New records and noteworthy data of plants, algae and fungi in SE Europe and adjacent regions, 14

This paper presents new records and noteworthy data on the following taxa in SE Europe and adjacent regions: diatom algae Cyclostephanos invisitatus, Cyclotella meduanae, and Stephanodiscus lacustris, mycorrhizal fungi Alessioporus ichnusanus and Amanita mairei, saprotrophic fungi Diaporthe oncostoma, Stropharia albonitens and Pseudomassaria chondrospora, lichenised fungus Acrocordia subglobosa, stonewort Chara connivens, mosses Buxbaumia viridis, Tortella fasciculata and Tortula protobryoides, monocots Epipactis pontica Gymnadenia frivaldii, and Orchis italica and dicots Callitriche brutia, Callitriche platycarpa and Epilobium nutans are given within SE Europe and adjacent regions

Mapping and conservation of dry grasslands on the edge of Mediterranean basin

Among conservation efforts regarding man-made ecosystems, conservation of dry grasslands on the edge of the Mediterranean basin, represent one of the most difficult challenges. These grasslands, namely, do not suffer so much the desertification, but spontaneous afforestation after abandonment. On the area Kraški rob within the North Adriatic karst, 70 km2 ha has been mapped according to PHYSIS typology. The 15.68 % of the total surface represents grasslands without visible afforestation. But completely changed socio-economic trends in the area (abandonment of agriculture) make keeping the valuable grasslands in good conditions very difficult. An alternative solution was found through activities of the LIFE - Nature project. Mowing and transporting more than 65 tons of hay from the research area to the Lipica stud farm were organized in year 2004 with management prescriptions and plan to arrange a long-term agreement with beneficial effect to grassland biodiversity