Upper Cretaceous Peritidal Deposits of Olib and Ist Islands (Adriatic Sea, Croatia)

Upper Cretaceous carbonate deposits of Olib and Ist islands are characteristic of peritidal sediments. They consist of shallow subtidal deposits alternating with intertidal laminites (shallowing-upward cycles). Subtidal beds with micritic matrix predominate over peritidal sediments. Determination of the micro- and macrofauna revealed two distinctive assemblages: one of Middle to Upper Cenomanian and the other of Upper Turonian to Lower Santonian age. The relatively high proportion of subtidal over intertidal sediments (subtidal/intertidal ratio 2.72) indicates that the Middle to Upper Cenomanian beds were deposited during a fall in the third order relative sea-level curve (late HST to LST). Sediments of the next carbonate sequence (Upper Turonian to Lower Santonian) with a higher proportion of the subtidal over intertidal sediments (subtidal/intertidal ratio 4.57) indicate deposition during relative sea-level rise (TST) and highstand (HST). Senonian limestones are overlain by sediments of Lower Lutetian age

Rasprostranjenost roda Impatiens u Parku Prirode Medvednica, Hrvatska

The flora research in Medvednica Nature Park has shown the presence of four species of the genus Impatiens: Impatiens balfourii Hooker f., I. glandulifera Royle, I. noli-tangere L. and I. parviflora DC. The species I. noli-tangere is the most widespread in the Park, while the other three species are registered for the first time. Distribution mapping was done by using the basic units of the Central European grid for floristic mapping (MTB).Analizom rezultata dosadašnjih florističkih istraživanja, za područje Parka Prirode Medvednica utvrđene su četiri vrste roda Impatiens: Impatiens balfourii Hooker f., I. glandulifera Royle, I. noli-tangere L. and I. parviflora DC. Najšire rasprostranjena vrsta je I. noli-tangere, dok su ostale tri vrste prvi put zabilježene za floru Parka. Kartiranje rasprostranjenosti obavljeno je na temelju osnovnih jedinica srednjoeuropske mreže za kartiranje flore (MTB)

Vegetation mapping of Žumberak – Samoborsko gorje Nature Park, Croatia, using Landsat 7 and field data

A vegetation map of @umberak – Samoborsko gorje Nature Park with a minimum mapping unit of 2.25 ha (22500m2) was created during 2003. ALandsat ETM+ satellite image (acquired in the year 2000) and the results of field sampling were combined as mapping method. Given the constraints of the minimum mapping unit chosen, 17 classes were identified in the field and designated to corresponding polygons created by the classification of satellite image. Thirteen classes were plant communities or their combinations, while remaining four denoted various types of land cover (coniferous plantations, mixed rural landscapes, settlements and quarries). In the overall area of the Nature Park (344 km2), the most frequent type of cover was Lamio orvalae – Fagetum forest (38.4%of total area), while the most frequent non-forest community was Bromo – Plantaginetum mediae (7.9%). According to this research, as much as 77.3%of Park area is covered with forest, which is a significant increase compared to the old data of 61 % of forests. Analyses of mapped polygons showed that almost a quarter of all polygons has an area equal to, or just little bigger than the minimum mapping unit, while more than three quarters of all polygons have their area smaller or equal to 9 ha (corresponds to 300 x 300 meters square). Such an extreme mosaic landscape structure in conjunction with the constant depopulation of Park area causes further natural forestation of park and hence decreases in biodiversity. The overall accuracy of map was 65%, forest vegetation being mapped with higher accuracy (70%) than non-forest vegetation (61%)

Rasprostranjenost roda Daphne u Parku Prirode Medvednica (Hrvatska)

In order to develop the floristic map of Medvednica Nature Park, already existing data on the distribution of the genus Daphne were collected from literature and herbarium sources. Field observations were also carried out. Three species were recorded: Daphne blagayana Freyer, Daphne laureola L. and Daphne mezereum L. All recorded species have the IUCN status of endangered or low risk species. For the three species of the genus Daphne in Medvednica Nature Park, 159 localities were found and 124 (78%) of the localities were geocoded. The distribution of the species is presented on maps using a Central European grid for floristic mapping (MTB).U svrhu izrade florističke karte Parka Prirode Medvednica sabrani su postojeći podaci o rasprostranjenosti roda Daphne iz literaturnih i herbarskih izvora. Također su izvršena i terenska istraživanja. Zabilježene su tri vrste: Daphne blagayana Freyer, Daphne laureola L. i Daphne mezereum L. Sve zabilježene vrste prema IUCN kategorijama spadaju među ugrožene i nisko rizične vrste. Za ove tri vrste roda Daphne unutar Parka Prirode Medvednica ukupno je zabilježeno 159 lokaliteta od kojih je 124 (78%) lokaliteta geokodirano. Rasprostranjenost vrsta prikazana je kartama uz uporabu srednjoeuropske mreže za kartiranje flore (MTB)

Harnessing the biodiversity value of Central and Eastern European farmland

A large proportion of European biodiversity today depends on habitat provided by low-intensity farming practices, yet this resource is declining as European agriculture intensifies. Within the European Union, particularly the central and eastern new member states have retained relatively large areas of species-rich farmland, but despite increased investment in nature conservation here in recent years, farmland biodiversity trends appear to be worsening. Although the high biodiversity value of Central and Eastern European farmland has long been reported, the amount of research in the international literature focused on farmland biodiversity in this region remains comparatively tiny, and measures within the EU Common Agricultural Policy are relatively poorly adapted to support it. In this opinion study, we argue that, 10years after the accession of the first eastern EU new member states, the continued under-representation of the low-intensity farmland in Central and Eastern Europe in the international literature and EU policy is impeding the development of sound, evidence-based conservation interventions. The biodiversity benefits for Europe of existing low-intensity farmland, particularly in the central and eastern states, should be harnessed before they are lost. Instead of waiting for species-rich farmland to further decline, targeted research and monitoring to create locally appropriate conservation strategies for these habitats is needed now.Peer reviewe