Guest Speakers
Prof. Boris Sket, PhD
Dr. Boris Sket is the head of the research group for zoology and speleobiology at the Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana and professor of invertebrate zoology, evolutionary biology and speleobiology. He is or was a member of editorial boards of several international journals, President of the International Society for Subterranean Biology, Dean of the Biotechnical Faculzy and the Rector of the Ljubljana University. His research focuses on speleobiology, taxonomy (mainly Hirudinea, Amphipoda, Isopoda aquatica), phylogeny, biogeography and conservation of terrestrial invertebrates.
Invited Talk Abstract:
Biodiversity and conservational importance of the subterranean fauna in the broader Dinaric Region; how is it endangered.
Subterranean realm in this context consists of interstitial and cave habitats which are dark and poor in food. Their inhabitants may be facultative trogloxenes, subtroglophiles or eutroglophiles or obligate troglobionts (including stygobionts). Terrestrial troglobiotic fauna of Dinaric caves consists mainly of Coleoptera (close to 50% or approximately 330 species with numerous subspecies) and Arachnida. The main component of aquatic troglobiotic cave and interstitial fauna are Crustacea, while Insecta are close to non-existent; rich are also Gastropoda. Dinaric area is the richest in troglobiotic fauna in the world, with up to 20 species of Coleoptera in a 20x20 km square and with more than 200 aquatic troglobionts in 20.000 km2 Slovenia only. The richest caves in the world are Postojna-Planina-Cave-System (Slovenia) and Vjetrenica (Bosnia and Hercegovina) with close to 100 and 90 troglobiotic species respectively.
Since also first data about troglobionts were from this region and the development of the science and of some social activities is closely linked with them, this fauna is an important part of our natural and cultural heritage. Beside that, it may be a useful indicator of a sane environment in the fragile karst nature and in the precious groundwater storages. Troglobionts may be directly endangered by technical environment alterations and by inorganic pollution, but also by invading competitors from the surface as an indirect consequence of a moderate organic polution. They are particularly endangered for their high endemicity rates.