Renewable energy sources (RES) have the possibility to regenerate in a shorter time interval than the non-renewable energy sources and that is why they have always been the subject of interest, ...especially in the last decades. The Republic of Serbia has RES in the form of solar, wind, the power of water flow, geothermal heat, and biomass. The scientific research conducted in July 2016 in Temska village (City of Pirot) aimed to assessinhabitants’ attitudes and awareness of using RES. By interviewing 167 respondents, it is concluded that inhabitants do not have sufficient knowledge of quality and information on RES. Mostly, they are familiar with all terms: hydropower, solar, wind and geothermal energy (over 80%), and the term of biomass energy as well(70.7%). There is an extremely high level of misinformation about the RES subventions that are provided by the government of the Republic of Serbia (up to 85.6% of respondents are not informed). These subventions are published in the Regulation on incentive measures for the production of electricity from RES and are based on the Feed-in Tariff system that is defined as non-refundable financial assistance from the state. A small number of respondents use RES, but a considerable number (21.6% ‘yes’ and 47.3% ‘maybe’) that does not use RES is interested, or already planning to use it in the future.
Acanthocephalus balkanicus Batchvarov et Combes, 1974 was incompletely described from the northern crested newt, Triturus cristatus (Laurenti) (Amphibia: Salamandridae), a possible synonym of the ...Balkan crested newt, Triturus ivanbureschi Arntzen et Wielstra, from a pond in village of Pesnopoy, southern Bulgaria. We provide a full description of adult males and females of the same taxon from the olm, Proteus anguinus Laurenti (Amphibia: Proteidae), the only exclusively aquatic cave-dwelling vertebrate in Europe, captured in Postojna-Planina Cave System in Slovenia. Cystacanths were also collected from the cave ecomorph of Asellus aquaticus (Linnaeus) (Crustacea: Asellidae) in the same location. Molecular analysis of specimens from Slovenia revealed that they are genetically almost identical to those of Acanthocephalus anguillae (Müller, 1780), a common parasite of European freshwater fishes. We propose to recognise the morphological and host differences by describing A. balkanicus as a new subspecies of A. anguillae. Acanthocephalus anguillae balkanicus is rather small and cylindrical with cylindrical proboscis having 10 rows of 6 hooks with simple roots each, long neck, large balloon-shaped lemnisci, small spherical anterior testis, and 6 club-shaped cement glands in 3 pairs. SEM images reveal more morphological details and the X-ray scans of gallium cut hooks shows considerably higher levels of phosphorus and calcium in adult hooks than in cystacanth hooks, especially in basal areas. Sulfur levels were higher in the arch and basal area of cystacanth hooks than adult hooks. Considering that both definitive and intermediate hosts of the Slovenian population of this acanthocephalan are bound to cave life, it is possible that its entire life cycle is uniquely completed underground.
A synopsis of the fauna of the family Heleomyzidae (Diptera) in the Gemer area (Slovakia) is presented. A total of 66 species are treated based on previously published records and material examined ...(largely from the Muránska planina National Park and the Cerová vrchovina Protected Landscape Area). Each species is listed with comments about its general distribution, biology and faunistic and/or nature-conservancy importance. The regional fauna of Heleomyzidae is distinguished for high species diversity and for the occurrence of a number of rare or stenotopic species. Four species are new additions to the fauna of the whole of Slovakia, viz.
(Zetterstedt, 1838),
Czerny, 1924,
Papp, 1980 and
Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830; in addition, 13 species belong to rare and little-known taxa with only a few previous records from the country. The fauna of the Gemer area is enriched by 22 species; 32 species are recorded from the Muránska planina NP and 31 from the Cerová vrchovina PLA for the first time. The peculiarities of the fauna of Heleomyzidae in the Gemer territory are discussed including a review of species associated with cave habitats and species most important from the ecological, biogeographical and nature-conservancy points of view.
