Boka Kotorska Research Articles

Antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity of selected macroalgae from the Adriatic Sea (Boka Kotorska Bay, Montenegro)

<p>In this study, the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities of <em>Codium bursa, Codium effusum</em>, <em>Laurencia</em> <em>obtusa</em> and <em>Padina</em> <em>pavonica </em>from the Adriatic Sea were investigated. The antioxidant activities were characterized by the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) method and their total phenolic and flavonoid contents were quantified. The antimicrobial activity of four species against 8 pathogenic bacteria: <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>, <em>Bacillus</em> <em>cereus</em>, <em>Micrococcus</em> <em>luteus</em>, <em>Listeria</em> <em>monocytogenes</em>, <em>Pseudomonas</em> <em>aeruginosa</em>, <em>Salmonella</em> <em>Typhimurium</em>, <em>Escherichia</em> <em>coli</em>, <em>Enterobacter</em> <em>cloacae</em> and 8 fungi: <em>Aspergillus</em> <em>fumigatus</em>, <em>Aspergillus versicolor</em>, <em>Aspergillus ochraceus</em>, <em>Aspergillus niger</em>, <em>Trichoderma</em> <em>viride</em>, <em>Penicillium</em> <em>funiculosum</em>, <em>Penicillium ochrochloron</em> and <em>Penicillium verrucosum</em> var. <em>cyclopium</em>) were used. The antitumor activities were determined using two different tumor cell lines (HeLa and K562). The results have shown potential antioxidant activity of <em>Padina pavonica</em>, antibacterial and antifungal activity of <em>Codium effusum</em>, and strong cytotoxic activity of <em>Laurencia</em> <em>obtusa</em>. </p>

First Record of Species Ostreopsis cf. ovata in the Water Column on the Montenegrin Coast of the Adriatic Sea (Boka Kotorska Bay)

First Record of Species Ostreopsis cf. ovata in the Water Column on the Montenegrin Coast of the Adriatic Sea (Boka Kotorska Bay)

Application of Caged Sparus aurata in Biomonitoring of the Boka Kotorska Bay (Montenegro)

Application of Caged Sparus aurata in Biomonitoring of the Boka Kotorska Bay (Montenegro)

VALTAZAR BOGIŠIĆ KAO PROUČAVALAC USMENE KNJIŽEVNOSTI BOKE KOTORSKE

In this paper, the author reflects on Valtazar Bogišić’s research into oral literature heritage of Boka Kotorska, first and foremost on his book Narodne pjesme iz starijih najviše primorskih zapisa, in which Bogišić provides a comprehensive comment on bugarštice poetry. For decades, Bogišić has encouraged the search for oral literature manuscripts from Boka Kotorska, publishing the first comments on those manuscripts and collecting their original versions or transcripts with the intention of publishing them. Along with an abundance of manuscripts, partially published correspondence with Bogišić’s key associate in this endeavour – Perast’s priest Srećko Vulović is kept in Baltazar Bogišić’s Museum in Cavtat today, presenting a very valuable source for studying the oldest preserved layer of South-Slavic oral literature heritage. Key words: Valtazar Bogišić, oral literature, Boka Kotorska, bugarštice

A large non-parasitic population of Savalia savaglia (Bertoloni, 1819) in the Boka Kotorska Bay (Montenegro)

