About Reserve - Kraljevacsrpkraljevac.rs/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Brochure-SNR-Kraljevac.pdfGreenway network, Banatska bicycle route Kovin – Alibunar, and 1 Denube route pass directly

About Reserve

On the edge of Deliblatska peščara, in the midst of the Vojvodina plains, in the picturesque village of Deliblato, lies an oasis of peace and tranquillity, Special nature reserve Kraljevac. Lake Kraljevac with its floating and permanently anchored islands, surrounding reedbeds, woodlands, meadows, and pastures supports a rich diversity of plant and animal life.

Special nature reserve Kraljevac is a place of unique natural beauty where floating islands moved by strong winds across the surface of water continually change the surrounding landscape. Floating and permanently anchored islands are remnants of lowland peat bogs, globally one of the rarest and most threatened habitats, and represent one of Serbia’s last refugia of a relict plant community of the Marsh fern and the Grey willow. These islands, with water pools and underground springs that do not freeze even during the harshest winters, represent an important habitat for fish, including the globally threatened species, the European mudminnow, and a resting and wintering site for many migratory wetland birds. The reserve is a part of the International Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) and represents an important nesting site for many rare species of wetland birds, including the Purple heron, the Squacco heron, the Night heron, the Little bittern, the Marsh harrier, and globally threatened the Ferruginous duck. Whiskered and Black terns, as well as Great and Pigmy cormorants often feed on fish in this area. Loess slopes surrounding the lake are nesting sites for large colonies of European bee-eaters. Nearby pastures with remnants of continental steppe are one of the last refugia of the threatened species of steppe rodents, the European ground squirrel, and the Lesser mole rat in Serbia.

Location

Special nature reserve Kraljevac is located near the village of Deliblato in south Banat on the territory of Kovin municipality, Vojvodina Province, Serbia. The reserve borders with Special nature reserve Deliblatska Pescara at its south-western end. The closest towns are Kovin (16 km), Smederevo (27 km), Pančevo (37 km), and Belgrade (58 km). You can reach Special nature reserve Kraljevac by car via Pančevo, Dolovo i Mramorak (Ruta 14) or Kovin (Ruta 310), by bus from Kovin (Lasta), and by bicycle (EuroVelo 6, EuroVelo 11, Banat Greenway network, Banatska bicycle route Kovin – Alibunar, and 1 Denube route pass directly through or in close proximity to the Reserve).

Special nature reserve Kraljevac covers an area of 264 ha and encompasses three areas: Lake Krajevac with floating and permanently anchored islands, and surrounding reedbeds (192 ha); pasture Spasovina (commonly known as Vašarište) on a loess slope (20 ha); and Obzovik spring valley (52 ha). The reserve has been divided into three areas with different degrees of protection:

Degree I protection includes the strictly protected area of floating and permanently anchored islands with a relict plant community of the Marsh fern and the Grey willow in a central part of Lake Kraljevac (15 ha);

Degree II protection includes the area of the north-west end of Lake Kraljevac with surrounding reedbeds where rowing is allowed, and pasture Spasovina (106 ha) where hiking is allowed;

Degree III protection includes the area of the south-east end of Lake Kraljevac and Obzovik spring valley (142 ha) where rowing, hiking, and sportfishing are allowed.

Fish

Lake Kraljevac with its permanent water influx from surface and underground springs, a muddy bottom, floating and permanently anchored islands, rich vegetation, and a depth of 2 to 8 meters represents an ideal habitat for fish. Twenty-six native and exotic fish species have been recorded so far in Lake Kraljevac. The number of native fish exceeds the number of exotic fish twofold, while the majority of species are from the carp family. The protected species are the European Mudminnow, the Weatherfish, the Tench and the Crucian Carp.

The European mudminnow (Umbra krameri) is an endemic species of the Danube and Dniester River basins. The species is associated with stagnant or slow-flowing water, ponds, and lakes with muddy bottom and rich vegetation. It is able to survive in water with low oxygen concentrations, because apart from gills it uses an air bladder for breathing atmospheric oxygen. It can survive ten hours out of the water in moist areas. The European mudminnow feeds on insect larvae, shrimps, molluscs, and sometimes small fish. It lives around five years and spawns from March to April. It is also listed as a strictly protected species in Europe (Anex II of Habitats Directive) and on the IUCN Red List of Vulnerable Species.

