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The Mura-Drava-Danube transboundary UNESCO Biosphere Reserve represents one of the best-preserved wetlands in Europe. The Reserve’s riparian forests play a significant role in ecosystem functioning and pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) is one of the keystone species of these forests. In recent years, pedunculate oak trees in the Reserve displayed symptoms of necrotic lesions on their leaves. The lesions varied in size, from small, circular to irregular reddish brown to grayish spots to larger necrotic areas that resembled leaf anthracnose and extended along the leaf nerves. In 2021, symptomatic leaves were collected in three countries of the Reserve, i.e. Austria, Slovenia, and Serbia to identify the causative agents of these diseases. Fungal cultures were obtained from symptoms and identified using morphology and multilocus phylogenetic analyses of the ITS rDNA, partial LSU rDNA, tef 1-α, BT2, CAL, ACT, and RPB2 genes. The fungi were identified as Tubakia dryina, Tubakia sp. (Tubakia dryinoides sensu lato), Didymella macrostoma, and Apiognomonia errabunda. Pathogenicity tests done by inoculating the leaves of one-year old pedunculate oak plants revealed that the isolated fungi caused symptoms as those seen in the forest. To our knowledge, this study represents the first report of D. macrostoma as the cause of pedunculate oak leaf spot disease in Serbia and worldwide. It is also the first finding of Tubakia leaf spot disease of pedunculate oak caused by T. dryina in Austria and Serbia. Moreover, Tubakia sp. was proven to be another causative agent of Tubakia leaf spot disease. Additionally, oak anthracnose caused by A. errabunda was found for the first time on pedunculate oak leaves in Austria and Slovenia. During the past decade, pedunculate oak trees have been facing increasing threats from multiple abiotic and biotic factors which has resulted in decline and absence of natural regeneration of these trees. The results of this study add to the understanding of the contributing factors to the decline of pedunculate oak in riparian forests and are important for the development of management strategies to counteract this decline.

Riparian forests are particularly vulnerable to environmental change and anthropogenic influences because they are highly dynamic ecosystems, thus proper adaptation measures are crucial. The implementation of these measures, however, strongly depends on the actors’ perceptions of the specific problems occurring in such forests. For understanding the constraints of specific interest groups toward different adaptation activities, information in this field is essential. By conducting a questionnaire survey we explore how different types of forest managers, i.e., forestry professionals, forest owners, and conservation managers, perceive the effects of environmental change on forest management in the recently established Transboundary Biosphere Reserve Mura-Drava-Danube. We show that these forest managers are highly aware of ongoing environmental changes and appraise deteriorating forest conditions, especially after observing changes themselves. Abiotic damage is expected to increase the most, followed by biotic damage, the spread of non-native species, and tree dieback. Nearly 80% of the survey respondents expect further changes and almost all of them intend to adapt their management of forests to mitigate or prepare for these changes. Nevertheless, we show differences in sensitivity to change and willingness to initiate adaptation actions by assessing adaptation thresholds: conservation managers appear generally more tolerant to changes, which results in higher thresholds to initiate management adaptation than forestry professionals and forest owners. Respondents’ selection of target tree species depends on management goals and therefore, we found further differences between forestry professionals and conservation managers. These aspects need to be carefully considered to foster cooperation or develop sustainable management frameworks and adaptation strategies.

Originally main Danube basin floodplains would cover an area of 26,500 km², which is equal to about 3.3% of the total catchment size. In recent history, 80% have been cut off by dikes and dams for flood control, hydropower generation, to improve navigability or simply to meliorate land for agricultural purposes. River regulation, rectification and floodplain loss changed the hydromorphological conditions for many major rivers and cause the loss of large water retention areas, the acceleration and unfavourable superimposition of flood waves, the local increase of flood peaks and the loss of functional wetlands and their ecological services. The aim of the investigations commissioned by World Wide Fund (since 2009, three studies with increasing spatial resolution were carried out, for the whole Danube basin and for the lower Danube, Mura and Drava rivers) was the assessment and prioritisation of potential restoration areas to support national and international activities in respect to nature conservation, the ecological status improvement under Water Framework Directive (WFD) and flood mitigation. Aside of the review of existing and planned major restoration projects, new areas are proposed based on continuously available data sets including land use, spatial configuration, hydromorphological intactness, overlapping protected areas and different floodplain types.