The golden coral Savalia savaglia is a long-living ecosystem engineer of Mediterranean circalittoral assemblages, able to induce necrosis of gorgonians’ and black corals’ coenenchyme and grow on their cleaned organic skeleton. Despite its rarity, in Boka Kotorska Bay (Montenegro) a shallow population of more than 1000 colonies was recorded close to underwater freshwater springs, which create very peculiar environmental conditions. In this context, the species was extremely abundant at two sites, while gorgonians were rare. The abundance and size of S. savaglia colonies and the diversity of the entire benthic assemblage were investigated by photographic sampling in a depth range of 0–35 m. Several living fragments of S. savaglia spread on the sea floor and small settled colonies (< 5 cm high) suggested a high incidence of asexual reproduction and a non-parasitic behaviour of this population. This was confirmed by studying thin sections of the basal portion of the trunk where the central core, generally represented by the remains of the gorgonian host skeleton, was lacking. The S. savaglia population of Boka Kotorska Bay forms the unique Mediterranean assemblage of the species deserving the definition of animal forest. Recently, temporary mitigation measures for anthropogenic impact were issued by the Government of Montenegro. Nevertheless, due to the importance of the sites the establishment of a permanent Marine Protected Area is strongly recommended.

Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture of the European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis Linnaeus, 1758): A case study from Boka Kotorska Bay (Montenegro)

Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture of the European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis Linnaeus, 1758): A case study from Boka Kotorska Bay (Montenegro)

Phytoplankton Dynamics in an Oligo-mesotrophic Environment along the Montenegrin Coast (South-East Adriatic Sea)

The dynamics of the phytoplankton community were studied along the Montenegrin coast, in the mesotrophic area of Boka Kotorska Bay and the oligotrophic coastal open sea area. This two year study investigates differences in dynamics of phytoplankton assemblages and abundances in the Bay area, which is highly impacted from the land, and the open coastal part of the Montenegrin coast, which is highly influenced by Levantine water masses but less affected by anthropogenic influence.` Regarding phytoplankton diversity, the microplankton species detected are those that prefer areas rich in inorganic nutrients, such as Chaetoceros affinis, Dactyliosolen fragilissimus, Leptocylindrus danicus, Pseudo-nitzschia spp., and Thalassionema nitzschioides. These species used both new and regenerated nutrients which regenerated at each grazing level of the microbial loop and are thus made available to the primary producers. The potentially toxic Pseudo-nitzschia spp. reached an abundance of 105 cells/L. Among the potentially toxic dinoflagellates, Dinophysis acuminata, D. acuta, D. caudata, D. fortii, D. tripos, Gonyaulax spinifera, Lingulodinium polyedra, Phalacroma rotundatum were recorded (the abundance reached values up to 102 cells/L). The detected presence of several potentially toxic and toxic phytoplankton species warrants the need to raise awareness for the necessity of continuous monitoring activities and preventive measures.

Istorijski arhiv Kotor – pamćenje grada

Kotor was the first town in the present-day Montenegro to have autonomous archival institution. The State Archives in Kotor was established on 30th November 1949. This piece of information points out to the awareness of the importance of archival cultural heritage that was being created in Kotor and in the wider region of Boka Kotorska Bay through centuries, as well as on the need for its preservation and presentation to expert and general public. It is, however, important to mention that as early as in 1417 a provision in the Book of Statutes of the Town of Kotor, printed in Venice in 1616 the oldest provision of which dates back to 1301, lays down a duty for all important acts created in the work of public institutions to be stored in three storages: St. Tryphon Cathedral reliquary, municipal office and in the office of the notary public. The year 1764 saw Marin Vrakjen being officially appointed as archivist in Kotor. Today, Kotor Historical Archives houses archival material created in the work of local authorities, legal entities and natural persons in Kotor but also in the wider region of Boka Kotorska and other parts of the present-day Montenegrin littoral up to Spič, in the vicinity of Bar. Archival departments in Herceg Novi, Budva and Bar also house part of the archival material created in their respective areas, just as church archives and museums do. The oldest document kept in Kotor Historical Archives dates back to 1309. It is a fragment of a contract for the sale of a property written on a piece of parchment. The task of every archival institution, thus also of Kotor Historical Archives, is to explore archival records of historical-scientific importance related to the events from political, social, economic and cultural life of Boka Kotorska spanning from the ancient past to the modern era; to study the documents by applying scientific methods, prepare them for the scholars of various fields, to publish collections of archival documents by different topics and to open wide its door to all those interested in the history of our town and the surrounding area.

