1. Raziskave ekološkega stanja Prvega (Jezero pod Vršacem), Petega in Šestega (Dvojno jezero) Triglavskega jezera : končno poročiloNataša Mori, Žiga Ogorelec, Annasibila Požrl, David Stanković, Tina Eleršek, Nika Tivadar, Mojca Vek, Tatjana Simčič, Andrej Kapla, Matjaž Bedjanič, final research report Abstract: V poročilu so predstavljeni rezultati ekološke raziskave Prvega (Jezero pod Vršacem), Petega in Šestega (Dvojno jezero) Triglavskega jezera v dolini Sedmerih Triglavskih jezer. Prvo jezero je najbolj severno ležeče jezero v dolini, ki ima dva stalna pritoka iz dveh potočkov ter je bilo pred letom 1994 tudi poleti popolnoma ali delno prekrito z ledom, snegom in plundro. Po letu 1994 je jezero poleti večinoma brez snega in ledu. Dvojno Triglavsko jezero je bilo od leta 1991 naseljeno z ribami, kar je korenito spremenilo lastnosti obeh jezer, obenem sta jezera tudi pod vplivom planinske koče pri Triglavskih jezerih, ki se nahaja med Močivcem in Petim jezerom. Med letom 2020 in 2023 je, v okviru projekta Vrh Julijcev (Izboljšanje stanja vrst in habitatnih tipov Triglavskem narodnem parku), katerega vodilni partner je JZ Triglavski Nacionalni Park, potekal intenziven izlov rib in druge aktivnosti, kot je odstranjevanje makrofitov. Raziskavo v takšni obliki in obsegu smo izvedli prvič jeseni 2023, nato pa jo ponovili v septembru leta 2024 in 2025. Na terenu smo izmerili fizikalne, kemijske in izbrane biološke parametre jezer, odvzeli vzorce za kemijske analize vode, vzorce zooplanktona, fitoplanktona, fitobentosa (perifitona) ter bentoških nevretenčarjev, popisali prisotnost makrofitov in dvoživk ter rezultate primerjali s preteklimi podatki, pogledali dolgoročne trende in ovrednotili ekološko stanje vseh treh jezer. Raziskava v letu 2025 je nadaljevanje večletnega spremljanja stanja jezer, povzetega v poročilih pripravljenih s strani Nacionalnega Inštituta za biologijo za Triglavski nacionalni park od leta 2019 do leta 2024, hkrati pa tudi nadaljevanje raziskav, ki so se pričele v letu 1989 pod vodstvom biologov z Oddelka za biologijo Univerze Edvarda Kardelja in Inštituta za biologijo ter nadaljevale v 90. letih prejšnjega stoletja in prvem in drugem desetletju tega stoletja pod vodstvom prof. dr. Antona Branclja z Nacionalnega inštituta za biologijo. Prvo jezero je glede na izmerjene parametre v primerjavi z leti 2023 in 2024 ostalo v podobnem stanju z manjšimi odstopanji. Koncentracija klorofila a na gladini se je v Prvem jezeru po enem letu povišala, prav tako tudi koncentracija skupnega dušika na gladini, medtem ko je koncentracija skupnega dušika na dnu malenkost upadla, v primerjavi z letom 2023 pa so vrednosti še vedno nižje. Glede na leti 2023 in 2024 se je koncentracija skupnega fosforja znižala. Dodatne analize izvirov, ki se stekata v jezero so pokazale višje vrednoti nitratov v vzorcih iz izvirov kot v jezeru. Dno jezera tudi letos preraščajo nitaste zelene alge in lasastolistna vodna zlatica. V Petem jezeru se je kemijsko stanje v primerjavi z lanskim letom precej poslabšalo. Nasičenost s kisikom je po štirih letih ponovno padla pod 100% (dno), v primerjavi z leti 2023 in 2024 pa so analize pokazale tudi povišanje koncentracije klorofila a ter skupnega dušika. Presenetljivo pa je, da smo pri Šestem jezeru zaznali pozitivne spremembe, analize klorofila a so pokazale rekordno nizke vrednosti, prav tako analiza skupnega fosforja ter dušika, katerih koncentracija v Šestem jezeru z leti ves čas upada. Dno Dvojnega jezera še vedno povsem preraščajo nitaste zelene alge. Glede na vse zaznane spremembe se predlaga nadaljnje spremljanje stanja.
