Abstract. The concentration of lead in blood and tibia (Pb), zinc (Zn) and cupper (Cu) in tibia, blood δ -aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALA-D; EC: 4.2.1.24) activity, hematocrit value (Hct) and micronuclei frequency (MN) of peripheral erythrocytes have been determinated in three different populations of feral pigeons (Columba livia; forma urbana and forma domestica), collected in Mitrovica town (situated close to smelter "Trepça", down closed in 2000 year ) and in rural area (Koshare willage ) . The blood lead level in feral pigeons from Mitrovica (forma urbana) was 3 times higher (149.6; 50.5 µg%) in comparison with that in feral pigeons from Mitrovica (forma domestica) and 27.7 times higher (5.4 µg% in comparison with pigeons from rural area. The Pb concentration of tibia of feral pigeons (froma urbana and forma domestica), from Mitrovica town was significantly higher (P<0.001) in comparison with control. The concentration of Zn in tibia of feral pigeons from Mitrovica town (forma urbana), was significantly higher (P<0.006) in comparison with control. The blood ALA-D activity of feral pigeons from Mitrovica town (forma urbana and froma domestica), was significantly inhibited in comparison with control. The blood ALA-D activity of feral pigeons -forma urbana from Mitrovica town was significantly inhibited (P<0.001) in comparison with the blood ALA-D activity of feral pigeons-forma domestica from Mitrovica town. The erythrocyte MN frequency of feral pigeons from Mitrovica was significantly higher (P <0.001) in comparison with controls. The smelter "Trepça" ten year after closed down pose a threat to the local environment, biota and people's health.

No abstract

Environmental pollution is a global problem that affects all aspects of life. With the development of industry and urbanism, different pollutants are being released continuously into the ecosystem, bringing disorder, imbalance, and the impossibility of self-regulation. These effects are being felt by living organisms. The particular problem is pollution that comes from metallurgy, whose processes may release heavy metals that can affect living organisms and cause numerous disorders and diseases. As a result, many heavy metals are present in the environment. They are released in the form of oxides in the air and as salts in the soil and water. It was found that they have toxic, carcinogenic, and mutagenic effects on animals and humans [1][2][3][4]. As a component of Earth's Pol. J. Environ. Stud. Vol. 25, No. 6 (2016), 2695-2699 Short Communication Accumulation of Heavy Metals in Feral PigeonsLiving AbstractThe aim of this study was to determine the effects of a ferronickel smelter in Drenas, Kosovo, in concentrations of lead, cadmium, zinc, copper, and nickel in tissues of liver, kidney, testes, femur, and tibia of feral pigeons (Columba livia). For this purpose, we took 20 birds (nine male and 11 female) from the ferronickel smelter courtyard, and 20 (11 male and 9 female) from Lubizhdë village (control group) to assess the accumulation of heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu, Ni) in soft tissues (liver, kidney, and testes) and solid tissues (femur and tibia). We found that lead (Pb) concentrations in the liver, kidney, femur, and tibia increased in the Drenas group (P = 0.160, P = 0.176, P<0.001, P<0.001), whereas lead concentration decreased in the testes compared to the control group (P = 0.030). Cadmium (Cd) concentrations in the liver and kidney increased (P = 0.460, P<0.001), whereas in other tissues it is not found. Zinc (Zn) concentrations in the liver, kidney, and tibia tissues increased (P = 0.050, P = 0.094, P = 0.258), whereas in the testes and femur it decreased (P<0.001, P = 0.556). Copper (Cu) concentrations increased in the liver, kidney, testes, and tibia tissues (P<0.001, P<0.001, P<0.001, P = 0.007), but decreased in the femur tissue (P = 0.456) compared to the control group. Nickel (Ni) concentrations increased in all examined tissues (P<0.001, P = 0.010, P = 0.292, P = 0.312, P = 0.102) of feral pigeons (Columba livia) from the smelter courtyard. The highest concentration of Ni was recorded in the liver (139.97 µg/mg d.w.).

No abstract

The subject of our research was Trifolium repens L. The aim was to assess the level of morphological and anatomical variability among populations from different habitats (meadows, roadsides, subalpine slopes) and different altitudes (891–1881 m) in Brezovica (Sharri Mountain, Kosovo). The investigation covered 26 morphological and anatomical traits in populations from 12 locations. From the results obtained during this research, it can be concluded that there is a significant difference among populations for most micro- and macro-morphological traits. There is also a tendency towards a reduction of most of the average values of the investigated parameters (total plant height, total leaf length, leaf petiole length, peduncle length, fruit weight, number of flowers in an inflorescence, stomata length on the upper leaf surface, and diameter of collateral bundle) in relation to altitude increase. However, trichome length showed consistency and was not affected by habitat and altitude changes. The results also lead to a proposal for taxonomic revision of this taxon.