Shell Organic Matrix (Conchix) of the Mediterranean Mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis L. as the Medium for Assessment of Trace Metals in the Boka Kotorska Bay

The content of trace metals, namely Zn, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Cd, and Hg, in four types of media, i.e., soft tissues, shells, and the products of shell demineralization (organic matrix—conchix and extract) of the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovicialis L., at three sites in the Boka Kotorska Bay of the Adriatic Sea were determined. The main aim was to investigate the accumulation patterns of trace metals in conchix and their possible relationship with other tested media. Conchix weight within a group of mussels from Sv. Nedjelja was significantly higher in comparison with the IMB, while conchix % in the shell showed a negative correlation with dry shell weight. The highest metal pollution index (MPI) values found in the soft tissues of mussels from Sv. Nedjelja, Cogi, and the IMB were 2.319, 2.711, and 2.929 µg g−1, respectively. PCA analysis showed similarities in trace metal accumulation in all media except conchix. According to CCA analysis, conchixes were grouped around Cu, Fe, and Hg, while Cd and Zn were in correlation with the soft tissues. Moreover, the shells were in correlation with Mn. Simple isolation with high yield, close contact to the environment in comparison with calcified shell layers, and susceptibility to possible pollution sources due to the accumulation of specific metals are the main reasons to consider conchix of M. galloprovincialis as a medium with potential in trace metal assessments of marine ecosystems.

Seasonal variation in the nutrient composition of mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from farms in Boka Kotorska Bay, Southern Adriatic Sea

The aim of this study was to investigated the seasonal variation in the nutrient composition of Mytilus galloprovincialis, cultivated in Boka Kotorska Bay, Montenegro, during all seasons in one year. Biometric parameters, meat yield, condition index, proximate composition, minerals, and the lipid and fatty acid compositions of mussels were analyzed. The most significant factors determining these parameters were temperature, food amount and gametogenesis The biometric parameters showed no significant differences during the sampling period. In the spring, meat yields and mussel condition index increased at substantial levels. Low values od meat yield and condition index during cold months have resulted from food shortage and reproductive cycle, when mussels use carbohydrates and protein reserves. The highest amount of protein was detected in mussels harvested in August (10.76%), while the highest amount of lipids was recorded in the winter months (2.11%). Docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid were the most abundant PUFA. The concentration of metals found in mussels from the study area is within the range of mean values reported in the literature. Our results indicate that the best period for mussels harvesting was during the spring and summer (April and August), opposite the winter months when the mussels were not favorable for harvesting.

BUGARŠTICE FROM 17TH-19TH CENTURY BOKA MANUSCRIPTS

In this paper, the author analyses the corpus of bugarštice recorded in Boka Kotorska song collections from late 17th and 18th century. Special attention is paid to the genealogical and thematic characteristics of the Boka bugarštice, from the question of their naming and origin to questioning the phenomena of war, borders, identity and otherness in them. These motifs are singled out as particularly important for the semantics of the genre and con-temporary philological, first and foremost literary-historical interests. Thematically and stylistically, Perast bugarštice can be divided into two repertoires, the first of which consists of poems with mainly medieval, chivalrous themes, similar to ballads in terms of design, while the second repertoire refers to Perast history of the 17th and 18th centuries and has the character of a chronicle and epic.

Microplastics in mussels from the Boka Kotorska Bay (Adriatic Sea) and impact on human health.

This study evaluated the microplastic abundance, shape, color, size and chemical composition of microplastic in mussels and estimated human exposure to microplastic through consumption of mussels collected from Boka Kotorska Bay (Adriatic coast of Montenegro). Microplastic was found in 53.3% of the studied mussels, with an average microplastic abundance of 2.53±1.1 items/individual. Most of the ingested microplastic were fibers (63.7%), which were blue in color. FT-IR revealed that 98% of the examined particles were plastic, with seven polymers identified, of which polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate were the most abumdant polymers in mussels. Three of the polymers detected in mussels (polyamide, polyvinyl chloride and polystyrene) are classified as hazardous by the European Chemical Agency with warning or danger signals. With one serving of mussels, consumers would ingest 22.7 microplastic particles, while the annual dietary intake of microplastic via consumption of mussels was estimated at 99MP/year.