The main objectives of this research were twofold: firstly, to evaluate tourists' perception of Gornje Podunavlje Special Nature Reserve, one of the four significant protected areas within the Serbian part of Mura-Drava-Danube Biosphere Reserve, and secondly, to identify the motivations behind tourists' visits to wetlands and their overall satisfaction with the visits. In addition, this study was also focused on the relationships between aforementioned constructs and tourists' socio-demographic characteristics and visit characteristics. Finally, this study attempts to address the relationships between tourists' motives for their visit, their image perception and satisfaction. The research findings showed that each of the three remaining factors had significant relationships with Satisfaction and experience. The research was conducted in the form of the survey in the period between May 2020 and April 2022 on the sample of 216 visitors. The research findings showed that each of three remaining factors had significant relationships with Satisfaction and experience. Relationships are also found between identified improvement requirements, Motivation for spending time particularly in wetlands, and perceived biodiversity image. Finally, there are significant relationships between duration of the visit with Satisfaction and experience and Motivation for spending time in nature and future behavior. Practical implications of the research results might be beneficial for managers of wetland destinations, in order to improve the offer in line with tourists' preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management of protected natural wetland habitats and flooded plains is a real challenge in nature pro­tection. Such areas consist mainly of mosaic ecosystems, highly sensitive to all natural changes, espe­cially to those of anthropogenic origin. Special nature reserve 'Gornje Podunavlje' is one of the larg­est and most important wetland habitats in this part of Europe. The area is under protection, but for centuries it has been influenced by numerous economic activities. The institutions for nature protec­tion and protected area management face numerous challenges regarding this issue. The paper focus­es on the research of the landscape changes in 'Gornje Podunavlje' and its surroundings. They have be­come a sensitive issue under the circumstances when 'Gornje Podunavlje' and its broader areas have been nominated for biosphere reserve status.

This study focuses on the means of interpreting the landscape is a visually supported summary based on the experiences of surveying special landscape values in the Hungarian settlements belonging to the Mura-Drava-Danube Biosphere Reserve (MDDBR). This work is an attempt to define and provide a holistic landscape architectural perspective, which serves to present and comprehend the landscape consisting of elements, while by highlighting the details it reveals the values of landscape, their importance and the necessity of their preservation. Landscape environment is often hard to define for a person who desires to move out of the city and comes from urban conditions, however theoretic and legal definitions do not make it much more understandable either. Therefore the primary target audience of the study is the individual looking into the natural landscape either on purpose of investment or just pleasure or relaxation. After reviewing the building blocks of landscape in general, the research focuses on describing the natural vegetation of the Mura region and the graveyards in detail, eventually it ends with an abstract of a brief description of landscape values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on the impact of protected areas on sustainable tourism development is undeniable. It means that protected areas should be significant tourism destinations for the success of sustainable tourism. The improvement of natural values, reduction of negative tourism effects on the area, strengthening of the residents' role in tourism planning, development of the nature-based form of tourism, adoption of legal regulations, and the provision of economic benefits for both managers and residents are the main activities of sustainable tourism development. The areas of Kopački Rit Nature Park in Croatia and Gornje Podunavlje Special Nature Reserve in Vojvodina Province (Northern Serbia) are parts of the European river protected area called "The European Amazon", and are protected as the Mura-Drava-Danube Transboundary UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The aim of the research is to obtain significant results regarding the attitudes and satisfaction of 1225 residents with sustainable tourism development using a quantitative methodology (PoS model), and SPSS analysis of the carried-out questionnaire. The respondents' attitudes are related to the ecological, economic, sociocultural, and institutional sustainability of the protected area as a tourism destination. In addition, interviews were conducted with the managers of natural assets and experts in their tourist development. Answers from the interviews were used to confirm the obtained results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) 2000/60/EC established a framework for community action in the field of water policy. This Directive requires the monitoring of surface watercourses' quality, which is undoubtedly influenced by the sediment composition. Their function can serve the living and transport purposes of numerous microorganisms and algae, but sediment may be a medium for transmitting dangerous toxic substances that are harmful to all living organisms in the environment as well. Many substances (including chemical substances, metals, and nutrients) can accumulate in sediment over time and be released in water or contaminate aquatic species, thus potentially negatively affecting the ecological or chemical status. Furthermore, flood events as well as human interventions can remobilise deposited sediment and thus result in the downstream and cross-border transport of sediment-associated contamination. The purpose of this investigation was to calculate the daily values of chemical elements in the transmission of suspended sediment and its accumulation in the suspended matter collected at some hydrological stations in the Danube River Basin during high flow events. The joint vision for the "Mura-Drava-Danube" area