The Canton Sarajevo has the highest number of protected natural areas, among the other cantons in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, including natural monument and protected landscape as follows: Skakavac, Bijambare, Vrelo Bosne, Trebević and Bentbaša. Each of these areas is characterized by specific geomorphological, hydrological, pedological, biological and ecological features, serving as centers of biological diversity for flora, fauna and fungi. This paper provides insights into the diversity of cyanobacteria and algae within selected protected areas of the Canton Sarajevo. To date, 268 taxa of cyanobacteria and algae have been identified within these areas. Bijambare boasts the highest species count (155), followed by Vrelo Bosne (66) and Skakavac (66). Data on the diversity of these organisms in Bentbaša and Trebević are currently unavailable, highlighting the need for more detailed and systematic research in these areas. Beyond establishing a list of cyanobacteria and algae, continuous monitoring of their habitats in the protected areas of Canton Sarajevo is essential. Given that cyanobacteria and algae are excellent bioindicators of aquatic ecosystems, incorporating them into planning documents for ongoing monitoring is a crucial step in preserving these valuable regions.  

The field research for this study was carried out during the autumn season in 2018 at three well developed peatland ecosystems on Vranica mountain. Collection of diatom samples was carried out by squeezing Sphagnum moss. After squeezing, collected material was fixed with 4% solution of formalin. Laboratory processing of diatom samples was carried out applying methods used by Hustedt (1930). A total of 78 taxa belonging to 33 genera were determined in the collected samples. Genera with the highest number of species were Eunotia (14), Pinnularia (11), Gomphonema (5) and Neidium (5). Altogether 77 diatom taxa mostly belonging to pennate diatoms were found. The only centric species, Aulacoseira alpigena (Grunow) Krammer 1991, appeared in one sample only. The most common species were Encyonema perpusillum, Pinnularia borealis, Frustulia crassinervia, Pinnularia rupestris, Eunotia paludosa, Pinnularia microstauron, Pinnularia perirrorata, Eunotia valida, Tabellaria ventricosa, Pinnularia subcapitata var. elongata. This study showed the presence of the large number of rare and endangered species in the peatland ecosystems on Vranica mountain, but also pronounced negative anthropogenic influences. In order to protect these unique and extremely valuable ecosystems in the future, certain restoration and conservation actions should be undertaken. These activities should be seen in the establishment of long-term monitoring and prevention of further degradation of peatland ecosystems through more active and stronger protection.

This paper presents new records and noteworthy data on the following taxa in SE Europe and adjacent regions: green algae Cosmarium formosulum and Tetraspora gelatinosa, fungi Coprinopsis melanthina, Heteroxylaria oxyacanthae, Lophodermium petiolicolum, Peziza ostracoderma, and Phylloporia ribis, lichen Sphaerophorus globosus, liverworts Scapania curta and Solenostoma gracillimum, mosses Buxbaumia viridis, Sphagnum cuspidatum var. viride, and Sphagnum medium, dicots Hippuris vulgaris and Viola orbelica and monocots Arundo donax, × Gymnigritella suaveolens, Ophrys insectifera, and Ornithogalum montanum.

This paper presents new records and noteworthy data on the following taxa in SE Europe and adjacent regions: brown alga Heri­baudiella fluviatilis, fungi Holmiella sabina, Lysurus cruciatus, and Psathyrella ammophila, lichen Umbilicaria subpolyphylla, liverwort Kurzia pauciflora, mosses Climacium dendroides, Dicranella howei, Fissidens rivularis, F. viridulus, and Sphagnum papillosum, dicots Hesperis matronalis subsp. candida, Hieracium gaudryi, Lythrum hyssopifolia, Lythrum tribracteatum, and Taraxacum janchenii and monocots Allium moschatum, Cyperus esculentus, Dactylorhiza × aschersoniana, Dactylorhiza incarnata, Ophrys insectifera, and Schoenoplectus litoralis.

The overview of charophytes in Bosnia and Herzegovina has been updated after 35 years through a revision of existing specimens in the BEOU Charophyte Collection, verification and listing of known vouchers in other herbarium collections, and a detailed review of the available literature covering the period from 1848 to 2024. According to all available data, 18 species and three genera of charophytes are found in 122 sites in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Chara papillosa Kütz. and C. subspinosa Rupr. are newly reported species in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Chara vulgaris L., C. contraria A. Braun ex Kütz., C. globularis Thuill., C. gymnophylla (A. Braun) A. Braun, and C. squamosa Desf. are the most frequently recorded. The Dinaric Mountains mixed forests are the most representative and species-rich ecoregion. Most charophytes were recorded before 1930 and after 1980, with a clear discrepancy between the sites documented in these periods. Bosnia and Herzegovina has the lowest charophyte species richness compared to neighbouring countries. We strongly encourage further revision of available collections and continued systematic field research, which will enable the preparation of the Red List and the formal protection of species and habitats.

