Projects / Programmes
Ekološka klasifikacija vodnih sistemov na območju Julijskih Alp in Karavank in ocena ranljivosti zaradi vpliva podnebnih sprememb (Slovene)
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 1.03.03 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Biology |
Ecosystems |
Researchers (1)
| no. |
Code |
Name and surname |
Research area |
Role |
Period |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
22615 |
PhD Nataša Mori |
Biology |
Head |
2009 - 2011 |
0 |
Organisations (1)
| no. |
Code |
Research organisation |
City |
Registration number |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
0105 |
National Institute of Biology |
Ljubljana |
5055784 |
0 |
Significance for science
Knowledge about ecology of alpine karstic aquifers and their biodiversity is relatively poor at European as well as Slovenian level. Sampling of spring habitats is a good method to estimate the biodiversity of groundwater habitats. The majority of research until now has focused on investigating the springs as special habitats, inhabited by both surface species, as well as representatives from the groundwater. Groundwater species are assumed to come into spring environments passively with water flow or actively looking for additional sources of food. Little is known about the species whose primary habitat is groundwater, where they proliferate, and are not able to maintain sustainable populations in the springs where they are found only occasionally.
Current research is one of the few that examines the springs simultaneously as special habitats and as access point to groundwater habitats. The comparison of fauna from springs and of fauna drifting from aquifer brings better knowledge about ecology of aquatic organisms (mostly crustaceans). It became clearer which species are related exclusively to groundwater habitats, which live in both environments, and which live only in the springs and other surface waters. Those findings will be a new contribution to the knowledge about biodiversity of alpine groundwaters, and biogeography and ecology of groundwater species. Moreover, the new methodological aproches were introduced and demonstrated to be efficient. As we expected, we found new species for science which will be described in the future.
In addition to those findings, the on-going research use relatively new approach to solve research questions in the field of ecology of surface and ground waters. By using interdisciplinary aproach, combining geochemistry, geological sciences and favnistic research contributes greatly to better and more complex understanding of the observed patterns.
Significance for the country
Development of new concepts and methodological approaches in the field of biodiversity research and sustainable use of biodiversity is extremely important in the view of social development. The results of this research will contribute to the identification of high groundwater and spring biodiversity in the alpine region of Slovenia which has been relatively poorly known until now. Detailed favnistical and ecological description of springs and groundwaters in the area of Julian Alps, Karavanke and Kamniško-Savinjske Alps will provide better knowledge of those habitats. The comparison with other regions in the alpine space will be enabled (Italy, France, Austria, Switzerland) and the high value of those environments will be shown. The results will be used in the preparation of conservation strategies for the studied area and proposed for the development of new ecological indicators for the sustainable use of water sources in the Slovenian Alps.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2009,
2010,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
