A5080964654- Subterranean biodiversity and taxonomy
- Karst Systems and Hydrogeology
- Marine and environmental studies
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior
- Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
- Geological Formations and Processes Exploration
- Maritime and Coastal Archaeology
- Protist diversity and phylogeny
- Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Groundwater and Isotope Geochemistry
- Groundwater and Watershed Analysis
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Regional Development and Management Studies
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Diatoms and Algae Research
- Ancient and Medieval Archaeology Studies
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- Study of Mite Species
- Cryospheric studies and observations
- Robotics and Automated Systems
Karst Research Institute
2012-2024
Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts
2014-2024
Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts
2011-2024
University of Nova Gorica
2016-2024
UNESCO
2024
International Union of Railways
2022
Animal Hospital Postojna
2018
University of Ljubljana
2014
Scientists of different disciplines have recognized the valuable role terrestrial caves as ideal natural laboratories in which to study multiple eco-evolutionary processes, from genes ecosystems. Because and other subterranean habitats are semi-closed systems characterized by a remarkable thermal stability, they should also represent insightful for understanding effects climate change on biodiversity situ. Whilst number recent advances demonstrated how promising this fast-moving field...
ABSTRACT Five decades ago, a landmark paper in Science titled The Cave Environment heralded caves as ideal natural experimental laboratories which to develop and address general questions geology, ecology, biogeography, evolutionary biology. Although the ‘caves laboratory’ paradigm has since been advocated by subterranean biologists, there are few examples of studies that successfully translated their results into principles. contemporary era big data, modelling tools, revolutionary advances...
The dominant neo-Darwinian paradigm of the evolution cave animals is that severe aphotic, low food environment with little environmental cyclicity imposes strong selective pressures leading to a convergent (troglomorphic) morphology reduced pigment and eyes, elaborated extra-optic sensory structures. Challenges come from two fronts. First, troglomorphic occur in many aphotic habitats relatively abundant cyclicity. Second, permanent reproducing populations caves are not troglomorphic. A...
The unique morphology of cave animals has interested biologists at least since the time Lamarck. After a number non-adaptive explanations for animals, especially with respect to eye and pigment loss, neo-Darwinian explanation, emphasizing constructive morphological changes rather than losses, was put forward by Barr, Christiansen, Poulson in 1960’s. Emphasizing convergent evolution (troglomorphy), this paradigm recently been challenged, evidence divergent selection widespread occurrence...
Abstract The 15th UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) (COP15) will be held in Kunming, China October 2021. Historically, CBDs and other multilateral treaties have either alluded to or entirely overlooked the subterranean biome. A effort robustly examine, monitor, incorporate biome into future conservation targets enable CBD further improve ecological effectiveness of protected areas by including groundwater resources, ecosystem services, profoundly endemic subsurface biodiversity. To...
Summary 1. The causes of distribution patterns stygobionts (obligate subterranean‐dwelling aquatic species) were examined with special emphasis on vicariance and dispersal. 2. Dispersal was investigated the premise that if migration is important, then at small scales should predict larger scales. Data copepod fauna epikarst in Slovenia especially useful for study migration, because data habitat occupancy could be collected individual drips located metres apart to scale caves entire karst...
Within the soil matrix and underlying rock, cracks fissures other air-filled spaces between rocks, sometimes called milieu souterrain superficiel (MSS), are present in a variety of geological contexts. We examined year-long hourly temperature profiles at sites lava Canary Islands limestone Slovenia. All had species that show morphological adaptations usually associated with cave-dwelling organisms, including elongated appendages reduced eyes pigment. MSS were studied depths 10 70 cm showed...
Riding a wave of interest in biodiversity patterns surface-dwelling communities, 2000, Culver and Sket [...]
Abstract Karst groundwater-dependent ecosystems (KGDEs) in the Mediterranean region are important terms of ecosystem services and biodiversity but increasingly under anthropogenic pressures climate-change constraints. For this study, ecohydrological characteristics, threats, protection status 112 selected KGDEs around Sea, including caves, springs, rivers wetlands, were evaluated, based on local expert knowledge scientific literature. Results demonstrate that contribute considerably to...
We investigated the upper and lower vertical limits of distribution inhabitants most abundant freshwater habitat—groundwater. Distribution in photic habitats is limited by competition, predation, risks exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Nonetheless, a number eyeless, depigmented subterranean species occur twilight habitats, taking advantage higher food resources available modulating their photophobic behavior. argue that boundary an interesting system study classic ecological evolutionary...
Since the 1980s, with widespread use of phrase biodiversity [...]
The amphipod genus Stygobromus occurs in a variety of subterranean habitats North America, including caves, phreatic (groundwater) lakes, and superficial (seeps epikarst). share the absence light but differ other features, such as pore size habitat, available food, degree seasonality. Measurements body size, antennal segment number type specimens were compared for 56 species occurring eastern United States. Except differences among four different not significant. Body was related to relative...
Epikarst is not only an important component of the hydrogeology karst and active site speleogenesis, it habitat for a number species adapted to subterranean life. Water in epikarst, with residence time days months, highly heterogeneous habitat, animals are primarily sampled from continuously sampling dripping water or collecting residual drip pools. While fauna cracks crevices has been known over 100 years, past several decades that epikarst recognized as distinct reproducing populations...
A series of potential pitfalls (fallacies) in estimating subterranean biodiversity are outlined: (1) provincialism—treating different regions differently, especially with respect to new discoveries and undescribed species; (2) equality described species—ignoring the possibility that species not really (3) isotropy—assuming all cave similar size have equally rich faunas; (4) scale invariance—ignoring affect area on richness; (5) misuse expert opinion—the over-reliance experts estimates often...
Abstract Troglobionts are organisms that specialized for living in a subterranean environment. These reside prevalently the deepest zones of caves and shallow habitats, complete their entire life cycles therein. Because troglobionts most depend on organic matter resources from surface, we hypothesized they would also select sections nearest as long environmental conditions were favorable. Over 1 year, analyzed, monthly intervals, annual distributional dynamics community consisting 17...