Ecology of animals in karst aquatic ecotonic habitats

The primary goal of this course is to give students the theoretical and practical knowledge of the basic characteristics of aquatic habitats and ecotone habitats on karst, and connections of surface and subterranean waters from the ecological point of view. They are introduced with different ecological questions and examples, connected with the individuals, populations, communities and aquatic ecotone habitats. The special emphasis is on the knowledge and assessment methods for protection and vulnerability of karst aquatic ecotone habitats.

/

• Introduction of the concept of karst aquatic ecotone habitats
• Scientific principles of the structure and protection of karst aquatic ecotone habitats
• Survey of ecological interactions between subterranean and surface waters
• Methods for sampling communities in ecotone habitats
• Organisms and their physical environment
• Adaptations of fauna to the basic abiotic factors
• Species interactions
• Distribution patterns of aquatic invertebrats in different ecotone habitats
• Threatened species, their assessment and management

Students get knowledge about the basic concepts connected with the animal ecology in different aquatic ecotone habitats in karst. Student learns about the main communities in aquatic ecotone habitats, their interactions and adaptations of organisms. They become skilled on the sampling methodology and for the basic ecological research work in aquatic ecotone habitats.

• Culver D. C., Pipan T. 2009: The Biology of Caves and Other Subterranean Habitats. Oxford University Press, Oxford. Catalogue
• Culver D.C., Pipan T. 2014: Shallow subterranean habitats: ecology, evolution, and conservation. Oxford University Press, Oxford. Catalogue
• Gibert J., Mathieu J., Fournier F. 1997: Groundwater/Surface Water Ecotones: Biological and Hydrological Interactions and Management Options. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. Catalogue E-version
• Gottstein S. 2010: Priručnik za određivanje podzemnih staništa u Hrvatskoj prema Direktivi o staništima EU. Državni zavod za zaštitu prirode, Zagreb. E-version
• Gottstein Matočec S., Ozimec R., Jalžić B., Kerovec M., Bakran-Petricioli T. 2002: Raznolikost i ugroženost podzemne faune Hrvatske. Ministartsvo zaštite okoliša i prostornog uređenja, Zagreb.
• Gottstein Matočec S., Bakran-Petricioli T., Bedek J., Bukovec D., Buzjak S., Franičević M., Jalžić B., Kerovec M., Kletečki E., Kralj J., Kružić M., Kuhta M., Matočec N., Ozimec R., Rađa T., Štamol V., Ternjej I., Tvrtkovič N. 2002: An overview of the cave and interstitial biota of Croatia. Nature Croatica 11 (Suppl. 1):1-112. E-version
• Stoch F. 2002: Caves and karstic phenomena. Life in the subterranean world. Italian Ministry of the Environment and Territory Protection, Friuli Museum of Natural History, Udine. E-version
• Wilkens H., Culver D. C., Humphreys W. 2000: Ecosystems of the World. Subterranean Ecosystems. Elsevier, Amsterdam. Catalogue

Short written seminar, its presentation and exam. 50/50

Full Professor of Biology.

Bibliography:

SACLIER N., DUCHEMIN L., KONECNY‐DUPRÉ L., GRISON P., EME D., MARTIN C., CALLOU C., LEFÉBURE T., FRANÇOIS C., ISSARTEL C., LEWIS J.J., STOCH F.., SKET B., GOTTSTEIN S., DELIĆ T., ZAGMAJSTER M., GRABOWSKI M., WEBER D., REBOLEIRA A.S.P.S., PALATOV D., PARAGAMIAN K., KNIGHT L.R.F.D., MICHEL G., LEFEBVRE F., HOSSEINI M.-J.M., CAMACHO A.I., DE BIKUÑA B.G., TALEB A., BELAIDI N., TUEKAM KAYO R.P., GALASSI D.M.P., MOLDOVAN O.T., DOUADY CH.J. & MALARD F. 2024 - A collaborative backbone resource for comparative studies of subterranean evolution: The World Asellidae database. Molecular Ecology Resources, 24, 1, e13882.
GOTTSTEIN S., REDŽOVIĆ Z., ERK M., SERTIĆ PERIĆ M., DAUTOVIĆ J. & CINDRIĆ M. 2023 - Life History Traits of the Stygophilous Amphipod Synurella ambulans in the Hyporheic Zone of the Lower Reaches of the Upper Sava River (Croatia). Water, 15, 18, 3188.
REDŽOVIĆ Z., ERK M., GOTTSTEIN S. & CINDRIĆ M. 2023 - Energy Status of Stygophilous Amphipod Synurella ambulans as a Promising Biomarker of Environmental Stress in the Hyporheic Zone. Water, 15, 17, 3083.
REDŽOVIĆ Z., ERK M., GOTTSTEIN S., PERIĆ M.S., DAUTOVIĆ J., FIKET Ž., BRKIĆ A.L. & CINDRIĆ M. 2023 - Metal bioaccumulation in stygophilous amphipod Synurella ambulans in the hyporheic zone: The influence of environmental factors. Science of The Total Environment, 866, 161350.
POZOJEVIĆ I., PEŠIĆ V., GOLDSMITH T. & GOTTSTEIN S. 2020 - Crenal Habitats: Sources of Water Mite (Acari: Hydrachnidia) Diversity. Diversity, 12, 9, 316.