A radioecological research on Chilopod species Scolopendra cingulata (Latreille, 1829) from Serbia

In a transition from historical (anthropocentric) to modern (biocentric) approach in radioecological research, animals and plants should be considered not only as contaminants to humans, but also as targets. Therefore, investigations of (as more as possible) various species are warranted. Radioecological research on chilopod species Scolopendra cingulata occurring in Serbia has been performed for the first time. This species (with the Mediterranean zoogeographical affinities) is typical representative of surface soil layers fauna, and the top 5 cm of soil was also analyzed for radioactivity due to some natural radioisotopes and artificial ¹³⁷Cs - at the localities were S. cingulata had been sampled. Among individuals of S. cingulata sampled in 2010 and 2012 (at three localities in Serbia - Pcinja, Izbice and Novi Pazar), 10 were included in this analysis. They had been taken (under rocks) by pencers, while their full determination were carried out using binocular ZEISS Discovery V8 stereomicroscope and adequate literature. The ORTEC HPGe spectrometers: GEM-40190, relative efficiency 40 %, and GEM - 30185-S, relative efficiency (35 %) are used to perform radioisotope activity measurements. Those from the ²³²Th and ²³⁸U(²²⁶Ra) series were analyzed (i.e., ²²⁸Ac, ²¹²Pb, and ²¹⁴Pb, ²¹⁴Bi - respectively), as well as naturally occurring ⁴⁰K, and fission product ¹³⁷Cs. They were considered through their intensive (gamma) photopeaks