Some biological aspects of Mediterranean mud shrimp, Upogebia pusilla (Petagna, 1792) in the Boka Kotorska Bay, Southeastern Adriatic Sea

Biological aspects (length frequency distribution, length-weight ratio, sex ratio, allometric growth, Fulton?s condition factor) of Upogebia pusilla were studied in Tivat Saline (Tivatska solila), Boka Kotorska Bay in 2019. A total of 1,415 individuals were collected. The total length of all studied individuals ranged from 27 to 55 mm (8 and 20 mm CL), while the total weights ranged from 0.29 to 2.56 g (the total length of males ranged from 27 to 51 mm, non-ovigerous and ovigerous females ranged from 27 to 51 mm and 30 to 55 mm, respectively; the weights ranged from 0.29 to 2.52 g, 0.34 to 2.52 g and 0.47 to 2.56 g for males, non-ovigerous and ovoid females, respectively). The overall female:male ratio was 1.2:1. Ovigerous females were recorded from April (74.3%) to June (23.8%), with a peak in May (91.4% of all females). Males dominated in July (66.4%). The relationship between CL and W was negatively allometric in both males and females and in all sampled individuals. Fulton?s condition factor was higher only in females during the breeding season, while there were no significant differences between males and females during the rest of the year. Since this species is mainly used as live bait for commercial and sports fishermen, the results of this study would be useful for the sustainable management of this species.

Historical bryophyte specimens from Montenegro in the Hungarian Natural History Museum

184 specimens, collected by ten persons between 1890–1975 from Montenegro, were found in the Bryophyte Collection of the Hungarian Natural History Museum. Most of the specimens (40%) were collected near Herceg Novi in Boka Kotorska Bay. Another significant part of the specimens (35%) was collected in Kotor or in the surrounding of the town. 18% of the specimens derives from the Orjen Mts. The others are sporadic records from various parts of Montenegro. 80% of the specimens were unpublished. Most of the species found are common, widespread members of the Montenegrin flora, but some rare elements were also found. The Mediterranean, subMediterranean liverworts (Cephaloziella turneri, Myriocoleopsis minutissima, Scapania compacta and Southbya tophacea) from the surroundings of Herceg Novi that are rare in Montenegro are the most important from the point of view of nature conservation.

Reproduction of the Caramote prawn, Melicertus kerathurus (Forskål, 1775) (Decapoda, Penaeidae) in Boka Kotorska bay, Montenegro (South-eastern Adriatic)

The aim of this study was to investigate for the first time some aspects of the reproductive activity of the Caramote prawn, Melicertus kerathurus, in Montenegrin waters. This species is considered a target species in the small-scale fishery in Boka Kotorska Bay, being a species of high commercial value. Sampling was carried out on a monthly basis from April 2019 to December 2019 by trammel nets. The spawning season was estimated based on monthly changes in the gonadosomatic index, condition factor and gonadal maturity stages. The main spawning season for females extends from April-May to September, with a clear peak in June. The total sex ratio (males/females) was 1:1. Sexual differences related to the length-weight relationship were noted.

KNJIŽEVNI KANON I CRNOGORSKA USMENA KNJIŽEVNOST PREDVUKOVSKOGA DOBA

This paper presents the results of several years of archival work, the aim of which was to shed light on the oldest layer of preserved Montenegrin oral heritage. The author described 18 manuscripts created in Boka Kotorska in the period between 1696 and 1833, which have not been sufficiently scientifically explored. The corpus contains a large number of epic and lyrical oral literary genres, which offers a wide space for the analysis of both the very genesis and structure of the genre, as well as the thematic-motive characteristics of individual poems.

