Kovacic G.,University of Primorska |
Ravbar N.,Karst Research Institute
Science of the Total Environment | Year: 2013
A comprehensive analysis of the increased pressure on karst landscapes due to expansive economic and urban development is presented with the aim of evaluating changes in land use and their deleterious effects on karst relief forms. The study focuses on two areas surrounding the relatively quickly growing settlements of Hrpelje-Kozina and Divača on the Kras plateau (Slovenia) that have been subjected to intensive urban and business development and traffic since the motorway was brought to their vicinity fifteen years ago. National legislation loopholes and technological improvement were the cause of the commonly unsupervised human encroachment which caused the widespread degradation of the landscape. By comparing different topographical and ortophotographical materials from the past four decades and by detailed field inspection of land use and environmental changes, as well as the morphometrical characterization of dolines, the following results have been found: due to the population growth in the past four decades (39% and 50%, respectively), an increase of settlement area by 18 and 11 percentage points took place. Consequently, between 25 and 27% of dolines have disappeared or have been extensively modified (filled up and leveled). According to the local spatial plans, an additional 18% to 28% dolines are endangered. Broad human induced changes in the karst landscape have resulted in a noticeable increase in landscape deterioration, which is consistent with similar phenomena observed in other regions. Due to the extreme susceptibility of the karst to human activities that may lead to the degradation of its exceptional esthetic and environmental value, the alteration of karst processes such as corrosion, endangering of unique habitats and the quality of non-renewable natural resources, it is necessary to promptly define measures for its protection at the national level. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.
Impact of chlorides, nitrates, sulfates and phosphates on increased limestone dissolution in the karst vadose zone (Postojna Cave, Slovenia) [Vpliv kloridov, nitratov, sulfatov in fosfatov na povečano raztapljanje apnenca v vadozni coni krasa (Postojnska jama, Slovenija)]
Kogovsek J.,Karst Research Institute
Acta Carsologica | Year: 2011
Distinctive karst hydrology arises from a combination of high carbonate rock solubility and well developed secondary porosity (fissures). Soil CO2 is the most important influence on solubility of carbonate rock (Ford & Williams 2007). Human activity on the karst surface results in pollution that has an important influence on water quality. Degradation of organic pollution (e.g. waste water, leachates from landfill sites) results in inorganic acids too. These acids could have an important additional influence on dissolution of carbonate rocks in the vadose zone. In the framework of more than 20 years of research on precipitation percolation and transfer of contaminants (direct outflow of waste water from a small military facility where about twenty troops were stationed) through the 100-m thick vadose zone of Postojna Cave, contaminated water was observed in drips and trickles in the cave (up to 60 mg Cl-/l, up to 180 mg NO3-/l, up to 2.8 mg PO34-/l, and up to 50 mg SO42-/l). At the same time the sum of calcium and magnesium (Ca+Mg) of trickles was up to two times larger than the Ca+Mg of either the uncontaminated reference trickle or the input waste water. The amount of dissolved limestone carried by waste water to trickles and drips in the cave was directly proportional to the concentration of contaminant anions present. This demonstrates that there is an accelerated widening of fissures below source points of wastewater. Water with contaminants can penetrate faster and deeper into the vadose zone along the increasingly permeable fissures without losing its dissolving power, and thus significant dissolution occurs ever deeper in the vadose zone. This results in ever faster penetration of contaminants through the vadose zone. In the final phase of such development, which takes many decades or longer, relatively rapid transfer of contaminants through the aquifer all the way to karst springs with minimal self-cleansing effects can be expected.
Mulec J.,Karst Research Institute
Journal for Nature Conservation | Year: 2014
Underground tourist cultural and natural heritage sites in Slovenia that share similar management problems with other such sites worldwide include Postojna Cave with more than a half million annual visitors and the UNESCO World Heritage Site Škocjan Caves. The underground environment is challenged by ultrasonic noise derived from different electric devices in a broad range (10-123kHz) that can be minimised with protective housings. Lamps which increase temperature and lower relative humidity should be omitted. Chlorella vulgaris thrived very well under a halogen lamp and LEDs whose spectra were modified to give a natural appearance to illuminated features and emitted photon quanta close to the photosynthetic compensation point (~20μmolphotons/m2s). Remediation of insensitive calcite surfaces colonised by lampenflora with a 15% (v/v) solution of hydrogen peroxide (pH 7.0-7.5) was successful. Because visitors introduce and spread, especially by footprints, many live microorganisms (>10000 colony-forming units per 100cm2), measures to reduce such input should be implemented. Bacterial counts expressed as colony-forming units per m3 were more indicative for the presence/absence of tourists than were changes in carbon dioxide concentration. Not only tourists, but also external climatic conditions influenced the concentration of airborne bacteria. Microbiological parameters should be included in estimating tourist carrying capacity for sensitive underground sites. © 2013 Elsevier GmbH.
Mulec J.,Karst Research Institute |
Vaupotic J.,Jozef Stefan Institute |
Walochnik J.,Medical University of Vienna
Microbial Ecology | Year: 2012
Bioaerosols in cave air can serve as natural tracers and, together with physical parameters, give a detailed view of conditions in the cave atmosphere and responses to climatic changes. Airborne microbes in the Postojna Cave system indicated very dynamic atmospheric conditions, especially in the transitory seasonal periods between winter and summer. Physical parameters of cave atmosphere explained the highest variance in structure of microbial community in the winter and in the summer. The airborne microbial community is composed of different microbial groups with generally low abundances. At sites with elevated organic input, occasional high concentrations of bacteria and fungi can be expected of up to 1,000 colony-forming units/m3 per individual group. The most abundant group of airborne amoebozoans were the mycetozoans. Along with movements of air masses, airborne algae also travel deep underground. In a cave passage with elevated radon concentration (up to 60 kBq/m3) airborne biota were less abundant; however, the concentration of DNA in the air was comparable to that in other parts of the cave. Due to seasonal natural air inflow, high concentrations of biological and inanimate particles are introduced underground. Sedimentation of airborne allochthonous material might represent an important and continuous source of organic material for cave fauna. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.
Pipan T.,Karst Research Institute |
Culver D.C.,American University of Washington
Biological Journal of the Linnean Society | Year: 2012
The dominant neo-Darwinian paradigm of the evolution of cave animals is that the severe aphotic, low food environment with little environmental cyclicity imposes strong selective pressures leading to a convergent (troglomorphic) morphology of reduced pigment and eyes, and elaborated extra-optic sensory structures. Challenges to the paradigm come from two fronts. First, troglomorphic animals occur in many aphotic habitats with relatively abundant food and environmental cyclicity. Second, many permanent reproducing populations in caves are not troglomorphic. A review of data on patterns of troglomorphy confirms both of these points. This suggests that the absence of light, rather than resource level and environmental cyclicity, is the important selective factor, and that other forces are at work, including competition and differences in the age of lineages in subterranean environments. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London.