Karst terrains appear on all continents and karst aquifers produce drinking water for more than 9% of the world’s population while being the most vulnerable to contamination. One of the main ...challenges in the management of a water supply that depends on groundwater is the possibility of the pollution of the karst aquifer which is usually open toward the surface and is highly permeable. Various environmental problems found in karstic areas demand a completely unconventional approach for this particular environment. To achieve and maintain high-quality groundwater that can be used for a public water supply, an effective prevention program must be designed and implemented. The process of determining the sanitary protection zones (SPZ) has been relying on new technologies, especially the use of a geographic information system (GIS) environment. An assortment of groundwater vulnerability assessment methods has been developed in the GIS environment, as a necessary basis for implementing preventive measures. Suva Planina Mountain is one of the greatest and the highest karst massifs in South-East Serbia. Almost all known karst features are present, and several karst springs exist at the foothill of the mountain. The largest springs have been captured for the water supply. The catchment areas of the springs are not populated and there is no industry, besides grazing and forestry; nevertheless, some limits for human impact must be enacted. This paper is an attempt at using the GIS-overlay spatial modeling technique for groundwater vulnerability assessment of Suva Planina Mountain. Maps of intrinsic vulnerability have been designed by the application of three multi-parameter methods for vulnerability mapping (EPIK, PI, COP). The maps that have been designed for Suva Planina Mountain show the existence of four classes of vulnerability, though in somewhat different arrangements and distribution.
The aim of the paper is to compare soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration and stock in a Rendzic Leptosol and a Dystric Andosol as two SOC-rich soil types. Because SOC differences between them are ...difficult to determine from soil databases, a suitable surface geological configuration of andesite lenses embedded within a flat limestone plateau was used for a direct comparison. All the other site conditions were identical, including topography, vegetation cover, and forest management. Twelve soil profiles, 0.6m in depth, were opened in the study area according to parent material and soil types, six profiles on limestone (Rendzic Leptosols) and six profiles on andesite (Dystric Andosol), respectively. Soil samples were taken from 0.1m layers within 0.0–0.6m depth and then analysed for SOC concentration by dry combustion method. The Student's t-test did not detect differences in SOC concentration between the two soil types. The only difference was found in the SOC stock and it was limited to the subsoil (P<0.05). Differences in the depth of 0.3–0.6m can be attributed to higher Rendzic Leptosol bulk density, resulting from its higher clay content at that depth. Both soil types have the same capacity to sequester organic carbon under the same climatic conditions.
•SOC concentration and stock were compared in two soil types in same natural condition.•No difference in SOC concentration was found between soil types.•Similar capacity of allophanic and carbonate soils for binding organic matter•Differences in the SOC can be attributed to different bulk density and clay content.
In the Kamnik-Savinja Alps (Slovenia), the Lower Serla Dolomite laterally passes into a succession of thin- to medium-bedded bituminous limestones of the Velika planina member. The finely laminated ...lower part of this member contains well-preserved actinopterygian fish and sauropterygian remains. The research aimed to determine the sedimentological and palaeoenvironmental characteristics of the depositional basin on the basis of three detailed sedimentological sections logged atop the Velika planina plateau. The Velika planina member is underlain by a whitish to light grey, thick bedded to massive dolomite with oncoids, stromatolites, and lumachellas deposited under peritidal to shallow subtidal conditions. The lower part of the Velika planina member consists of thin, often platy, finely laminated beds of bituminous mudstone. The Chondrites ichnofossil is very common; however, in some beds numerous lingulid brachiopods, bivalves, and crinoids were observed. Fossil vertebrates and crustaceans are relatively rare and confined to a few levels. Ammonoids are very rare. Subordinate beds of intraclastic-peloid wackestone to packstone, intraclastic-bioclastic grainstone, and bivalve floatstone occur. Slumps are common. Upwards, bedding gradually becomes thicker and bioturbation more common. Finally, stromatolites, birdseye fenestrae, and oncoids reappear. The entire succession is confined to the early to middle Anisian by the foraminifer Citaella dinarica (KOCHANSKY-DEVIDÉ & PANTIĆ). The absence of breccias at the base of the Velika planina member, the gradual transition upwards into shallow marine carbonates, as well as the presence of sauropterygians of the order Nothosauroidea suggest deposition in a relatively shallow basin. The finely laminated facies of the lower part of the member indicates a stratified water column, with oxygenated near-surface waters and hypoxic to anoxic conditions near the sea floor.