ZEMLJA BEZ JEVREJA? CRNA GORA I JEVREJI PRIJE 1918.

The article tackles the question of possible Jewish presence in Monte-negro before 1918. It is the first scholarly study on the topic. The introductory part summarizes the results of previous research on the presence of the Jews in the Bay of Cattaro (Boka Kotorska) and Montenegrin Littoral (Crnogorsko Primorje). Before 1918, this stretch of Adriatic coast, neighboring the independent principality / kingdom of Montenegro, belonged to the Republic of Venice and later the Habsburg Empire. However, the region maintained multiple lively links with Montenegro. Since the early 19th century until 1918, a small but steadily growing number of Jews (6 in 1811, 124 in 1910) lived in Kotor and other seaside towns. The main part of the text is dedicated to the territory of Montenegro in its pre-1918 frontiers. The research of a wide range of available sources – Montenegrin population censuses, official documents, period press as well as travelogues and other testimonies by foreign visitors – has revealed no mentions of Jews living in Montenegro proper. However, some Montenegrins did come into contact with the Jews beyond the borders of their homeland. The author then analyzes Jewish traces (including false traces) in Montenegrin toponomy, surnames and folk legends. He highlights the fact that there were no legal restrictions which would prevent Jews from settling in Montenegro or potentially hinder their religious rights. The country was also free of antisemitic prejudice, discourse and politics. The main reasons which prevented the influx of Jews into Montenegro in search of professional opportunities were insecurity (until 1878–80, Montenegrins were frequently engaged in wars and local conflicts with the Ottomans and their Muslim neighbors) and limited possibilities for economic and social advancement in this tiny and underdeveloped land. In the last part of the article, the author pays attention to the Sandžak, continental region with a longer Ottoman past, divided between Montenegro and Serbia only after the Balkan Wars of 1912–13.

Emigration of Christians from the Bosnian Eyalet (1683-1718)

The end of the 17th and the beginning of the 18th century was marked by radical changes on the demographic map of the Bosnian Eyalet as a serhat of the Ottoman state. In addition to mass migrations of the Muslim population from the lost Ottoman territories towards the interior of the Bosnian Eyalet, there were also continuous movements of the Christian population in the opposite direction. The paper follows the movements of some groups of Christians, mainly those who respond to the bishop's call to settle the desolate areas around Pécs, Szeged, Baja and the surrounding area, but also the migration of other non-Muslim populations towards the Venetian territory, as well as migrations to the „Imperial lands“ due to various political, economic and other factors. While the Venetian government encouraged, with money and investiture, the people to bring families to Dalmatia, and the Austrian government received petitions from the priests of Bosnian monasteries about the difficult situation of Catholics, the Ottoman government throughout that time undertook activities to stop defections, therefore, the paper describes some of the procedures and the situations themselves. Some authors exaggerate when they say that, for example, between 100 and 200 thousand Catholics left Bosnia. The paper shows that according to some reports, 74 thousand Catholics lived in Bosnia before 1683, and 25 thousand half a century later. This is an acceptable number of emigrant Catholics compared to the exaggerations of some chroniclers. An important part of the work is the knowledge obtained from sources, who actually are the non-Muslims that go across the border from the interior and from the borders of the Bosnian Eyalet. Ottoman sources usually refer to both Catholics and Orthodox by the name „kefere“ (a collective noun denoting the non-Muslim population in general). For the Ottoman administration, the most important thing is that it is a category of non-Muslims in order to tax them according to that category. Due to such a situation, it is difficult to give a definitive number of Catholics or Orthodox in a certain period according to Ottoman sources. In the paper, we provide a limited analysis of the case according to some unpublished sources, so it can be seen how many Christians, heads of the household, remained in a certain area. Often, however, it is not possible to know whether they are Orthodox or Catholics, because there are no priests among them. Names are often a problem, too, because patronymics are rare, and names can be tied to a nomenclature common to both Catholicism and Orthodoxy. From the episcopal and friar reports, it can be seen that in that period, the conversion of Muslims also took place, so among the migrants to the north, for example, there were thousands of new Christians. The cities of Požega, Osijek and Brod also lost their Muslim population and hundreds of Catholics from Sarajevo, Kreševo, Modriča and Vrhbosna are coming to them. Registry books record their origin, especially in the first years of the 18th century. The Orthodox and Catholic population from the Herzegovina Sandžak settles mainly in the Boka Kotorska area. An extensive cadastral census from 1701 shows that among the people there are many who come from places that are not affected by war activities. The Orthodox population from Backa and Baranja goes to Slavonia and Srijem, but also to Ottoman territory. On the territory of the Republic of Dubrovnik, war refugees from the Bosnian ejalet are most often Vlachs, especially during the periods of the Moravian War (1684-1699) and the Venetian-Ottoman War (1714-1718). The Ottoman authorities demanded that these people be delivered to them, and the Dubrovnik authorities formally agreed, but they often helped the people to stay there or to go further by sea.

