Shallow subterranean habitats

This course is part of the programme
Karstology (Third Cycle)

Objectives and competences

The primary goal of this course is to give students the theoretical and practical knowledge for understanding the biology, ecology, and evolution of shallow subterranean habitats.

Prerequisites

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Content

• Shallow subterranean habitats (SSHs):
• Seepage springs and the hypotelminorheic habitats
• Epikarst: the soil-rock interface in karst
• Intermediate-sized terrestrial shallow subterranean habitats
• Calcrete aquifers
• Interstitial habitats along rivers and streams
• Soil
• Lava tubes
• The role of light in SSHs
• Environmental fluctuations and stresses in SSHs
• Organic carbon and nutrients in SSHs
• Evolution of morphology in SSHs
• Colonization and dispersal in SSHs
• Phylogeny in SSHs
• Conservation and protection in SSHs

Intended learning outcomes

Students get knowledge about types of shallow subterranean habitats (hypotelminorheic, epikarst, MSS, calcrete aquifers, aquatic interstitial—hyporheic, soil, lava tubes), general features of SSHs like absence of light, surface-subsurface connections, availability of organic carbon and nutrients, geographic distribution patterns of SSHs, habitat size, features of SSHs of general ecological and evolutionary interest and conservation and protection of shallow subterranean habitats.

Readings

Basic:

  • Culver D. C., Pipan T. 2014: Shallow Subterranean Habitats. Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation. Oxford University Press, Oxford. Catalogue

Additional:

  • Culver D. C., Pipan T. 2009: The Biology of Caves and Other Subterranean Habitats. Oxford University Press, Oxford. Catalogue
  • Pipan T. 2005: Epikarst – a promising habitat. Copepod fauna, its diversity and ecology: a case study from Slovenia (Europe). Založba ZRC, Ljubljana. Catalogue E-version
  • White W. B., Culver D. C. 2012: Encyclopedia of Caves. Elsevier, Amsterdam. E-version Catalogue
  • Wilkens H., Culver D. C., Humphreys W. 2000: Ecosystems of the World. Subterranean Ecosystems. Elsevier, Amsterdam. Catalogue
  • Selected articles from scientific journals.

Assessment

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

Lecturer's references

Full Professor of Karstology

Bibliography:
https://bib.cobiss.net/bibliographies/si/webBiblio/bib201_20211120_230418_a4271459.html

CULVER, David C., PIPAN, Tanja. Shallow subterranean habitats : ecology, evolution, and conservation. 1st ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2014. XXII, 258 str., ilustr., zvd., graf. prikazi. ISBN 978-0-19-964617-3. [COBISS.SI-ID 36933421].

CULVER, David C., PIPAN, Tanja. The biology of caves and other subterranean habitats, (Biology of habitats). 2nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2019. XX, 301 str., ilustr. ISBN 978-0-19-882076-5. ISBN 978-0-19-882077-2. [COBISS.SI-ID 44574765].

PIPAN, Tanja, CULVER, David C. Epikarst : an important aquatic and terrestrial habitat. V: MEHNER, Thomas (ur.), TOCKNER, Klement (ur.). Encyclopedia of inland waters. 2nd ed. Amsterdam; Oxford; Cambridge: Elsevier, 2022. Str. 437-448, ilustr. ISBN 978-0-12-819166-8, ISBN 978-0-12-822041-2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128191668000761, DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-12-819166-8.00076-1. [COBISS.SI-ID 120285699].

PIPAN, Tanja, CHRISTMAN, Mary, CULVER, David C. Abiotic community constraints in extreme environments: epikarst copepods as a model system. V: MANENTI, Raoul (ur.), LUNGHI, Enrico (ur.). Cave communities: from the surface border to the deep darkness. Basel [etc.]: MDPI, cop. 2023. Str. 189-204, ilustr., graf. prikazi. Diversity. ISBN 978-3-0365-9752-2. ISSN 1424-2818. [COBISS.SI-ID 179115011].

CULVER, David C., PIPAN, Tanja. Subterranean ecosystems. V: SCHEINER, Samuel M. (ur.). Encyclopedia of biodiversity. 3rd ed. San Diego [etc.]: Elsevier, 2024. Vol. 1, str. 441-459, ilustr.