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22. Phytosociological description of the dwarf mountain pine shrub community (Amelanchiero ovalis-Pinetum mugo) in the valleys of the Slovenian AlpsIgor Dakskobler, Mateja Cojzer, Andrej Rozman, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: We have expanded our knowledge of the localities, sites and distribution of the Amelanchiero ovalis-Pinetum mugo association in the Slovenian Alps. Based on phytocenological analyses, the shrub association belonging to the forest vegetation type Alpine mountain pine scrub was divided into two subassociations: peucedanetosum oreoselini and hylocomiadelphetosum triquetri. We also described four variants within the latter association.
Keywords: phytosociology, synsystematics, Pinus mugo, Natura 2000, Triglav National Park, Topla Landscape Park, Slovenia
Published in DiRROS: 27.06.2023; Views: 1336; Downloads: 586
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23. Ecological factors affecting the recent Picea abies decline in Slovenia : the importance of bedrock type and forest naturalnessJanez Kermavnar, Lado Kutnar, Anže Martin Pintar, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) has been at the centre of controversy for many decades. Recent evidence of its profound disturbance-induced damage and consequent stock depletions across forest landscapes in Europe has reinforced doubts regarding the sustainability and prospects of this tree species in the future. Like many other European countries, Slovenia has experienced significant Norway spruce mortality and a decrease in growing stock primarily as the result of several disturbance agents (bark beetle outbreaks, an ice storm, windthrows). We investigated a countrywide spruce growing stock decline based on data between 2010 and 2018. Particular focus was placed on identifying the main ecological drivers of this decline, namely geological conditions, climatic parameters, soil attributes, topographic factors and forest stand characteristics. The effects of potential predictors on the relative change (%) in spruce volume (m3 ha-1) during the period 2010-2018 were analysed with Generalized Additive Models. Based on a national dataset including forest compartments (n = 6355) with a spruce growing stock decline > 10%, we found mixed support for ecology-based hypotheses. While spruce decline responded to bedrock type as predicted (i.e., greater relative decline in carbonate compared to silicate compartments), higher forest naturalness (preservation of tree species composition) was not associated with a lower decline. Spruce decline was amplified by higher potential evapotranspiration and soil clay content but showed a strong negative relationship with spruce proportion in the year 2010. General trends along the gradients of other selected predictors (stoniness/rockiness and heat load index) were less pronounced. The results suggest that most of these ecological predictors interact with geology and forest naturalness in affecting Norway spruce decline. Our analysis reveals that bedrock type can play an important role due to its mitigating effects. However, forest naturalness is of secondary significance as intensified large-scale forest disturbances likely override its buffering potential.
Keywords: Norway Spruce, bark beetle outbreaks, ice storm, soil-geology, relationship, tree species composition, Slovenia
Published in DiRROS: 05.04.2023; Views: 880; Downloads: 291
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24. Use of an arboretum and DNA barcoding for the detection and identification of leaf-mining insects on alien woody plantsNatalia I. Kirichenko, Stanislav Gomboc, Barbara Piškur, Maarten De Groot, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Arboreta serve as effective tools for identifying alien insect pests and novel trophic associations. In this study, we used an arboretum in Slovenia to survey woody plants and identify both alien and native leaf miners. The leaves and twigs of 50 woody plant species and their cultivars were examined for characteristic damage. We used an integrative approach that combined identification based on leaf mines and DNA barcoding of the larvae and pupae found in the mines. In total, 62 leaf-mining species were identified, including eight alien species, of which the heliozelid Coptodisca lucifluella (Clemens, 1860) and the agromyzid Cerodontha unisetiorbita Zlobin, 1992 were documented for Slovenia for the first time. Additionally, three presumably native Gracillariidae moths Phyllocnistis labyrinthella (Bjerkander, 1790), P. ramulicola Langmaid & Corley, 2007 and P. saligna (Zeller, 1839) represented the first record for Slovenia. Furthermore, we documented 23 novel-to-science trophic associations, 20 of which involved native insects and alien woody plants, primarily from Asia. This study highlights the importance of arboreta and botanical gardens for the interception of invasive alien insects and the early detection of trophic shifts of native insects to alien plants, which can aid in predicting their potential spread.
Keywords: botanical garden, sentinels, leaf miners, alien species, non-native trees, novel trophic associations, DNA barcoding, Slovenia
Published in DiRROS: 24.03.2023; Views: 673; Downloads: 305
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27. Assessing the heterogeneity and conservation status of the Natura 2000 priority forest habitat type Tilio–Acerion (9180*) based on field mappingJanez Kermavnar, Erika Kozamernik, Lado Kutnar, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: Priority habitat types (HTs) within the Natura 2000 network are of the highest importance for conservation in Europe. However, they often occur in smaller areas and their conservation status is not well understood. One such HT is that of the Tilio–Acerion forests of slopes, screes and ravines (9180*). The Natura 2000 study site, Boč–Haloze–Donačka gora, in the Sub-Pannonian region of eastern Slovenia is characterized by a matrix of European beech forests and includes rather small, fragmented areas covered by Tilio–Acerion forests. The goal of this research was to examine the heterogeneity and conservation status of the selected HT through field mapping, which was performed in the summer of 2020. As the conservation of HT calls for a more detailed approach, we distinguished between the following four pre-defined habitat subtypes: (i) Acer pseudoplatanus-Ulmus glabra stands growing mostly in concave terrain, (ii) Fraxinus excelsior stands growing on slopes, (iii) Tilia sp. stands with thermophilous broadleaves occurring on ridges and slopes, (iv) Acer pseudoplatanus stands occurring on more acidic soils with an admixture of Castanea sativa. Field mapping information was complemented with the assessment of habitat subtype characteristics using remote sensing data. The results showed that habitat subtypes differed significantly in terms of area, tree species composition, forest stand characteristics, relief features and the various threats they experienced (e.g., fragmentation, tree mortality, ungulate browsing pressure). The differences between subtypes were also evident for LiDAR-derived environmental factors related to topography (i.e., terrain steepness and Topographic Position Index). This study provides a baseline for setting more realistic objectives for the conservation management of priority forest HTs. Due to the specificities of each individual habitat subtype, conservation activities should be targeted to the Natura 2000 habitat subtype level.
