1. Hydrogeological characterization of karst springs of the white (Proteus anguinus anguinus) and black olm (Proteus anguinus parkelj) habitat in Bela krajina (SE Slovenia)Katja Koren, Rok Brajkovič, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: The springs west of Črnomelj, in SE Slovenia, are the habitat of the black (Proteus anguinus parkelj) and the white olm (Proteus anguinus anguinus). Some of these springs are also the only known habitat in the world of endemic species of black olm. A steady decline in olm populations has been observed in this area over the past decades. Owing to the rapid runoff and groundwater flow high-resolution monitoring is essential in providing better insight into the hydrogeological characterization of the catchment area of springs. Specific factors and critical parameters of water behind said olm degradation have not yet been defined. Because the olm’s environment is largely aquatic, one potential critical parameter could be the higher water temperatures (>12 °C) or higher nitrate concentration (>9.2mg/l). The six-month observation of the springs (July – December 2021) point to water temperature as a potential critical parameter since the water temperature of the springs exceeded 12 °C in months July and August. Nitrate concentrations could also be a second critical parameter in the degradation of the olm’s habitat. Maximum nitrate concentrations above 9.2mg/l throughout much of the observation period (except for Dobličica spring). Due to less agricultural activity in December in the spring catchment area and a higher dilution rate due to reduced evapotranspiration and increased effective precipitation during this time of the year, the nitrate concentrations are decreased. The results of the measured parameters of groundwater could show the hydrogeological connection between the Otovski and Pački breg springs and between Šotor, Jamnice and Dobličica. The Obršec spring has an independent catchment area. A detailed estimation of the springs catchment area is possible due to a detailed geologic map. It is necessary to determine the origin of the nitrate (nitrate isotope analysis), to quantify the threshold values of the critical parameters, to define precisely all the causes of the olm deterioration, and to make proposals for appropriate measures to limit or even stop the decline of the olm population. Keywords: hydrogeology, olm, ecology, nitrate, monitoring Published in DiRROS: 16.01.2024; Views: 143; Downloads: 48 Full text (13,65 MB) |
2. Accounting for cloud cover and circannual variation puts the effect of lunar phase on deer–vehicle collisions into perspectiveJacopo Cerri, Laura Stendardi, Elena Bužan, Boštjan Pokorny, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Although several studies have focused on the influence of moonlight on deer–vehicle collisions, findings have been inconsistent. This may be due to neglect of the effects of cloud cover, a major impediment to moon illumination and circannual variation in both deer and human activity. We assessed how median cloud cover interacted with the illuminated fraction of the moon in affecting daily roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) roadkill in Slovenia (Central Europe). Data included nationwide roadkill (n = 49,259), collected between 2010 and 2019 by hunters, as required by law. Roadkill peaked under medium to high cloud cover and decreased during nights with low or extremely high cloudiness. This pattern was more pronounced on nights with a full moon. However, the effects of moon illumination and cloud cover had a lower predictive potential than circannual variation, as collisions clearly peaked in April/May, July and August/September. Our results suggest that moonlight could influence roe deer movements through compensatory foraging. However, on nights with a full moon, collisions could also be affected by weather. On bright nights, roe deer might be less active due to increased human presence and sustained vehicular traffic. Then, with medium to high cloud cover and also rainfall, human presence in the environment may be low enough to increase deer movements, but vehicular traffic can still be intermediate, maximizing the risk of collisions. Finally, with overcast skies, widespread rainfall can reduce both traffic volume and human outdoor activity, decreasing the risk of collisions. Moon illumination may indeed affect wildlife–vehicle collisions and roadkill, but its effects should be quantified as a function of cloud cover. Moreover, to make studies truly comparable, research about wildlife–vehicle collisions should also account for time of the year. Policy implications. Because collisions with roe deer peak at particular periods of the year, signs should be installed seasonally. By doing so, they would warn drivers about the risk, improve drivers' awareness and increase their safety. Moreover, as collisions also increase on nights with a full moon and overcast skies, interactive warning signs that are activated by ground illumination should also be useful. Keywords: cloudiness, MODIS Surface Reflectance, moon, road ecology, roe deer, Slovenia, thin-plate splines, wildlife–vehicle collisions Published in DiRROS: 16.11.2023; Views: 306; Downloads: 142 Full text (4,25 MB) This document has many files! More... |
3. Priorities for bark anatomical research : study venues and open questionsIlana Shtein, Jožica Gričar, Simcha Lev-Yadun, Alexei Oskolski, Marcelo R. Pace, Julieta A. Rosell, Alan Crivellaro, 2023, original scientific article Keywords: bark, anatomy, cork, dilatation, periderm, phellogen, phenology, phloem, methods, ecology Published in DiRROS: 16.05.2023; Views: 348; Downloads: 180 Full text (8,78 MB) This document has many files! More... |
4. Jet stream position explains regional anomalies in European beech forest productivity and tree growthIsabel Dorado Liñán, Blanca Ayarzagüena, Flurin Babst, Guobao Xu, Luis Gil, Giovanna Battipaglia, Allan Buras, Vojtěch Čada, Jesús J. Camarero, Liam Cavin, Tom Levanič, Peter Prislan, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: The mechanistic pathways connecting ocean-atmosphere variability and terrestrial productivity are well-established theoretically, but remain challenging to quantify empirically. Such quantification will greatly improve the assessment and prediction of changes in terrestrial carbon sequestration in response to dynamically induced climatic extremes. The jet stream latitude (JSL) over the North Atlantic-European domain provides a synthetic and robust physical framework that integrates climate variability not accounted for by atmospheric circulation patterns alone. Surface climate impacts of north-south summer JSL displacements are not uniform across Europe, but rather create a northwestern-southeastern dipole in forest productivity and radial-growth anomalies. Summer JSL variability over the eastern North Atlantic-European domain (5-40E) exerts the strongest impact on European beech, inducing anomalies of up to 30% in modelled gross primary productivity and 50% in radial tree growth. The net effects of JSL movements on terrestrial carbon fluxes depend on forest density, carbon stocks, and productivity imbalances across biogeographic regions. Keywords: atmospheric dynamics, climate-change ecology, climate-change impacts, environmental impact Published in DiRROS: 20.04.2022; Views: 719; Downloads: 598 Full text (3,68 MB) This document has many files! More... |
5. Cultivation and utilization of Poplars, Willows and other fast-growing trees in Slovenia : report of the National Poplar CommissionGregor Božič, Andreja Ferreira, Anže Martin Pintar, Gordana Beltram, Marko Kovač, Darja Istenič, Špela Ščap, Marjana Westergren, Marko Bajc, Daniel Zorko, Simon Verebič, Nikica Ogris, Hojka Kraigher, 2020, treatise, preliminary study, study Keywords: Poplar, Willow, Black Walnut, Black Locust, international commission, FAO, national report, questionnaire, genetics, forest protection, legislation, categorisation, forest products, ecology, Slovenia Published in DiRROS: 11.12.2020; Views: 1313; Downloads: 406 Full text (624,71 KB) |
6. Questionnaire on poplars and other fast-growing trees sustaining people and the environment 2016 - 2019 : report of the National Poplar CommissionGregor Božič, Andreja Ferreira, Anže Martin Pintar, 2020, treatise, preliminary study, study Keywords: Poplar, Willow, Black Walnut, Black Locust, international commission, FAO, national report, questionnaire, genetics, forest protection, legislation, categorisation, forest products, ecology, Slovenia Published in DiRROS: 11.12.2020; Views: 1255; Downloads: 395 Full text (147,28 KB) |