is to use the Transboundary Biosphere Reserve (TBR) concept to maintain a living river ecosystem for biodiversity and ecosystem services and to promote nature-friendly economic development for the local communities of this rural region. Therefore, this region requires a permanent sediment quality monitoring program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prioritization of alien species according to the magnitude of their environmental impacts has become increasingly important for the management of invasive alien species. In this study, we applied the Environmental Impact Classification of Alien Taxa (EICAT) to classify alien taxa from three different taxonomic groups to facilitate the prioritisation of management actions for the threatened riparian forests of the Mura-Drava-Danube Biosphere Reserve, South East Europe. With local experts we collated a list of 198 alien species (115 plants, 45 insects, and 38 fungi) with populations reported in southeast European forest ecosystems and included them in the EICAT. We found impact reports for 114 species. Eleven of these species caused local extinctions of a native species, 35 led to a population decrease, 51 to a reduction in performance in at least one native species and for 17 alien species no effects on individual fitness of native species were detected. Fungi had significantly highest impact and were more likely to have information on their impacts reported. Competition and parasitism were the most important impact mechanisms of alien species. This study is, to our knowledge, the first application of EICAT to all known alien species of several taxonomic groups in a protected area. The impact rankings enabled to identify taxa that generally cause high impacts and to prioritize species for the management in protected areas according to their impact magnitudes. By following a standardized impact protocol, we identified several alien species causing high impacts that do not appear on any expert-based risk list, which are relevant for policymakers. Thus, we recommend that alien species be systematically screened to identify knowledge gaps and prioritize their management with respect to spatio-temporal trends in impact magnitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Special Nature Reserve (SNR) Gornje Podunavlje is located in the northwestern part of Serbia, on the left bank of the Danube, along the border of Croatia and Serbia. This area is a significant spatial unit for the development of nature-based tourism and ecotourism. It is part of Bačko Podunavlje Biosphere Reserve, protected by UNESCO, and a wider area of Transboundary Biosphere Reserve Mura-Drava-Danube, which includes 10 protected natural areas in five countries. The research aims to examine the attitudes of the local population about the state of sustainable tourism development in the SNR Gornje Podunavlje using a questionnaire. A total of 205 respondents expressed their satisfaction with the environmental, economic, and socio-cultural aspects of sustainability. After quantitative analysis, the results of the research can provide nature conservation guidelines and specify the role of protected natural areas in sustainable tourism development. As the most important dimensions of sustainability, the residents highlighted the Socio-cultural and Institutional dimensions of sustainable tourism development. Slightly lower values, according to the attitudes of residents, were given to Environmental and Economic sustainability. The results of the research indicate that this destination can be important for the development of sustainable tourism. By adopting the planned management measures, this protected natural area can be a significant destination for ecotourism and other forms of nature-based tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus) is considered to be the most successful crayfish invader in Europe. It is present across the continental part of Croatia, with first records from the Mura-Drava river basin in 2008 and from the karstic Korana River in 2011. In both rivers, P. leniusculus presents an imminent threat to indigenous crayfish species (ICS). The aim of the study was to explore the range expansion of P. leniusculus 10 years after its first record in Croatia. Based on the data collected via an extensive literature search and our own fieldwork performed in 2018, we here demonstrated that P. leniusculus is the most successful non-indigenous crayfish species (NICS) in Croatia, with the invasion range covering the largest extent of Croatia compared to other NICS. Its dispersal rates in the rivers of the continental part of Croatia have remained among the highest in Europe. In the Drava River, recorded dispersal rate (21.3 km/yr) corresponded to the predictions made by the earlier study that estimated P. leniusculus dispersal over 10 years. However, due to the low number of caught individuals along the 128 km of the Drava River course, dispersal rates as well as invasion pathways (natural vs. human-mediated) need to be further explored. The predicted encounter of P. leniusculus with the invasive Faxonius limosus was not observed. In the Korana River, we observed a continued expansion of P. leniusculus invasion range in both upstream and downstream direction. Dispersal rates were higher in the upstream direction, potentially due to differences in competitive pressure by the native crayfish, Pontastacus leptodactylus, which abundances were 6 times higher at the downstream invasion front. In both rivers, a displacement of the native P. leptodactylus has been observed. Even though P. leptodactylus has been considered to be the most robust ICS, that successfully expands its range in water bodies of Croatia and Europe, it is also the species the most adversely affected by the range expansion of the P. leniusculus in the continental part of Croatia. Thus, the status of P. leptodactylus in Croatia should be monitored and re-examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Savica significant landscape is the only wetland area within the boundaries of the city of Zagreb and as such is of great value. The lake comprises a small section of an old arm of the Sava River, and 13 interconnected lakes created by the expansion of old lake arms. In terms of its biological classification, it is a eutrophic lake and provides adequate conditions for the survival of fish populations. The aim of the