Genetic Diversity Analysis of Mitochondrial Gene, Phylogeny and Phylogeography of Protected Griffon Vulture () from Serbia.

Once a widespread and common species across the region of southeast Europe, the Griffon vulture is now confined to small and isolated populations across the Balkan Peninsula. The population from Serbia with 290 couples represents its biggest and most viable population that can serve as an important reservoir of genetic diversity from which the birds can be used for the region's reintroduction or recolonization programs. To estimate the level of genetic diversity, the mitochondrial gene from 58 unrelated birds sampled during the marking in the nests was sequenced and compared to the homologous Griffon vulture sequences available in publicly accessible online databases.

New insight into spatial ecology of Griffon Vulture () on the Balkans provides opportunity for focusing conservation actions for a threatened social scavenger.

The knowledge in the behaviour and movement of endangered species is of key importance for the precise targeting and assessing the efficiency of nature conservation actions, especially considering vultures, which explore vast areas to locate ephemeral and unpredictable food resources. Therefore, a total of 51 Griffon Vultures () from both the re-introduced population and the autochthonous Balkan Peninsula (Balkans) colonies have been tagged with GPS/GSM transmitters in recent years, in order to study their seasonal and spatial distribution. The current study presents the analysis of the high-resolution GPS location data, acquired between January 2016 and March 2021.

Genetic diversity of the Griffon vulture population in Serbia and its importance for conservation efforts in the Balkans.

The Griffon vulture was once a widespread species across the region of Southeast Europe, but it is now endangered and in some parts is completely extinct. In the Balkan Peninsula the largest Griffon vulture inland population inhabits the territory of Serbia. We present, for the first time, the genetic data of this valuable population that could be a source for future reintroduction programs planned in South-eastern Europe.

Allocation of Metals and Trace Elements in Different Tissues of Piscivorous Species Phalacrocorax carbo.

Great cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo) are piscivorous birds, and as apex predators they accumulate high levels of contaminants from the aquatic ecosystems. In the present study, we analyzed distribution of Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, and Zn in ten tissues (muscle, liver, kidney, spleen, gizzard, heart, skin, lard, breast feathers, and remiges) of the Great cormorants in the Marin Sprud locality, the Danube River, Serbia. Concentrations of elements in tissues were assessed by using inductively coupled plasma optical spectrometry.