Maja Zagmajster

Slovenian Environment Agency (ARSO)

Accessible, verified and updated nature conservation and biological data are a prerequisite for effective planning, decision-making, execution and reporting in nature conservation. Due to rapidly increasing amount of data and increasingly complex requirements of society, the need for data accessibility has expanded. In Slovenia, several partial, separate databases were developed in the past. Their structure and functionality is mostly based on particular needs of users or institutions that created them. Consequently, data standardisation and harmonisation is poor, diminishing nature conservation efforts. The project LIFE Narcis – NAtuRe Conservation Information System aims to establish an information system that will provide an unified access to nature conservation actions, issued conservation guidelines etc and to data on distribution of plant/ animal species and habitat types (from publicly funded projects), which are needed for effective nature conservation practices. A web portal to access such data will be created. SubBioLab team will participate with distribution data on subterranean species in Slovenia, which is gathered in a database SubBioDB. Some experts from our Department will participate also in checking other species’s lists (plants) for the country.

The project Life NarcIS received funding from the LIFE Programme of the European Union. Participation of the University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical faculty in the project is cofinanced by European Union (55%), Republic of Slovenia (35%) and own contribution (10%).

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https://www.gov.si/zbirke/projekti-in-programi/life-narcis

Cene Fišer

Adaptive radiation (AR) is among the most spectacular and the most complex models explaining the origin of biodiversity. In a broad sense, AR stands for a rapid monophyletic species proliferation accompanied by ecological diversification. ARs have been mostly studied in spatially and temporally explicit areas such as islands or lakes. Continental studies are rare and no study of AR was made in subterranean environments. In the proposed program we are filling this gap, and test for AR in subterranean environment on a continental scale using amphipod Niphargus as a model. We aim to develop phylogenomic hypothesis of genus Niphargus to 1) test whether Niphargus evolved through one or more adaptive radiations, 2) to test the predictability of course of adaptive radiation and 3) to explore the interaction among which intrinsic factors (species’ capacity to evolve), and extrinsic factors (unexploited ecological resources) yielded these radiations. This project is a collaborative research between Eawag, with prof. dr. Florian Altermatt and prof. dr. Ole Seehausen, University in Lyon with dr. Florian Malard and SubBio Lab team.

 

Slovenian Research Agency, project number J1-2464

Rudi Verovnik, Valerija Zakšek

Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning

http://www.natura2000.si/life_natura

Maja Zagmajster

University of Ljubljana (Faculty of Arts was the Main grant holder)

European Researchers’ Night is an open science event that introduces science and the work of scientists to audiences all over Europe. University of Ljubljana received the support for the project under the name “Humanities rock!”. Numerous events were organized in both 2018 and 2019, especially on the exact dates of European Researcher’s Nights in the end of September of both years. SubBioLab joined the project with two activities. In September 2018, we presented the research work in caves to pupils of the 3rd year of Gymnasium in Kočevje, who also got the first hand experience in biological sampling in caves. The main activity of the SubBioLab was preparation of the interactive photo exhibition “Hidden life of the subterranean world”, encompassing attractive close-up photographs of many of the most interesting subterranean animals. The exhibition was further enriched by online text, accessible via QR codes, giving additional information on each animal biology and distribution, as well as a quiz “What kind of speleobiologists you are?”. Photographic exhibition was set at many different sites around Slovenia, and is available to be set in new venues in the future. More information on the exhibition content and current venue can be found at: razstava.podzemlje.si

Here is a link to the video “Research is an adventure for the mind”, prepared within the project by other partners, including the presentation of the research work in caves: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BhE0GeFQUU8

European Commission under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions (European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme)

Cene Fišer

 Organisations from 49 countries

The protection, preservation and restoration of aquatic ecosystems and their functions is of global importance. For European states it became legally binding mainly through the EU-Water Framework Directive (WFD; 2000/60/EC) and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (2008/56/EC). In order to assess the ecological status of a given water body, aquatic biodiversity data are obtained and compared to a reference water body. The quantified mismatch thus obtained determines the extent of potential management actions.