study was to investigate the qualitative and quantitative composition of the ichthyofauna in Lake Savica, while determining biodiversity indices, the presence of nonnative species and species composition by trophic and ecological groups. Sampling was carried out by electrofishing at 11 sites in the important landscape of Savica. A total of 20 fish species were recorded, of which 7 were non-native species. These results were compared with previous surveys of the lake. Lake Savica is inhabited by fish from standing waters of the lowlands, and the species present are generally opportune, with some interesting species for sport fishing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The document is a comprehensive review of best practices in governance and land-use policies to implement the Trans-European Nature Network (TEN-N), focusing on ecological connectivity frameworks and strategies in European countries. It discusses legal gaps, implementation challenges, and conflicts with land use, emphasizing the importance of integrating ecological connectivity into policies and engaging stakeholders. The report provides insights into the governance, policies, and laws related to ecological connectivity in the EU, highlighting key components like the EU Nature Restoration Law and the Habitats Directive. It also discusses the diverse landscapes and conservation efforts in countries like France, Portugal, Finland, Spain, and the Leipzig-Halle region, emphasizing the role of organizations like the CBD and IUCN in shaping biodiversity policy. [Extracted from the article]

Riverine floodplains are ecologically remarkable systems that have historically faced strong anthropogenic pressures. The aim of this study was to examine whether the phytoplankton functional approach by Reynolds is a useful tool for disentangling anthropogenic pressure from the impact of natural flooding on a riverine floodplain lake. Lake Sakadaš, part of the large conserved river–floodplain system along the Danube River (Kopački Rit, Croatia), was used as a case study. Historical data on phytoplankton dynamics from the 1970s, when the lake was exposed to direct inflows of agricultural wastewater, were compared with current data from a time when the lake was a strongly protected area. Analysis of the phytoplankton community, based on functional groups and their beta diversities, revealed clear variation between the observed periods. The heavy bloom of species from only one functional group with extremely high biomass indicated a highly impacted environment in the past. Recent data suggest that, with the cessation of direct pollution, near-natural hydrological conditions with flooding as a fundamental environmental driving factor, support algal assemblages characteristic of a naturally eutrophic lake. Assessing multiple pressures on floodplain lakes and disentangling their specific impacts on ecological statuses are crucial for defining the protection and sustainable management of these particularly sensitive and endangered freshwater systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Riverine floodplains are recognized as centers of biodiversity, but due to intense anthropogenic pressures, many active floodplains have disappeared during the last century. This research focuses on the long-term changes in phytoplankton diversity in the floodplain lake situated in the Kopački Rit (Croatia), one of the largest conserved floodplains in the Middle Danube. The recent dataset from 2003 to 2016 and historical data from the 1970s and 1980s indicate high phytoplankton diversity, summarising 680 taxa for nearly half a century. The variability of species richness is driven by specific in-lake variables, particularly water temperature, water depth, total nitrogen, pH, and transparency, determined by a redundancy analysis of the current data. The high phytoplankton diversity levels are sustained regardless of intense pressures on the lake environment, including exposure to strong anthropogenic pollution in the past and extreme hydrological events, both droughts and floods, which have increasingly affected this part of the Danube in the last decades. The conserved hydrological connection between various biotopes along the river–floodplain gradient seems crucial in maintaining high phytoplankton diversity. Accordingly, conserving natural flooding is mandatory to maintain high biodiversity in complex and dynamic river–floodplain systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Homogenization of the time series of observed climatic data aims to remove non-climatic biases caused by technical changes during the history of the climate observations. The spatial redundancy of climate information helps to recognize station-specific inhomogeneities with statistical methods, but the correct detection and removal of inhomogeneity biases is generally not easy for the combined effects of individual inhomogeneities. In a homogenization procedure, several time series of a given climatic variable observed in one climatic region are usually homogenized together via a large number of spatial comparisons between them. Such procedures are called relative homogenization. A relative homogenization procedure may include one or more homogenization cycles where a cycle includes the steps of time series comparison, inhomogeneity detection and corrections for inhomogeneities, and they may include other steps like the filtering of outlier values or spatial interpolations for infilling data gaps. Relative homogenization methods differ according to the number and content of the individual homogenization cycles, the procedure for the time series comparisons, the statistical inhomogeneity detection method, the way of the inhomogeneity bias removal, among other specifics. Efficient homogenization needs the use of tested statistical methods to be included in partly or fully automated homogenization procedures. Due to the large number and high variety of homogenization experiments fulfilled in the Spanish MULTITEST project (2015–2017), its method comparison test results are still the most informative about the efficiencies of homogenization methods in use. This study presents a brief review of the advances in relative homogenization, recalls some key results of the MULTITEST project, and analyzes some theoretical aspects of successful homogenization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]