Natura Croatica

Gianfranco Caoduro

Short communication

Elery Hamilton-Smith

Review paper

Elery Hamilton-Smith Convenor, IUCN / WCPAWorking Group on Cave and Karst Protection, P.O. Box 36, Carlton South, Vict. 3053, Australia

Abstract

The Guidelines for Cave and Karst Protection prepared and published by the IUCN / WCPA working group gave some attention to biological issues, but even at the time, it was recognised that more detailed treatment of biodiversity issues was required. A recent meeting under the joint aegis of IUCN and the World Bank examined the impact of limestone quarrying upon biodiversity, and further highlighted the need for this. A proposal and outline for a further initiative from the working party is accordingly presented here.

Keywords

flora, fauna, microbiota, karst, biodiversity, protection

Nikola Tvrtković, Draško Holcer, Branko Jalžić

Original scientific paper

Nikola Tvrtković Croatian Biospeleological Society, Rooseveltov trg 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Draško Holcer Croatian Natural History Museum, Demetrova 1, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Branko Jalžić Croatian Biospeleological Society (CBSS), Rooseveltov trg 6, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

The pond bat Myotis dasycneme was recorded for the first time in Croatia. It was found wintering together with eight other bat species in Papuk Natural Park situated between the rivers Sava and Drava in the northeastern part of Croatia. Former mentions of the occurrence of M. dasycneme in Croatia were based on doubtful observations by Mojsisovics von Mojsvár in the 19th century.

Keywords

bats, Croatia, Myotis dasycneme, first finding, wintering site

Branko Jalžić

Original scientific paper

Branko Jalžić Croatian Biospeleological Society (CBSS), Rooseveltov trg 6, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

By the side of the three already known separate populations of relic stygobiont bivalves of the genus Congeria in the Dinaric karst (Bela Krajina /Slovenia/, western Bosnia /Bosnia and Herzegovina/ and Dalmatia-Herzegovina /Croatia – Bosnia and Herzegovina/) a new population has been found in the underground area of North Velebit, in the drain part of the Lika River, Croatia. After the discovery of part of a shell on the bottom of Lukina Jama pit (–1392 m deep), thousands of specimens of Congeria have been found in Markov Ponor, all the way through more than 1700 m of underground tunnels. As well as a list of associated fauna, a description is provided of some of the ecological factors of the biotope whose temperature reaches a maximum of +6 °C, the lowest temperature in the habitats known.

Keywords

stygobiont bivalve, Dreissenidae, Congeria, new locality, Lika River, Croatia

Giuseppe Pesce

Original scientific paper

Giuseppe Pesce Dipartimento di Scienze Ambientali, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy

Abstract

The historical, geological, faunistic and ecological characteristics of the Zinzulusa cave (Castro Marina, South Italy), one of the most remarkable anchialine aquifers of Italy, are presented in this paper. The results of recent explorations and discoveries, in both the above-ground and submerged part of the cave, are pointed out. The cave is at present endangered and it requires measures aimed at keeping aquifer levels adequate to assure protection of its precious stygofauna. A list of threatened species living in the cave is appended.

Keywords

Zinzulusa cave, Italy, endangered taxa

Neven Matočec, Roman Ozimec

Original scientific paper

Neven Matočec Ruđer Bošković Institute, Division for marine and environmental research, Bijenička cesta 54, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Roman Ozimec ADIPA–Croatian Society for Natural History Diversity Research & Conservation, Orehovečki ogranak 37, HR-100 40 Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

This paper appears to be the first contribution on cave macromycetes in Croatia. During the systematic biospeleological field work in the Dinaric karst area, eight more or less stable populations of the entomogenous species Cordyceps riverae Pacioni (Hypocreales, Ascomycota) have been located since 1990. Some 200 speleological sites have been visited so far in order to find both living and/or infected hosts, with 69 sites colonized by two subtroglophilic lepidopteran species of the genus Triphosa (Geometridae) which are apparently the only surely known hosts of the fungus. C. riverae was collected from five localities (situated in Gorski kotar, Kordun and Dalmatia regions) out of eight speleological sites in which the species was recorded. A full description of C. riverae, a comparison with the holotype collection, detailed ecological observations, as well as the mapping of known distribution of both the species and host are given. C. riverae is recorded in Croatia for the first time.

Keywords

Ascomycota, Hypocreales, Cordyceps riverae, Lepidoptera, Triphosa dubitata, T. sabau- diata, biospeleology, ecology, mapping, morphology, mycofloristics Croatia

Suzana Buzjak, Mirjana Vrbek

Original scientific paper

Suzana Buzjak Croatian Natural History Museum, Demetrova 1, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Mirjana Vrbek Department of Botany, Croatian Natural History Museum, Demetrova 1, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

During 1998, research was done into the flora of and certain ecological factors (temperature and relative humidity) in the entrance parts of three caves on the island of Rab. The caves lie in different vegetation zones and at different altitudes. In all, 32 kinds of plant were recorded: 29 spermatophytes and 3 pteridophytes. In comparison with research carried out in two of the caves at the beginning of the century, a change had occurred in the floristic composition. Particularly noteworthy is the reduction in the number of fern species in the interior of the cave.