Faunistic data on the larval stages of the insect order Trichoptera from the Vrachanska Planina Mts. are presented for the first time. A total of six locations in four rivers were sampled. Twenty-one ...taxa belonging to seven families were recorded. They represent a little more than 8% of the Trichoptera species, found on the territory of Bulgaria. This estimate is based on the total number of caddisflies from Bulgaria (including adult and larval stages). Two of the recorded taxa are classified as rare, while Odontocerum hellenicum Malicky, 1972 is a Balkan endemic. These figures are likely higher owing to the fact that a considerable number of the caddisfly larvae of the rare and endemic species are lacking description.
So far, 81 species of the orthopterid orders are found in Vrachanska Planina according to the published and original data (Orthoptera – 79 species, Blattodea and Mantodea – one species each). Other 6 ...species of Orthoptera have been recorded in the areas up to 5 km beyond the borders of the mountain. First records from Vrachanska Planina are reported here for 1 order, 1 superfamily, 2 families, 5 subfamilies, 8 tribes, 16 genera, 3 subgenera and 31 species. Published and original material of 70 species is checked and identified. A subspecies is synonymized: Ephippiger ephippiger ephippiger (Fiebig, 1784) (= Ephippiger ephippiger balkanicus Andreeva, 1985, syn. n.). Typical mountain species with a lower limit of distribution in Bulgaria running through the highest ridge of Vrachanska Planina are Psorodonotus fieberi, Gomphocerus sibiricus and Myrmeleotettix maculatus. The reported species are divided in 25 categories by chorology and 14 categories by origin. Most numerous according to chorotypes are the Eurosiberian (20 %) followed by the Central and South European (16 %) species as well as according to origin the Siberian (23 %) followed by the Central European (19 %) faunal elements. Endemic taxa of Orthoptera in Vrachanska Planina are 1 genus, 5 species and 1 subspecies, one of which is Bulgarian endemic species and the remaining taxa are Balkan endemics. The northernmost, westernmost, easternmost and southernmost localities in the ranges of 1 genus and 4 species are situated in Vrachanska Planina. The investigated area lies at the northern or eastern range limits of other 3 genera, 2 species and 1 subspecies. Leptophyes discoidalis and Miramella sp. are among the rarest species of Orthoptera in Bulgaria.
Thirty one Crustacean species from 21 localities are reported from groundwaters of Vratchanska Planina Mountain. The list of species is completed on the basis of available bibliographic sources and ...original data of authors. Faunal samples are collected at the natural access to underground ecosystem, caves and springs. Eight species are stygobionts: three cyclopoids, one harpacticoid, three isopods and one amphipod, or 6.6 % of all the Bulgarian stygobiont Crustacean fauna. Elaphoidella balkanica Apostolov and Protelsonia lakatnicensis (Buresch & Gueorguiev) are local endemic species of the Vratchanska planina Mountains.
The modern biospeleological research in Bulgaria started in 1921 in the Ledenika Cave. From 65 caves of “Vrachanski Balkan” Nature Park and its surroundings have been recorded a total of 218 species ...of terrestrial invertebrates, including 32 species of troglobionts, most of them endemic to Vrachanska Planina Mts. (including the caves near Lakatnik): Isopoda Oniscoidea – 4, Chilopoda – 1, Diplopoda – 5, Opiliones – 2, Pseudoscorpiones – 3, Araneae – 3, Collembola – 2, Diplura – 2, Coleoptera, Carabidae – 7, Coleoptera, Leiodidae – 3. Troglobites are known from 51 caves, the richest being the caves near Lakatnik (Temnata dupka - 10, Zidanka - 7, Razhishkata dupka - 5, Svinskata dupka - 6, Kozarskata peshtera - 5), near Vratsa (Ledenika - 11, Barkite 8 - 5, Belyar - 6), Toshova dupka near Glavatsi - 6 and others.
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