Keywords: visokogorska jezera, ekološko stanje, trofični indeks, kemični in biološki parametri, Dolina Sedmerih Triglavskih jezer, kemijska analiza vode, zooplankton
Published in DiRROS: 09.07.2026; Views: 290; Downloads: 2 |
2. Raziskave ekološkega stanja Prvega (Jezero pod Vršacem), Petega in Šestega (Dvojno jezero) Triglavskega jezera : končno poročiloŽiga Ogorelec, Nataša Mori, David Stanković, Tina Eleršek, Maruša Kerenčič, Gaber Gabrovšek, Tatjana Simčič, final research report Abstract: Sredi septembra 2024 se je izvedlo ekološke raziskave treh Triglavskih jezer. Raziskalo se je 1. jezero (Jezero pod Vršacem), v katerem je bilo v zadnjih letih opaženo močno zaraščanje z makrofiti, v letu 2023 pa je jezero imelo tudi povišane koncentracije klorofila a. Predmet raziskav je bilo tudi 5. in 6. oz. Dvojno jezero, na katerem je od 2020 do 2023 potekal intenziven izlov rib in druge aktivnosti projekta Vrh Julijcev. Analiziralo se je fizikalne, kemične in biološke parametre jezer, rezultate primerjalo s preteklimi podatki in tako ocenilo ekološko stanje in trende vseh treh jezer. Raziskave so bile nadaljevanje mnogoletnega monitoringa jezer, povzetega v lanskem poročilu (Raziskave o ekološkem stanju Prvega (Jezero pod Vršacem), Četrtega (Jezero v Ledvicah), Petega in Šestega (Dvojno jezero) ter Sedmega (Črno jezero) Triglavskega jezera). Glede na pretekle raziskave se je stanje v obdobju od 2011 do 2023 v 1. jezeru močno poslabšalo. Koncentracije klorofila a v vodnem stolpcu so izrazito narastle, jezersko dno pa so začeli preraščati makrofiti. V letu 2024 pa je bila koncentracija klorofila že precej nižja kot leto pred tem in kemijsko stanje boljše. Makrofiti v 1. jezeru pa se še vedno širijo in postopoma vse bolj preraščajo jezersko dno. Pri Dvojnem jezeru pa so bile letos opazne izboljšave ekološkega stanja. Že v preteklih letih je bil trend manjših izboljšav pri številnih kemijskih in bioloških parametrih. Izboljšava slednjih pa je bila letos še posebno izrazita pri 5. jezeru. Obe jezeri sta sicer še vedno močno prerastlo z nitastimi algami, zato se predlaga dokončen izlov rib za povrnitev v naravno oz. prvotno ekološko stanje jezera.
Keywords: visokogorska jezera, ekološko stanje, trofični indeks, kemični in biološki parametri, Dolina Sedmerih Triglavskih jezer, kemijska analiza vode, zooplankton
Published in DiRROS: 09.07.2026; Views: 276; Downloads: 3 |
3. Data from: A comprehensive occurrence dataset for European Ostracoda inhabiting groundwater and groundwater-dependent ecosystemsNataša Mori, Živa Vehovar, Traian Brad, Gergely Balázs, Constanze Englisch, Cene Fišer, Santiago Gaviria, Sanja Gottstein, Christian Griebler, Marius Kenesz, Lee R. F. D. Knight, Pierre Marmonier, Florian Malard, Stefano Mammola, Alejandro Martinez Garcia, Maja Zagmajster, 2025, research data Abstract: Motivation Groundwater ecosystems sustain a unique and globally important biodiversity but remain understudied due to sampling and exploration challenges, as well as a shortage of taxonomic experts. Groundwater ostracods, like other groundwater taxa, exhibit a high degree of endemism, rarity, and subterranean specialisation, positioning them as potentially vulnerable organisms. To better understand biodiversity patterns and the conservation needs of this highly diverse group, we assembled a team of experts to gather the most comprehensive information available about groundwater ostracods in Europe. We present a dataset comprising 2,065 occurrence records of 110 species, 11 undescribed species, and 5 subspecies of groundwater ostracods. This open dataset may support future research on the distribution, evolutionary pathways, and conservation needs of European groundwater ostracods, as well as inspire targeted sampling efforts in regions with currently limited data available. Main Types of Variables Contained Occurrence records of groundwater ostracods, with details about taxonomy, source of records, occurrence locality, habitat type, and species dependence on groundwater (obligate [stygobite] versus facultative groundwater-dwellers [stygophile]). Spatial Location and Grain Geographical Europe, spanning 32 countries. Occurrence records were assigned decimal degrees coordinates (EPSG:4326). Most occurrence records are at 100 m resolution. Time Period 1915–2024. Major Taxa and Level of Measurement Crustacea: Ostracoda. Most records have species or subspecies-level identification, while some are identified to genus or family levels. Software Format Comma-separated values file (.csv), with UTF-8 encoding and meta-data provided following the Darwin Core standard.