Keywords: forest habitat subtype, monitoring, biodiversity conservation, LiDAR, Slovenia, NATURA 2000
Published in DiRROS: 03.02.2023; Views: 1094; Downloads: 318
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28. How well did the healthcare system respond to the healthcare needs of older people with and without dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic : the perception of healthcare providers and older people from the SI4CARE Project in the ADRION RegionStella Fragkiadaki, Dionysia Kontaxopolou, Darja Šemrov, Simon Colnar, Mitja Luštrek, Bojan Blažica, Vlado Dimovski, Sokratis G. Papageorgiou, 2023, original scientific article Abstract: One major challenge during the COVID-19 pandemic was the limited accessibility to healthcare facilities, especially for the older population. The aim of the current study was the exploration of the extent to which the healthcare systems responded to the healthcare needs of the older people with or without cognitive impairment and their caregivers in the Adrion/Ionian region. Data were collected through e-questionnaires regarding the adequacy of the healthcare system and were anonymously administered to older individuals and stakeholder providers in the following countries: Slovenia, Italy (Calabria), Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Montenegro, and Serbia. Overall, 722 older people and 267 healthcare stakeholders participated in the study. During the COVID-19 pandemic, both healthcare stakeholders and the older population claimed that the healthcare needs of the older people and their caregivers increased dramatically in all countries, especially in Italy (Calabria), Croatia and BiH. According to our results, countries from the Adrion/Ionian regions faced significant challenges to adjust to the special needs of the older people during the COVID-19 pandemic, which was possibly due to limited accessibility opportunities to healthcare facilities. These results highlight the need for the development of alternative ways of providing medical assistance and supervision when in-person care is not possible.
Keywords: healthcare system responses, COVID-19 pandemic, older people, cognitive impairment, dementia, caregivers, telemedicine, healthcare challenges, accessibility, Slovenia, Italy, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Montenegro
Published in DiRROS: 01.02.2023; Views: 728; Downloads: 318
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29. Lower Permian (Artinskian) chondrichthyan tooth remains (Petalodontidae) from Dovje (Karavanke Mts., NW Slovenia)Matija Križnar, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: Fossil remains of chondrichthyan tooth bases (roots) were found in Lower Permian beds exposed along the forest road between Dovje and Plavški Rovt. These layers are part of the clastic development of the Trogkofel Group beds. They are composed of an alternation of dark to light-grey shales, siltstone, and sandstone with rare beds of the conglomerate. Within the clastic succession, layers or lenses of dark-grey to black limestones (biosparitic, biomicritic and oolitic) and limestone breccias occur. The limestone consists remains of algae, fusulinids, brachiopods, and mostly crinoids (Palermocrinus and Entrochus). Detail study has shown that two remains of tooth bases belong to the genus Petalodus, one of them to the species Petalodus ohioensis. The bases are tongue-shaped and come to a rounded point in the distal (base end) edge. On the surface of the base, the typical oval-shaped foramina are visible. In addition, the osteodentine is visible on the cross-section of one specimen. Teeth of Petalodus are often the most common chondrichthyan fossil vertebrate remains reported from the Carboniferous and Permian rocks of the USA, Europe, and Russia. In Slovenia, Petalodus ohioensishas been recorded only from Upper Carboniferous beds. The new record of Lower Permian remains contributes to the knowledge of this cosmopolitan but still common genus of Late Paleozoic chondrichthyans.
Keywords: fossils, Petalodontiformes, Petalodus ohioensis, Upper Paleozoic, Artinskian, Karavanke Mountains, Slovenia
Published in DiRROS: 18.01.2023; Views: 737; Downloads: 324
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30. Carcass and meat quality traits of pig fatteners from Slovenian Breeding programmeMaja Prevolnik, Martin Škrlep, Dejan Škorjanc, Marjeta Čandek-Potokar, 2008, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: The aim of the present study was the comparison of carcass and meat quality traits of commercial pigs of various crossbreeds from two major Slovenian herds. The analysis is based on phenotypic data from field trials which have been collected in the last past five years within the Slovenian breeding programme. Important differences in carcass traits were observed between two herds and were associated to different crossbreeds used. In spite of that economically important result on the slaughter line (lean meat %) was similar for both herds. Meat quality traits were also significantly different between the two herds. Again, the difference could be ascribed to crossbreeds used. However, since the herd effect is connected with abattoir effect, different ante-mortem conditions and/or lower robustness of these animals to premortal stress could also be contributed to the observed differences. The presented results give important information on the state-of-the-art regarding meat quality of Slovenian pigs.
Keywords: pigs, carcass quality, meat, breeding programs, Slovenia
Published in DiRROS: 06.09.2022; Views: 760; Downloads: 264
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