The current approach to biodiversity assessment and monitoring is based on morpho-taxonomy. This approach has many drawbacks such as being time consuming, limited in temporal and spatial resolution, and error-prone due to variation of individual taxonomic expertise of the analysts. Novel genomic tools can circumvent many of the aforesaid problems and could complement traditional bioassessment and biomonitoring strategies. Yet, a plethora of approaches are independently developed in different institutions, thereby hampering any concerted routine application.

The goal of DNAqua-Net is to nucleate a group of researchers across disciplines with the task to identify gold-standard genomic tools and novel eco-genomic indices and metrics for routine application for biodiversity assessments and biomonitoring of European water bodies. Furthermore, DNAqua-Net provides a platform for training of the next generation of European researchers preparing them for the new technologies. Jointly with water managers, politicians and other stakeholders, the group develops a conceptual framework for the standard application of eco-genomic tools as part of legally binding assessments.

EU COST Programme (CA15219)

https://dnaqua.net/

Maja Zagmajster

Organisations from 22 countries

Bats are sensitive to human-driven habitat alteration, and changes in temperature and water availability induced by climate change may affect their eco-physiology, distribution and ultimately survival. Climate change is therefore likely to influence European bat populations and affect insect consumption by bats in farmland, forests and urban areas, implying serious consequences for the conservation of European biodiversity as well as economy. However, little scientific work has addressed this issue, so we lack the knowledge to devise mitigation strategies. The Action fills this gap by pursuing the following objectives: 

1) Define, predict and quantify the effects of climate change on bats across Europe, establishing how bats react to different climatic conditions, assessing the current magnitude of this impact, forecasting its future effects and establishing the roles played by life history traits and environmental factors.

2) Establish strategies to develop a network to monitor and predict changes in bat distribution and inform future management and policy. This will be achieved by selecting the best monitoring approaches, identifying a set of responsive bat species acting as indicators, and facilitating cooperation between scientists and relevant stakeholders.

3) Evaluate the effects of climate change on insectivory provided by bats in farmland by: a) estimating the importance of this ecosystem service across Europe for agricultural economy and society and monetise its current value; and b) modelling scenarios of distributional mismatch between bats and their pest prey under future climate change, also evaluating the economic consequences.

EU COST Programme (CA18107)

Maja Zagmajster, Montenegrian PI: Marko Karaman

Natural History Museum of Montenegro 

Dinarides are a world hotspot in subterranean species richness, with a robust pattern of two regional biodiversity hotspots – one in southern Slovenia and the other one in the area of southeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina, southern Croatia and northwestern Montenegro. Slovenia has the longest tradition of speleobiological research, while studies in some countries, like Montenegro, are few. Such lack of data greatly hinders practical conservation of subterranean species and habitats. Fieldwork conducted in Montenegrian caves in recent years resulted in interesting findings, already opening new views on the distribution of subterranean taxa and even discoveries of new species for science. In this bilateral project between Slovenia and Montenegro, we will strengthen the links between the two research teams, by mutual visits in partner countries. Researchers will have the unique opportunity to transfer Slovenian experiences in subterranean biodiversity research and conservation to Montenegro. Fieldwork conducted in some of the less explored parts of the country will help in evaluating the importance of such areas for subterranean biodiversity in Montenegro. By mapping all available records, we will be able to identify gaps in knowledge on subterranean species in the country. This presents a scientific basis for further research and nature conservation activities in Montenegro. We will also compare the efficiency of conservation policies of each country for the protection of subterranean biodiversity.