Keywords: alluvial aquifers, conservation, ecotypes, habitat types, hyporheic zone, karst, occurence data, Ostracods, springs
Published in DiRROS: 30.03.2026; Views: 501; Downloads: 430
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4. Subterranean environments contribute to three-quarters of classified ecosystem servicesStefano Mammola, David Brankovits, Tiziana Di Lorenzo, Isabel R. Amorim, Raluca Ioana Bancila, Adrià Bellvert, Enrico Bernard, Anna Blomberg, Nataša Mori, Maja Zagmajster, 2026, original scientific article Abstract: Beneath the Earth’s surface lies a network of interconnected caves, voids, and systems of fissures forming in rocks of sed-imentary, igneous, or metamorphic origin. Although largely inaccessible to humans, this hidden realm supports and reg-ulates services critical to ecological health and human well-being. Subterranean ecosystems are integral to majorbiogeochemical cycles, sustain diverse surface habitats, and serve as the primary source of irrigation and drinking water.They also offer non-material benefits, including scientific discovery, education, and cultural practices. Yet, these contri-butions often go unrecognised, partly due to the lack of a unified synthesis of ecosystem services across terrestrial, fresh-water, and marine subterranean compartments. This gap limits effective communication of their value to scientists,practitioners, and the public. Through a systematic expert-based review, we show that subterranean ecosystems contrib-ute to up to 75% of classified ecosystem services. Notably, many of these contributions are described only qualitatively,lacking numerical or economic quantification. Next, we list examples of the main ecosystem services provided by subter-ranean systems to offer a global overview of their multifaceted value and vulnerability to environmental change. Webelieve this synthesis provides researchers and practitioners with concrete examples to communicate more effectivelythe importance of subterranean ecosystems to diverse audiences.
Keywords: groundwater, hypogean, nature value, drinking water, food production, biotechnology, geothermal energy, sustainability, ecotourism, cultural heritage
Published in DiRROS: 02.03.2026; Views: 535; Downloads: 618
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5. Carbon cycling dynamics in the headwater Radovna stream recharged by Lipnik springs, a carbonate catchment in the Julian Alps, Slovenia, based on stable isotope analysisTjaša Kanduč, Timotej Verbovšek, Nataša Mori, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: Carbon cycling was investigated monthly (July, August, September, October, November, March and May) from July 2023 to May 2024 in the Radovna stream originating from the permanent Lipnik spring in the Julian Alps, Slovenia using isotopic composition of carbon in dissolved inorganic carbon (δ13CDIC) and particulate organic carbon (δ13CPOC). The investigated catchment is composed of massive coarse - crystal dolomite and limestone. Total alkalinity ranged from 2.2 to 2.7mM and is characteristic for carbonate pristine environments. In-situ parameters e.g. dissolved oxygen ranged from 11.0 to 12.0mg/L, pH from 7.9 to 8.1 and specific electrical conductivity from 275 to 318μS/cm, respectively. The values of dissolved oxygen reflect that the water system is well oxygenated. CO2 presented a source of carbon to the atmosphere during all investigated months. Oversaturation with CO2 is 1.01 to 4.1 times of atmospheric value. δ13CDICranged from -11.8 to -9.7‰. This indicates that dissolved inorganic carbon under different discharge conditions mainly originates from the dissolution of carbonates (from 50.3 % to 57.3%), followed by the degradation of organic matter (from 42.8% to 49.7%). Equilibration with atmospheric CO₂ has a negligible impact, ranging from 0.01% to 0.11%. δ13CPOC in river water indicate sources such as plant debris, with δ13CPOC of -29.4‰, and highly degraded soil organic matter, with δ13CPOC of -24.9‰. The δ13CDIC and δ13CPOC values are typical for a forest stream flowing over a limestone substrate. Strong statistical negative significant correlation was obtained between electrical conductivity and water temperature, mass of total suspended solids (mTSS) and pH.