The Weatherfish (Misgurnus fossilis) is associated with stagnant or slow-flowing water. It is able to survive in habitats with low oxygen concentrations, because apart from gills it uses skin and the digestive system for breathing. It is a nocturnal species, which burrows into mud during the day. It feeds on small invertebrates. It spawns in second or third year of life from March to July. It is called “Weatherfish” because it is very sensitive to weather changes and in the past it was used to predict foul weather. It is listed as a strictly protected species in Europe (Resolution No. 6 of the Bern Convention and Anex II of Habitats Directive).

Birds

Lake Krajevac with floating islands, and surrounding reedbeds is an important nesting site for a mixed colony of herons, including the Grey heron (Ardea cinerеа), the Purple heron (Ardea purpurea), the Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides), the Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), and the Little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus). In dense lakeshore vegetation, the Marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus), four species of reed warblers (Acrocephalus sp.) and the Reed bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus) nest. On willow trees close to lakeshores, Penduline tits (Remiz pendulinus) build their hanging nests. The open water is important for the Great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus), and the Ferruginous duck (Aythya nyroca). The Whiskered tern (Chlidonias hybrida) and the Black tern (Chlidonias niger), as well as the Great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) and the Pigmy cormorant (Microcarbo pygmaeus) regularly feed on fish in this area. Three species of herons, as well as the Little bittern, the Marsh harrier, the Ferruginous duck, Whiskered and Black terns, and the Pigmy cormorant are listed as strictly protected species in Europe (Resolution No. 6 of the Bern Convention and Anex I of Birds Directive). The Ferruginous Duck is also listed on the IUCN Red List of Near Threatened Species.

The European bee-eater (Merops apiaster) nests in large

colonies in loess slopes surrounding Lake Kraljevac. Nearby pastures, fields, and lakeshores provide great foraging opportunities for European Bee-eaters. They feed on bees, wasps, bumblebees, and other flying insects which they catch in flight often hunting in groups. In May the European bee-eater lays eggs (4–7) in nests hidden in soil tunnels they dig in loess slopes up to 3 meters deep. They spend winter in tropical parts of Africa and Asia. The European bee-eater is listed as a strictly protected species in Europe (Resolution No. 6 of the Bern Convention and the Bonn Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals).

Mammals

Pastures Spasovina and Obzovik in Special nature reserve Kraljevac represent one of the last refugia of European ground squirrels in Serbia. The European ground squirrel (Spermophilus citellus) is a small rodent from the squirrel family. It is an endemic species only found in some parts of central and south-eastern Europe. It is associated with short-grass steppe habitats (pastures, roadsides, and embankments) where it represents a key prey of vulnerable and endangered raptors, such as the Saker falcon and the Eastern imperial eagle. The European ground squirrel is a colonial species, which lives in a branching system of tunnels up to 2 meters deep. It is active during day from March to October when it feeds intensely on aboveground plant parts. In April and May, 3 to 9 young are born. It falls into winter sleep which lasts from 6 to 8 months. The maximum life span of the species is 3 to 5 years. The European ground squirrel is listed as a strictly protected species in Europe (Resolution No. 6 of the Bern Convention and Anex II of Habitats Directive) and on the IUCN Red List of Vulnerable Species.

The Lesser mole rat (Spalax leucodon) is a species of

steppe rodent which in Serbia only occurs in Deliblatska Peščara and Subotičko-Horgoške Peščara. This solitary species spends its entire life underground in a branching system of tunnels which it digs using its strong teeth and legs. It feeds on plant roots, tubers, rhizomes, and bulbs. It stays active throughout the year. A single litter of 1 to 4 young is born in a period from February to May. The Lesser mole rat can be distinguished from all other rodents by its lack of external eye openings, although small eyes are present under the skin. It has well developed senses of smell, touch, and hearing. In Serbia, although it is considered commonly to be a pest species, the Lesser mole rat is strictly protected.

Special nature reserve Kraljevac

Custodian:

Sportfishing association Deliblatsko jezero

Address:

ul. Maršala Tita 123, Deliblato, Serbia

[email protected]

+38113765951

Reserve manager:

Ljubomir Stojilković +381644049326

Ranger:

Aleksandar Sarmeš +381658173289

www.srpkraljevac.rs

Special nature reserve Kraljevac