We present a new sea-level reconstruction for the past 1500years based on biological indicators from the Central Adriatic islands. Biogenic littoral rims built by the coralline rhodophyte ...Lithophyllum byssoides were found on the particularly exposed sites on the rocky coasts of the islands of Vis, Ravnik and Biševo in Croatia. The presence of thick and well-developed Lithophyllum rims, considered to be precise (±10cm) sea-level indicators, points directly to the rising sea-level environment. Biogenic rims were mapped, measured and sampled for 14C dating.
The obtained results point to four phases of sea-level changes. The sea-level was near stable from around 550 till 770calAD, in the Dark Ages Cold Period (DACP), then during the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA) (770 till 1330calAD) the sea-level increased at a rate of 0.71mm/yr. During the Little Ice Age (LIA) (1330 till 1640calAD) it was near stable again. Later, the sea-level started to rise at a much higher rate particularly during the Current Warm Period (CWP). These data were compared with local predictions derived from a glacio-hydro-isostatic models associated with the Last Glacial cycle. If the isostatic–eustatic component is separated, this area seems to have almost stable tectonic conditions during the past 1500years.
Our results show that the large algal rims most likely grew during near-stable sea-level conditions that occurred during two relatively colder periods in the past 1500years. They also reveal that well-developed (up to 1.8m wide) upper levels of algal rims were formed during ~300years of stabilisation throughout the LIA.
► Biogenic littoral rims built by Lithophyllum byssoides exist in the Adriatic Sea. ► Large algal rims up to 1.8m wide grew during near-stable sea-level conditions. ► Near stable sea-level conditions occurred during two colder periods (DACP and LIA). ► Existing algal rims reflect palaeoenvironmental conditions. ► They could be related to geomorphological and archaeological sea-level indicators.
A geological and speleological investigation was conducted in the famous Blue Cave (Modra špilja) and the Monk Seal Cave (Medvidina špilja) on Biševo Island (Croatia) to promote the island’s ...geoheritage through the new Visitor Centre. The island is mainly composed of Cretaceous to Paleogene neritic carbonates, which form the bedrock, whereas parts of the island are covered with thin Quaternary sediments. The caves are of small dimensions and a simple layout, composed of the main channel and few shorter side channels, all positioned in the tidal zone. Thus, the caves are semi-submerged sea caves located along the coastline. The Blue Cave and the Monk Seal Cave developed within the bedrock limestones and dolostones, respectively, within a zone of left-lateral NNE–SSW striking strike-slip faults that belong to the Biševo fault system. Conjugated discontinuities within the carbonate bedrock indicate a specific strike-slip tectonic regime. Additionally, the host rocks were probably also deformed and fractured during the rise of salt diapirs that characterise this part of the Adriatic foreland. Tectonic and bedding discontinuities form the fragments of the host rock, that combined with the impacts of the strong southern waves, significantly influenced the genesis of the caves.
Rad je izvorno napisan za zbornik povodom 350 godina samostana benediktinki u Hvaru, koji nažalost nije objavljen. U njemu se donose podaci o 5 sigurnih samostana na tlu Hvarske biskupije - sv. ...Silvestra na Biševu, sv. Andrije na Svecu, sv. Nikole u Komiži, sv. Marije u Hvaru i sv. Ivana u Povljima, dva vjerojatna - sv. Stjepana kod Pučišća i sv. Lovre u Lovrečini na Braču, te jedinom ženskom samostanu u Hvaru. Pobrojana su i mjesta gdje se pretpostavljalo da je postojao samostan.
Krajem 19. stoljeća, da bi reklamirala kao Hrvatsku rivijeru, austrougarska je vlada poslala majstore slikare u Dalmaciju da oslikaju sve zanimljivosti kako bi se natjecali s francuskom i talijanskom ...rivijerama. Kao dio ovog plana, Eugen von Ransonnet došao je na otok Vis 1884. godine i posjetio desetak špilja na tom području, a jedna od njih je bila i Modra špilja na otoku Biševu. Puno je o tome pisao i napravio desetak slika. Nikad nije spomenuo Medvidinu špilju. Lokalni mediji pratili su Ransonnetov boravak u Dalmaciji, a prvi opisi Modre i Medvidine špilje datiraju iz 1884. godine (napisao J. M.Komižanin). Nekoliko je autora pisalo o Medvidinoj špilji, posebno Petar Kuničić 1892. i 1932. Prva procjena duljine špilje bila je oko 200 m, zatim 150 m, pa 173 m. Konačno, prihvaćena je dužina od 160-165m i sve sljedeće autori su se pozvali na taj podatak. Do sada nisu objavljeni nacrti ili fotografije unutrašnjosti špilje.
Floristic research on the island of Biševo was carried out during the spring of 2000 and 2001. A total of 32 taxa of vascular plants were recorded for the first time. Among them, 23 taxa are ...autochthonous and 9 are cultivated or formerly cultivated. The island is new locality for orchids Ophrys tommasinii Vis. and Ophrys x lyrata H. Fleischm. This paper also confirms the existence of the neglected species Reichardia intermedia (Sch.Bip.) Cout. and until now doubtful species Euphorbia terracina L. in the Croatian flora. On the basis of our research and the floristic data published so far, flora of the island of Biševo now consists of 421 plant taxa, which were recorded before the fire that occurred in August of 2003, when 80% of the island was devastated.