Keywords

speleobotany, the island of Rab, ecological factors, flora, cave

Milvana Arko-Pijevac, Čedomir Benac, Marcelo Kovačić, Marin Kirinčić

Original scientific paper

Milvana Arko-Pijevac Natural History Museum Rijeka, Lorenzov prolaz 1, HR-51000 Rijeka, Croatia
Čedomir Benac Faculty of civil engineering, University of Rijeka, V. Cara-Emina 5, HR-51000 Rijeka & Civil Engineering Institute of Croatia, Department of Rijeka, Vukovarska 10 a, HR-51000, Rijeka, Croatia
Marcelo Kovačić Natural History Museum Rijeka, Lorenzov prolaz 1, HR-51000, Croatia
Marin Kirinčić Natural History Museum Rijeka, Lorenzov prolaz 1, HR-51000 Rijeka, Croatia

Abstract

A submarine cave near Vrbnik (the island of Krk, Croatia) is 30 m long and has the shape of an irregular triangular prism, with its bottom covered by mud and boulders. Formed in Upper Cretaceous limestone under terrestrial conditions, probably during the Würm glaciation it was submerged during the Holocene rise in the sea-level. Preliminary biocenological studies revealed 23 taxa of macroflora at the cave entrance and 115 taxa of macrofauna (22 Porifera, 7 Cnidaria, 19 Bivalvia, 6 Gastropoda, 1 Cephalopoda, 1 Echiura, 1 Sipuncula, 8 Polychaeta, 15 Crustacea, 6 Bryozoa, 5 Echinodermata, 4 Tunicata, 20 Pisces). Malacostraca comprised 13 species of Decapoda and 2 species of Mysidiacea. Among the fishes only Gammogobius steinitzi is considered to be an exclusive cave inhabitant. The goby Thorogobius ephippiatus is by far the most abundant fish. From the cave entrance and up to 3 m into the cave a precoralligenous aspect of coralligenous biocenosis was registered. The biocenosis of semi-dark caves dominated by Porifera fauna occurs up to 25 m into the cave, while the final 5 m are characterised by biocenosis of caves and ducts in complete darkness with a predominance of Polychaeta.

Keywords

karst, submarine cave, benthic biocenoses, fishes, crustaceans, Adriatic Sea, Croatia

Rajko Slapnik

Original scientific paper

Rajko Slapnik ZOSPEUM, Molluscs, Cave & Karst Biological Consulting, Drnovškova pot 2, 1241 Kamnik, Slovenia

Abstract

The objective of this work was to make periodic observations of hypogean Zospeum isselianum Pollonera 1886 snails on a sample rock surface in the Jama pod Mokrico cave in the Kamni{keSavinjske Alps and monitor the distance the snails moved over a given period of time. Between April 30 and August 1, 1997, the movement of the snails was recorded thirteen times. The air temperature in the cave was between 6.0 °C and 10.2 °C, and the relative humidity was between 97% and 100%. The snails moved over distances of from 1 to 15 cm per week. The average distance was 0.7 cm per day. The snails generally crept around the places they were initially found.

Keywords

Gastropoda, Zospeum, activity, movements, cave, ecology

Frédéric Hervant, Jacques Mathieu, Jacques-Pierre Durand

Original scientific paper

Frédéric Hervant Hydrobiologie et Ecologie Souterraines, Université Claude Bernard-Lyon 1, F-69622 Villeurbanne Cedex, France
Jacques Mathieu Hydrobiologie et Ecologie Souterraines, Université Claude Bernard-Lyon 1, F-69622 Villeurbanne Cedex, France
Jacques-Pierre Durand Laboratoire Souterrain du CNRS, F-09200 Moulis, France

Abstract

Comparisons of circadian rhythmicity, behavior, and metabolism between surface and cavedwelling salamanders enable elucidation of evolutionary trends in these processes. The obligate cave-dwelling proteid Proteus anguinus did not show any apparent daily rhythm of activity or resting metabolic rate. In contrast, the surface-dwelling salamandrid Euproctus asper had a circadian SMR and activity cycle. These circadian rhythms possessed an endogenous component. The lives of both salamanders studied were characterized by long periods of inactivity punctuated by bouts of foraging or exploratory/predatory behavior. Proteus anguinus had reduced resting metabolic and spontaneous activity rates (considerably lower than most surface-dwelling amphibians), and therefore appears to be a good example of a vertebrate as a low-energy system. The low metabolic and activity rates of P. anguinus are interpreted as adaptations to a subterranean existence where poor and discontinuous food supplies and/or intermittent hypoxia may be present for long periods.

Keywords

amphibian, metabolism, activity, cave, surface, Proteidae

Victor Benno Meyer-Rochow, Alan Robert Liddle

Original scientific paper

Victor Benno Meyer-Rochow Department of Biology (Animal Physiology Section) & Institute, of Arctic Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu
Alan Robert Liddle Department of Biology, University of the Waikato, Hamilton

Abstract

Data on the visual behaviour of Hendea myersi cavernicola (Forster) are provided which demonstrate that this harvestman can see. Since no specimens could be trapped outside the cave and the integument of this species displays a reduction in pigmentation, we have to conclude that we are dealing with a troglobite which not only possesses eyes, but actually uses them.

Keywords

ecology, ethology, physiology, biospeleology, troglobite, Waitomo Cave, visual be- haviour, photoreception, UV, glowworm

Natura Croatica, Vol. 10 No.3

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