 

Slovenian Research Agency  and Ministry of Science in Montenegro 

Maja Zagmajster

Centre for Karst and Speleology , Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Dinarides in the Western Balkans are well known as a global hotspot of subterranean species richness. Despite this, the unique subterranean fauna is highly endangered. High level of threat is also related to an unfortunate combination of incomplete knowledge on subterranean biodiversity and of ambitious economic-developmental plans. In this project, we will 1) develop new tools for rapid assessment of subterranean biodiversity and 2) promote their use in the local environment by local stakeholders. We will promote the biological research in subterranean habitats, especially caves, but also other subterranean habitats. The activities will target areas of Trebišnjica river catchment in southeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina, and will be directed toward selected subterranean taxa. A large part of the project will present field and laboratory work. We aim to fill the knowledge gap on species’ inventories and species’ distributions, resolve the remaining taxonomic issues and develop DNA barcoding system for routine species identification. In addition, we will propose the status of selected subterranean taxa according to IUCN Red List criteria. We will organize all the data into a database that will be delivered to local stakeholders and authorities. In order to transfer the knowledge to the region, we will organize an intensive course in Slovenia for the most promising students from Bosnia and Herzegovina for training in field and lab methods and techniques. We will also organize a workshop for local students and interested researchers/conservationists, as well as a final conference for all researchers and cavers from a broader Dinaric region at the end of the project. All activities will be conducted in close collaboration with key local stakeholders, which are crucial for local implementation as well as long-term continuation of the project outcomes and tools.

Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund 

www.subbiocode.net

Teo Delić

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The Mediterranean region has been recognized as one of the global biodiversity hotspots. This pattern is explained as an effect of Pleistocene climatic shifts, that were explicitly linked with two mechanisms generating species richness: dispersal and extinction. However, a third mechanism, speciation, received far less attention and is poorly understood. Subterranean animals in the Western Balkan’s Dinaric Karst are an excellent model system for addressing the question on contribution of speciation to the emergence of a global subterranean hotspot for several reasons. First, subterranean species have lower dispersal abilities. Second, species richness of subterranean taxa deviates from a general species richness pattern on the surface and finally, subterranean habitats are buffered from short term environmental dynamics on the surface. Our aim is to explore how dynamic geological history affected the patterns of speciation in the subterranean amphipod genus Niphargus. The genus is the most suitable model system for addressing these questions for multiple reasons. First, it is the species richest genus of freshwater amphipods and it presents a substantial part of crustacean species diversity of European groundwaters. Next,  the majority of its evolutionary history entirely took place within the subterranean realm, reaching diversity peaks in the Western Balkan’s Dinaric Karst. Finally, previous analyses imply that the genus may be up to 100 MY old, indicating that evolution of the genus followed the formation of the European continent. As such, Niphargus can be used as a valuable model to investigate the importance of speciation in formation of a global subterranean hotspot. The specific focus of the project is the Dinaric Karst, the world hotspot of subterranean biodiversity, and critical evaluation of the major paleogeographic events on shaping the speciation and diversification patterns of the genus Niphargus.

Slovenian Research Agency, project number Z1-9164

Cene Fišer, Hungarian co-PI: Gábor Herczeg

Eötvös Loránd University, Department of Systematic Zoology and Ecology, Behavioral Ecology Group, Budapest, Hungary

Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Jovan Hadži Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia 

Understanding phenotypic variation in the wild is the central topic of evolutionary biology. Phenotypic traits vary around mean values, selected to maximize individual’s fitness. This variation is maintained by various incompletely understood proximate and ultimate mechanisms. In this research project we aim for a better understanding of the mechanisms maintaining within-population phenotypic variation. We will focus on the ultimate explanation stating that phenotypic variation is maintained by temporally and spatially fluctuating selection stemming from environmental variation. Previous studies testing this hypothesis mostly focused on populations living in variable, and to some extent unpredictable environments to show how selection fluctuates within and between years. Yet, few studies tested the complementary part of this theory, predicting a decline of phenotypic and genetic variation in environments with minimal spatio-temporal environmental variation within and between generations. We utilize subterranean animals as a model and test whether phenotypic variation of organisms declines in stable and predictable environments. To gain an in-depth understanding of evolution of phenotypic variation, we are studying variation from the within-individual to the between-species level of biological organization and compare inhabitants of relatively stable and predictable (cave) to unstable and stochastic (surface) habitats. Study organisms are isopod (Asellus) and amphipod (Niphargus) crustaceans, each with surface and subterranean representatives.

Slovenian Research Agency, project number N1-0069

Hungarian National Research, Development and Innovation Fund: #SNN-125627