No abstract

The study focuses on the phylogenetic origin and genetic diversity of brown trout in the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula. It further aims to reveal the impact of human-mediated transfers and stocking with non-indigenous trout on the populations in this area. For these purposes, mtDNA control region and microsatellite variation of 204 individuals from 16 populations were analysed. The results indicate that mtDNA haplotypes from the lower Danube basin and southern Black Sea basins differ substantially from a subclade of the Danubian lineage consisting of haplotypes found so far in the most of the Danube basin and in the Caspian and Aral Sea basins. Considering also the results of demographic analyses, this study evidences a complex evolutionary history of brown trout in the southern and western parts of the Black Sea basin. In the Aegean Sea basin, a high frequency of the central haplotype of Adriatic mtDNA lineage has been found. The other Adriatic lineage haplotypes found in this basin differ from the central haplotype by one mutational step only, indicating a recent evolution of the Adriatic lineage in the Aegean Sea basin. Substantial genetic differentiation among populations and basins was revealed. The hybridization with Atlantic brown trout was indicated in both sea basins, but especially in the Danube basin. Compared to other European regions, it can be inferred that the introgression of exogenous brown trout in the eastern Balkan populations is rather low.

No abstract

Using morphometric, meristic and qualitative characters, we confirmed a specific status of a clade discovered based on molecular data only. The newly described species Phoxinus krkae has a very local distribution in the upper Krka River but is easily morphologically distinguished from geographically neighbouring species with much wider ranges: Phoxinus lumaireul, Phoxinus marsilii and Phoxinus csikii. Phoxinus krkae is well differentiated in statistical analyses and differs from other species of Phoxinus in northern Adriatic Sea drainages and right-bank tributaries of the middle and lower River Danube by a combination of characters, none of them unique: caudal peduncle length 1.9-2.2 times minimum depth of caudal peduncle; upper lip not projecting beyond lower lip; rostral fold absent; total number of scales in lateral series 74-84; lateral line incomplete and interrupted, commonly 17-49 (< 60% of total number of scales in lateral series) with no or few canal segments on posterior body and caudalpeduncle; scales on belly extending forward to over middle of distance between pelvic-fin base and pectoral-fin origin; patches of breast scales commonly connected by scattered scales or forming 1-3 regular rows of scales; total vertebrae commonly 38-39 (22 + 17, 22 + 16 or 21 + 17). The study reveals unrecognised morphological diversity within the group and provides the groundwork for future taxonomic study in Phoxinus in the Adriatic region and the Danube Basin.

28South-east Europe, along with the adjacent region of south-west Asia, is an important biodiversity 29 hotspot with high local endemism largely contributed by contemporary continental lineages that 30 retreated to southern refugia during colder Quaternary periods. We investigated the genetic 31 diversity of the European bitterling fish (Rhodeus amarus) species complex (Cyprinidae) across its 32 range in the western Palearctic, but with a particular emphasis in the region of Balkan, Pontic and 33 Caspian refugia. We genotyped 12 polymorphic microsatellite loci and a partial sequence of 34 mitochondrial gene cytochrome b (CYTB) for a set of 1,038 individuals from 60 populations. We used 35 mtDNA sequences to infer phylogenetic relationships and historical demography, and microsatellite 36 markers to describe fine-scale genetic variability and structure. Our mtDNA analysis revealed six well-37 supported lineages, with limited local co-occurrence. Two lineages are distributed throughout central 38 and western Europe (lineages "A" and "B"), with two zones of secondary contact. Another two 39 lineages were restricted to the Ponto-Aegean region of Greece (lineages "C" and "D") and the final 40 two lineages were restricted south of the Caucasus mountains (lineage "E" from the Black Sea 41 watershed and lineage "F" from the Caspian watershed). A signal of recent expansion was revealed in 42 the two widespread lineages and the Ponto-Aegean lineage "C". The geographic distribution of 43 clusters detected by nuclear microsatellites corresponded well with mitochondrial lineages and 44 demonstrated finely sub-structured populations. A profound population structure suggested a 45 significant role of genetic drift in differentiation among lineages. Lineage divergence in the Aegean and Caspian regions are substantial, supporting the validity of two described endemic species 47 (Rhodeus meridionalis as lineage "D" and Rhodeus colchicus as lineage "E") and invite taxonomic 48 evaluation of the other two southern lineages (Thracean "C" and Caspian "F"). 49 KEYWORDS 50 Balkan refugium; Cyprinidae; Mediterranean endemism; Ponto-Caspian region; gene flow; genetic 51 drift 52

No abstract

A review of free applications of smartphones working under the operation system of Android is made in the paper. The applications present users information about historical and cultural places of interest at travelling. There are three main groups of applications subject of discussion in the paper – world, national and regional. Their abilities, positive and negative characteristics are compares and described. A conclusion can be made that there is a necessity of new application that presents tourists detailed information about the Old capital of Bulgaria.

Construction of the dams in Lower Danube River (LDR- rkm 0 Sulina – rkm 1075 Baziasi) without fish passages, as well as illegal fishery and river bottom modification due to navigation had negative impact on sturgeon’s populations. Beluga Sturgeon, Stellate Sturgeon and Russian Sturgeon still migrate to spawn in LDR but there is lack of information relating to sturgeons long distance migration in this area. Tagging with Vemco V16 TP acoustic tags, equipped with temperature and depth sensors involved 36 adult Beluga and 44 Stellate Sturgeons provide new data about sturgeon migration. Their migrations are monitored by VR2W receivers, deployed on between rkm 71 and rkm 864. Analysis of data showed that 17% of Beluga and 30% of Stellate Sturgeon never recorded and 30% and 11% of Beluga and Stellate Sturgeon recorded in period more than 30 days after tagging. Only 5% of Beluga and 7% of Stellate Sturgeon have been recorded after a period of more than 1 year. During 2013-2016 4 adult Beluga and 1 adult Stellate Sturgeon were recorded in the IGII Dam area. Results of this investigation showed that sturgeons still approached the IG2 dam and construction of fish passage on this dam is needed.