Keywords: total alkalinity, stable isotopes, carbon, pCO2, headwater stream, Julian Alps
Published in DiRROS: 23.12.2025; Views: 1162; Downloads: 281
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6. Are caves enough to represent karst groundwater biodiversity? Insights from geospatial analyses applied to European obligate groundwater-dwelling copepodsEmma Galmarini, Mattia Di Cicco, Barbara Fiasca, Nataša Mori, Mattia Iannella, Tiziana Di Lorenzo, Francesco Cerasoli, Diana Maria Paola Galassi, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: Caves are recognized as biodiversity hotspots for groundwater fauna, including obligate groundwater-dwelling copepods (Crustacea: Copepoda), exhibiting high species richness, endemism, and phylogenetic rarity. However, the extent to which caves alone provide a representative estimate of copepod species richness in karst areas remains uncertain. Taking advantage of the recently published EGCop dataset, the first expert-validated, Europe-wide occurrence dataset for obligate groundwater-dwelling copepods (hereinafter, GW copepods), this study investigates the distribution of GW copepods into karst areas, comparing species richness in caves versus other karst groundwater habitats (e.g., springs, karst streams, artificial wells), within and among the European karst units. The main aims are: (i) identifying karst areas which represent hotpots of GW copepod species richness; (ii) assessing to which extent caves, as open windows to the subterranean environments, contribute to define hotspots of GW copepods’ species richness into karst areas across Europe. EGCop comprises 6,986 records from 588 copepod species/subspecies distributed among four orders: Cyclopoida (3,664 records, 184 species), Harpacticoida (3,288 records, 395 species), Calanoida (32 records, seven species), and Gelyelloida (two records, two species). To perform geospatial analyses, we filtered the dataset by: (i) selecting only the records with spatial uncertainty in the associated coordinates lower than 10 km; (ii) searching for those records falling within, or very close to, the polygons representing European karst areas. Species richness hotspots were then estimated through geospatial analyses in geographic information system (GIS) environment. Within the selected records, those specifically referring to karst habitats (2,526 records, 369 species) are primarily represented by Harpacticoida (1,199 records, 228 species) and Cyclopoida (1,293 records, 132 species). Among species collected from karst habitats, records from caves (1,867, 73.9%) belong to 318 species (Harpacticoida = 189, Cyclopoida = 122, Calanoida = 7), representing 86.1% of the total species richness of karst habitats. Geospatial analyses reveal that the European hotspots of GW copepods’ species richness recorded exclusively in caves reflect the spatial arrangement of postglacial refugia in southern karst regions, though representing a subset of the broader diversity found across all karst groundwater habitats. Our findings highlight that the contribution of cave systems in groundwater biodiversity assessments and related conservation planning may vary depending on the evolution and morphologies of the target karst regions—often pointing to a high representativeness of caves for subterranean biodiversity, sometimes revealing their lower explanatory power within the broader karst systems.
Keywords: copepoda, groundwater, biodiversity, datasets, caves, karst, Europe
Published in DiRROS: 19.12.2025; Views: 730; Downloads: 685
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7. Advancing subterranean conservation through Global Research on eDNA in Groundwaters (GReG)Mattia Saccò, Abdul Elmasri, Mahima Tawal, Roman Alther, Maja Zagmajster, Marjeta Konec, Nataša Mori, David Stanković, Živa Vehovar, Valerija Zakšek, 2025, other scientific articles Keywords: environmental DNA, groundwater, protection of underground ecosystems
Published in DiRROS: 25.09.2025; Views: 805; Downloads: 393
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8. Subterranean environments contribute to three-quarters of classified ecosystem servicesStefano Mammola, David Brankovits, Tiziana Di Lorenzo, Isabel R. Amorim, Raluca Ioana Bancila, Nataša Mori, Maja Zagmajster, 2025, other component parts Abstract: Beneath the Earth’s surface lies a network of interconnected caves, voids, and systems of fissures forming in rocks of sedimentary, igneous, or metamorphic origin. Though largely inaccessible to humans, this hidden realm supports and regulates services critical to ecological health and human well-being. Subterranean ecosystems are integral to major biogeochemical cycles, sustain diverse surface habitats, and serve as the primary source of irrigation and drinking water. They also offer non-material benefits, including scientific discovery, education, and cultural practices. Yet, these contributions often go unrecognized, partly due to the lack of a unified synthesis of ecosystem services across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine subterranean compartments. This gap limits effective communication of their value to scientists, practitioners, and the public. Through a systematic expert-based review, we show that subterranean ecosystems contribute to up to 75% of classified ecosystem services. Notably, many of these contributions are described only qualitatively, lacking numerical or economic quantification. Next, we provide examples of the main services to offer a global overview of their multifaceted value and vulnerability to environmental change. We believe this synthesis provides researchers and practitioners with concrete examples and targeted metaphors to more effectively communicate the importance of subterranean ecosystems to diverse audiences.
