3The genetic structure of European mudminnow populations throughout the species range was examined using 44 mitochondrial DNA and seven microsatellite loci. Ten mitochondrial haplotypes were detected, suggesting three 45 phylogeographic lineages, which likely diverged during the Early and Middle Pleistocene. These three lineages 46 geographically correspond to three regions: the Danube drainage including the Drava system and Dniester Delta, 47the Sava system, and the Tisza system. High genetic diversity observed using mtDNA was confirmed with 48 microsatellite data, suggesting the existence of 14 populations in the studied area. The isolation-with-migration 49 model showed that migration rates between populations were generally low, and were highest between the Drava 50 and its tributary Mura. According to the inferred relative population splitting times, U. krameri likely spread from 51 the eastern part of the species range to the west, which also showed the highest genetic diversity and largest

Seventy-six individuals of the European mudminnow Umbra krameri from two recent populations from Serbia (Bakreni Batar and Lugomir) and one from Bosnia and Herzegovina (Gromiželj) were analysed for habitat preferences and population structure. The population from Lugomir is a newly recorded population in Serbia. Besides this new record, it is noteworthy that all three studied locations are outside the currently known species distribution range limits.

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Significant differences (ANOVA) in three out of six meristic characters and in 16 out of 18 morphometric characters were found among Syngnathus abaster caught in the River Danube at sites 900 km upwards from the mouth of the Black Sea, the fresh waters of Ukraine, the Black Sea and the Azov Sea. The Danube populations showed significantly greater values for antedorsal (aD) and anteanal (aA) distances, but considerably smaller values for postdorsal (pD) distance and head length (L H ) than other populations analysed (Tukey-Kramer's test). The relation of total length (L T ) to standard length (L S ) for the Danube populations was L S =0·97 . L T , the length-mass relationship was M=4·122 . L 3·63 T and the mean .. of Fulton condition factor was 0·34 0·08.

As a basis for future conservation activities, the genetic and external body morphology variability of the European mudminnow Umbra krameri, a highly endangered fish species in Serbia and in Bosnia and Herzegovina, was determined for existing populations with the use of molecular markers (mitochondrial and microsatellite DNA) and geometric morphometric methods. Mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b gene analysis revealed two previously undescribed haplotypes: Da1 (the Lugomir population from the Danube River basin) and Sa1 (the Bakreni Batar and the Gromiželj populations from the Sava River system), with a corresponding genetic distance of 0·7%. Paired values of FST and DAS distances for microsatellite marker data show that the difference between the Danube and the Sava populations is seven to nine times higher than the difference between the populations within the Sava River system. Geometric morphometric analyses also support a clear separation of the Lugomir population from the Bakreni Batar and the Gromiželj populations. The analysis of the body shape variation, however, indicates a significant difference between the two genetically indistinguishable Sava populations. The observed genetic and phenetic relationships of the analysed mudminnow populations most probably represent a consequence of historical, geographical and ecological factors. These results will offer guidelines for future protection, conservation and sustainable management of this species in the region.

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The paper explains the importance and role of spatial planning in the context of the preservation and sustainable use of ecological networks. The concept of ecological networks is presented in terms of its main goals, structure, functions and approaches to biodiversity conservation. The paper gives an overview of ecological network development in Serbia, but also an overview of the activities carried out in establishing the NATURA 2000 European ecological network. Possibilities for improving the spatial planning process in light of the functional development of ecological networks in Serbia are indicated through an analysis of the requirements arising from the policies relevant for spatial planning and the development of ecological networks using the example of drawn up spatial plans.

The use of animals in the execution of complex tasks by police officers and military units does not represent any novelty in the operational and legal sense. But, this topic has not been considered enough in professional and scientific circles, for which there should be found some space, especially if we take into account certain "news" in the legislative sense occurred at the international level. The basic hypothesis of this paper refers to the consideration of the issue of the use of a police service dog. Within the previously mentioned discussion, the focus of the work is grouped into two parts, namely the first part relates to the legislative provision of the use of police service dogs in terms of training and use, while the second one refers to their tactical application when performing complex tasks. In particular, it is considered the issue of legislative news and initiatives appeared in the American legislative system. Bearing in mind the increasingly dominant attitude of the world population on the topic of animal protection, there is to be expected that a similar topic will soon be raised in our country too. In this research, in addition to analysis, deduction and comparative scientific methods, the specialization method was also used. At the end of this research, in the concluding remarks, there was presented a review of the most significant parts of the work as well as specific conclusions arising from this overall research. Of course, the authors' personal views were also included.