Evaluation of Physiological State of Pen Shell Pinna nobilis (Linnaeus, 1758) by a Non-Invasive Heart Rate Recording under Short-Term Hyposalinity Test.

A non-invasive laser fiber-optic method based on infrared sensors for heart rate (Hr) recording was applied to assess the physiological condition of Pinna nobilis. During 2017, the specimens of P. nobilis were sampled at three sites within the Boka Kotorska Bay, Montenegro and used for ex situ experiments with short-term reduction/restoration of ambient salinity to evaluate their physiological adaptive capacity based on heart rate recovery time (Trec). Mean Trec for specimens from Sv. Nedjelja (reference site), Dobrota and Sv. Stasije were 72 ± 3, 91 ± 7 and 117 ± 15 min, while the coefficients of variation (CV) were 0.12, 0.13 and 0.17, respectively. Resting heart rate (Hrrest) and Trec showed statistically significant differences between the groups of mussels from Dobrota and Sv. Stasije in comparison to the reference site. Statistically significant correlations were observed between Trec and shell length/width, which was not the case in comparison between Hrrest and shell length/width. The lower adaptive capacity within the P. nobilis specimens from Dobrota and Sv. Stasije in comparison to the reference site could occur due to stress induced by deterioration of environmental conditions, which could have led to impairment of the physiological state of the mussels evaluated by Hr. All the specimens of P. nobilis survived the experimental treatments; afterwards, they were successfully transplanted at the Dobrota site. The experimental unit with sensor technology applied in this study can provide Hr recording in real time and could have an application in monitoring the physiological/health state of P. nobilis individuals maintained in aquaria.

Boka Kotorska in the scientific perspective of Vojislav and Milorad Nikčević

NikčevićSummaryThe two brothers emphasized, promoted and strengthened the Montenegrin national independence and uniqueness at all cultural levels in their scientific works. My scientific path is more strongly connected to Milorad‘s guidelines, although Vojislav and I met on the line of unwavering defense of Montenegrin statehood, which was (and still is) exposed to the aspirations of Greater Serbia.The works of both of them will show their attitude towards the Boka Kotorska literary heritage, especially that which belongs to the Croatian culture and literary heritage of Montenegro. In the words of Milorad Nikčević, talking about the role of Kotor and other literary communities in Boka (Perast, Budva) which, created in the social conditions of communes under Venetian domination in thematic, stylistic and linguistic terms, given the Croatian and Latin expression, are an organic part and Croatian literature, but, inheriting the experience of literary touches, they simultaneously and historically mean a version of the Montenegrin standard.Their work in relation to the Bay of Kotor will show the unique attitude of two Montenegrin scientists, with prominent Croatian scientists, both in the determination to strengthen Montenegrin statehood and in the specifics of the part of Croatian culture inherited by both countries. The Bay of Kotor occupies a special place in the presented framework.