Keywords: cultural heritage, ecotourism, sustainability, geothermal energy, biotechnology, food production, drinking water, nature value, hypogean, groundwater
Published in DiRROS: 02.07.2025; Views: 1002; Downloads: 1327
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9. A comprehensive occurrence dataset for European Ostracoda inhabiting groundwater and groundwater-dependent ecosystemsNataša Mori, Živa Vehovar, Traian Brad, Gergely Balázs, Constanze Englisch, Cene Fišer, Santiago Gaviria, Sanja Gottstein Matočec, Christian Griebler, Marius Kenesz, Lee R. F. D. Knight, Florian Malard, Stefano Mammola, Pierre Marmonier, Alejandro Martinez, Maja Zagmajster, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: Motivation Groundwater ecosystems sustain a unique and globally important biodiversity but remain understudied due to sampling and exploration challenges, as well as a shortage of taxonomic experts. Groundwater ostracods, like other groundwater taxa, exhibit a high degree of endemism, rarity and subterranean specialisation, positioning them as potentially vulnerable organisms. To better understand biodiversity patterns and the conservation needs of this highly diverse group, we assembled a team of experts to gather the most comprehensive information available about groundwater ostracods in Europe. We present a dataset comprising 2065 occurrence records of 110 species, 11 undescribed species and 5 subspecies of groundwater ostracods. This open dataset may support future research on the distribution, evolutionary pathways and conservation needs of European groundwater ostracods, as well as inspire targeted sampling efforts in regions with currently limited data available. Main Types of Variables Contained Occurrence records of groundwater ostracods, with details about taxonomy, source of records, occurrence locality, habitat type and species dependence on groundwater (obligate [stygobiont] versus facultative groundwater-dwellers [stygophile]). Spatial Location and Grain Geographical Europe, spanning 32 countries. Occurrence records were assigned decimal degrees coordinates (EPSG:4326). Most occurrence records are at 100 m resolution. Time Period 1915–2024. Major Taxa and Level of Measurement Crustacea: Ostracoda. Most records have species or subspecies-level identification, while some are identified to genus or family levels. Software Format Comma-separated values file (.csv) and Excel file (.xlsx), with UTF-8 encoding and metadata provided following the Darwin Core standard.
Keywords: alluvial aquifers, conservation, ecotypes, habitat types, hyporheic zone, karst, occurrence data, ostracods, springs
Published in DiRROS: 20.06.2025; Views: 1184; Downloads: 1082
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10. Spatial and temporal variability of hyporheic invertebrate community within a stream reach of the River Bača (W Slovenia)Nataša Mori, Anton Brancelj, 2011, original scientific article Abstract: We studied spatio-temporal distribution of hyporheic invertebrate community at the stream-reach scale in the River Bača on three sampling occasions (January, March, May) in 2005. On each sampling occasion, invertebrates were collected from the shallow hyporheic zone (RB1; depth 30-60 cm, 3 replicates), and deeper hyporheic zone (RB2; depth 60-90 cm, 2 replicates) in the river bed, and adjacent gravel bar (GB; depth 60-90 cm, 3 replicates) using Bou-Rouch piston pump. Concurrently, temperature, conductivity and oxygen were measured in the surface water and in hyporheic water at each sampling station. Differences in hyporheic community between dates and habitats were analysed by using two-way ANOVA (dates and habitats as fixed factors) and explored by principal component analysis (PCA). Altogether, 21,657 specimens from 63 taxa were collected. Cyclopoida juveniles, Leuctra sp. (Plecoptera), Chironomidae (Diptera), Acanthocyclops vernalis (Fischer, 1853) and Diacyclops languidus (G. O. Sars, 1863) were the most abundant in the samples. Two-way ANOVA showed significant differences between habitats (RB1 and GB), but no differences between dates when using taxonomic richness as dependent variable. No differences between habitats and dates were calculated when invertebrate densities were applied. PCA of hyporheic invertebrate data showed a gradient in community composition from shallow hyporheic zone (RB1) to deeper hyporheic zone (RB2) and gravel bar (GB). The differences were most probably due to different sediment composition in the studied habitats and less frequent disturbances due to floods in deeper layers and lateral gravel bars.
Keywords: stream reach, hyporheic zone, invertebrates, distribution (biology), community composition, spatial and temporal distribution
Published in DiRROS: 12.03.2025; Views: 1076; Downloads: 1082
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