Recent acoustic studies have revealed that Cicadetta montana (Scopoli, 1772), is actually a complex of many taxa. Although some song patterns are very distinct, others comprise groups of closely related species, as in the case of Cicadetta cerdaniensis Puissant & Boulard, 2000, Cicadetta cantilatrix Sueur & Puissant, 2007, and Cicadetta anapaistica Hertach, 2011. Seven spatially or behaviourally isolated metapopulations belonging to this song group from Italy and Switzerland were detected and investigated using acoustic, molecular, and morphological methods. Taxonomic decisions in this group are challenging because of a lack of truly diagnostic morphological characters, variously coloured morphs, qualitatively intermediate song patterns in contact zones, and strong temperature dependence of songduration characters. Molecular genetic studies suggest rapid speciation resulting in incomplete lineage sorting and introgression. It is only by using multiple sources of data that species can be delimited. The new species Cicadetta sibillae sp. nov. and the new subspecies Cicadetta anapaistica lucana ssp. nov. were described using the microstructure of the male calling songs. Cicadetta sibillae sp. nov. occurs from southern Switzerland to central Italy, and is the most abundant cicada in the Northern Apennine. Cicadetta anapaistica lucana ssp. nov. is endemic to a small southern Italian distribution range, and seems to be threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation. There is strong evidence that current distribution patterns and phylogenetic relationships of the Cicadetta cerdaniensis group are linked to speciation events in Pleistocene glacial refugia in the Italian, Iberian, and Balkan peninsulas.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3379279
This contribution presents the results of interdisciplinary research where groundwater invertebrate drift, collected from the spring outlets at the interface of vadose and phreatic zones, has been examined for its potential for identifying sources of discharge from a karst aquifer. The sampling was carried out monthly for one year at two spring mouths (permanent and temporal). Certain species from the drift were found to be useful tracers for distinguishing between the phreatic and the epikarst and vadose zones as the origin of spring water.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3299407
This is the first comprehensive study of a trade-off between energetic costs of vibrational signalling, as well as incured indirect costs and benefits of higher investement in vibrational signalling. Our results show that vibrational signalling is around 12.4 times energetically more demanding than resting. Higher calling rate had a significant positive effect on probability to find the female, however, males that invested more in calling in early life died younger.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3364687
In a review paper based on our own research we showed the potential of the use of substrate vibrations in pest control. Although many economically important pests communicate with vibrational signals, the use of such signals in pest management is still grossly underestimated. This review was among the 10 most accessed papers in the year 2015 in this journal.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3157839
Article is about pollution with metals and PAHs in northern part of Slovenia and the exposure it represents for small mammals and birds via the food chain. We found that soil in the vicinity of former lead smelter is heavily polluted with Pb, Cd, and Zn. Roots and earthworms are significant route of Pb and Cd exposure for small mammals and the birds. The liver Pb/Cd levels reached effect concentrations in almost all Myodes glareolus. Metals contribute more to the risk for small mammals and birds than PAHs. Hazard to local ecosystems may persist for decades in vicinity of emission sources.
COBISS.SI-ID: 1221078