utvrđen je direktno, metodom mikrokapilare. Istraživanje je obuhvatilo određivanje ukupne dnevne količine nektara po cvetu i analizu dinamike sekrecije nektara tokom dana i tokom ontogenije cveta. Rezultati istraživanja pokazuju da je ukupna dnevna količina nektara po cvetu mala i da cvetovi obe vrste mede samo jednom u toku dana i u toku ontogenetskog razvića. Međutim, uprkos niskoj proizvodnji nektara, vrste roda Galanthus predstavljaju prvi značajan izvor nektara i polena oprašivačima u ranoprolećnom periodu, kada je samo mali broj vrsta u fenofazi cvetanja

Genetic patterns in range-edge populations of Vaccinium species from the central Balkans: implications on conservation prospects and sustainable usage

Vaccinium myrtillus L., Vaccinium uliginosum L. and Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. are perennial, cold-adapted clonal shrubs distributed throughout Europe, northern Asia and North America. Due to their usage in food (berries) and pharmaceutical industry (berries and leaves), their natural populations are exposed to anthropogenic and other impacts that affect their genetic make-up. We analyzed 14 fragmentary distributed and small-sized peripheral populations of these species from the Balkans, which represents the southeastern-European marginal area of their wide European distributions, using RAPD molecular markers. The contemporary genetic patterns in all three species within the Balkans were generally similar, and in comparison to previous reports on populations of these species found in northward Europe, where they have a more continuous distribution, the levels of genetic diversity were more or less halved, genetic differentiation was several times higher, gene flow exceptionally low, and the expected prevalence of clonal individuals was lacking. The population dynamics of all three species within the Balkans was complex and distinct, and was characterized by a past admixture of individuals from discrete populations of the same species and interspecific hybridisation not only between V. myrtillus and V. vitis-idaea but also between V. uliginosum and V. vitis-idaea, the latter not being reported to date. Conservation measures suitable for preservation of presumably genetically distinct portions of the Balkans' gene pools of studied species have been suggested, while the utility of interspecific hybrids in breeding programs and/or in food/pharmaceutical industry is yet to be assessed