Analysis of a sequence for the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene rejected the hypothesis on the Balkan peninsula as a refugium for the Eastern phylogeographic linneage of the common vole Microtus arvalis. The species evolved in the southern Balkans and endemic lineage, which is not in a sister position against the Eastern linneage. The study offers new insight into the evolution of the model species, and on the legacy of glacial refugia foe current biodiversity.
COBISS.SI-ID: 1832403
Genus Talpa shows high levels of endemism. Majority of small range species have ranges which overlap with the classical Mediterranean refugia. We assessed the molecular systematics of the genus using the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene from 8 of the 9 extant species. Results suggest a monophyletic origin of the genus and a common ancestor for the western moles while the eastern species are basally divergent. The estimated ages of divergence among lineages are in accordance with a Miocene origin of the extant moles and speciation events during the Miocene and the Pliocene.
COBISS.SI-ID: 1773011
Hypogean habitats are structurally simple and exhibite low diversity, low production and relatively stability of environmental factors. We investigated the coexistence and annual dynamics in abundance of two closely related, similarly sized orb-weaving spider species, Meta menardi and Metellina merianae, living syntopically in a mixed population in a Slovenian cave. The two species did not differ in their spatial niches, but significantly segregated their life cycles and marginaly significantly also their trophic niches. These differences enabled their coexistence.
COBISS.SI-ID: 17865992
We studied the effects of sheep grazing intensity and abandonment on plant species richness and composition, plant life forms and the productivity (determined as above- and below-ground biomass) of North Adriatic Karst pastures. We found that low- or moderate-intensity (4-7 sheep/ha) grazing are the most appropriate treatment to maintain the typical species composition and species richness of studied Karst grasslands and that grazing intensification and abandonment have significant negative effects on the structure of those pastures.
COBISS.SI-ID: 17586696
In order to collect all existing variability of figs from northern part of Adriatic, the survey of family yards and Slovenian orchards was performed. All collected material was morphologically characterized according to the method developed by IPGRI. Some new descriptors for leave and fruits were introduced. Altogether 38 accessions were evaluated for 74 phenotypic characters. Research results contributed to the establishment of national fig gene bank in which 22 various genotypes are collected.
COBISS.SI-ID: 1806035