This paper presents new records and noteworthy data on the following taxa in SE Europe and adjacent regions: green alga Cosmarium crenulatum, fungi Calvatia fragilis, Hypoxylon fuscum, Myriostoma coliforme and Zeus olympius, mosses Antitrichia curtipendula, Buxbaumia viridis, Homalothecium meridionale, Physcomitrium arenicola, Sphagnum inundatum and Syntrichia calcicola, monocots Anacamptis ? nicodemi nothosubsp. nicodemi, Ornithogalum montanum and Parapholis incurva and dicots Cardamine waldsteinii and Suaeda salsa.

This paper presents new records and noteworthy data on the following taxa in SE Europe and adjacent regions: diatom alga Achnanthidium rosenstockii, bryoparasitic fungi Arrhenia retiruga and Arrhenia spathulata, saprotrophic fungi Coccomyces dentatus and Hysterobrevium mori, liverworts Lunularia cruciata and Pallavicinia lyellii, fern Salvinia natans, monocots Eleocharis carniolica and Pseudorchis albida and dicots Biscutella laevigata, Fumana arabica, Hieracium ferdinandi-coburgii, Impatiens balfourii, and Onosma pseudoarenaria subsp. fallax

Microscopic signs indicative of drowning are not specific to drowning but also to any other form of suffocation where mechanical obstruction is involved. Our study aimed to evaluate both macroscopic and microscopic findings across different groups sharing a common mechanism of death but differing causes and to compare the diatom test with pathohistological examination.Twenty-nine adult Wistar rats, weighing within recommended ranges, were divided into four groups (L1-L4). The diatom test followed established guidelines for diatoms in water from the Bosna River. Microscopic examination revealed diatoms in the lungs of rats in L3 and L4 groups. Pathohistological findings showed varying degrees of changes including consolidation and inflammatory cell infiltration, dominated by lymphocytes and macrophages, with some samples also showing eosinophilic leukocytes.Significant differences were observed between animals whose cause of death was mechanical asphyxia (suffocatio) and those that were submersed for1 hour versus those that were submersed for 72 hours after death. Diatoms identified in group L4 samples 3, 4, and 5 included Navicula sp. (U3 and U6) and Ulnaria ulna (U4).Our findings suggest combining the diatom test with pathohistological analysis to support a drowning diagnosis. Further examination of other organs could enhance result reliability.

Background: There is no specified diagnostic procedure that can help in determining the cause of death and the diagnosis of drowning because the pathohistological signs are almost identical and non-specified. Aim: Our study aims to recognize and prove diatom appearance in organs from a forensic aspect in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and to examine which is the more specific method in the diagnosis of drowning, the diatom test or the pathohistological finding. Methods: Rats of the recommended body weight were divided into four groups: G1 (n = 8; mechanism of death—asphyxia; cause of death—suffocation, submerged 1 hour after death); G2 (n = 8: mechanism of death-asphyxia; cause of death-suffocation, immersed 72 hours after death); G3 (n = 8: mechanism of death-asphyxia; cause of death-drowning, autopsy immediately after death), and G4 (n = 8: mechanism of death-asphyxia; cause of death-drowning, post mortem 24 hours after death). Results: During the diatom analysis, four species of diatoms, Diatoma vulgaris, Melosira varians, Epithemia adnata, and Cymbella sp, were successfully recovered from the stomach. Microscopic analysis did not detect diatoms in the kidneys and brains of rats, while the pathohistological changes were relatively uniform. Conclusion: Our results propose that the diatom test is a sustainable tool for supporting the diagnosis of drowning in the forensic pathology analysis of the cause of death. This experimental study is a starting point toward the optimization of tests and sampling in cases of unexplained etiology.

Abstract The paper provides an overview of all freshwater red algae species recorded to date in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Based on fieldwork and analysis of all available previously published data, it was determined that a total of 15 taxa from eight genera have been recorded to date: Bangia (1), Audoinella (3), Batrachospermum (2), Peludicola (1), Shaethia (1), Lemanea (4), Paralemanea (2) and Hildenbrandia (1). All taxa were found in clear, cold, well-oxygenated water. Bosnia and Herzegovina is very rich in different types of aquatic habitats. More than 100 sites were visited during the field research, but there are still many potential habitats where freshwater red algae can be found, which will be explored in the coming years. This work is the first step toward establishing long-term monitoring and listing of protected and threatened red algae in Bosnia and Herzegovina.