Geodiversity of karst areas

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

Objectives and competences

Karst areas as a result of dissolution process importantly contribute to the global geodiversity but they can be also internally very rich in (land)forms due to different factors and interaction with other processes. From the 90-ies, when the term of geodiversity was introduced beside biodiversity, the importance of the term geodiversity increases as well as recognisability of karst areas. It is important that student is aware of the importance of geodiversity and its role in karst areas.
Student will gain competence in the field of general understanding of geodiversity, he/she will be familiar with evaluation methodology, management of karst areas rich in geodiversity as well as with critical assessment of karst areas from the aspect of geodiversity. Student will be able to use the acquired knowledge in evaluating, guiding the development and management of the world's major karst areas.

Prerequisites

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Content

• Definition of the term geodiversity
• Relation between geodiversity and biodiversity
• Evaluation and importance of geodiversity
• Surface and underground geodiversity of global and Slovene karst
• Management of karst areas rich in geodiversity
• Protection of karst areas rich in geodiversity

Intended learning outcomes

Student is familiar with and able to define term of geodiversity, able to recognize geodiversity of karst areas from the aspect of different factors, processes and (land)forms. Student understands impact of past climatic changes on geodiversity and is able to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate geodiversity of karst areas. He is familiar with the richest karst areas from the aspect of geodiversity and their scientific, aesthetic, and economic potential as well as way of effective protection and management.

Readings

  • Gray M., 2004. Geodiversity: Valuing and conserving abiotic nature. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester: 434 pp.
    E-version
  • Gray M., 2013. Geodiversity: Valuing and Conserving Abiotic Nature (2nd Edition). Willey-Blackwell, Chichester: 512 pp. E-version
  • Williams P., 2008. World Heritage Caves and Karst. IUCN, Gland: 57 pp.
  • Erhatič B., 2007. Reliefne oblike kot geodiverziteta (geomorfološka naravna dediščina). Dela 28: 59-74.
    E-version
  • Erhatič B., Zorn M., 2012. Geodiversity and geomorphosite research in Slovenia. Geografski vestnik 84/1: 51-63.
    E-version
  • Panizza M., 2003. Karst landforms as geomorphosites. Dela 20: 19-26. E-version
  • Guide to New South Wales Karst and Caves. Office of Environment and Heritage, Department of Premier and Cabinet, Sydney: 40 pp. E-version

Assessment

Oral exam (70 %) and seminar work (30 %). Oral examination is intended to evaluate the knowledge attained by a student through a lecture as well as his capacity of understanding, critical evaluation, articulation and expression of acquired knowledge. A student can apply for the examination after making short written seminar on a narrow question of the basis of geodiversity of karst areas or its connection with his/her PhD Thesis.

Lecturer's references

Full Professor of Karstology.

Bibliography:

https://bib.cobiss.net/bibliographies/si/webBiblio/bib201_20211120_230302_a2912867.html

KNEZ, Martin, SLABE, Tadej, TORAB, Magdy, FAYAD, Noura Hamdy. Karst rock relief of Qara and White desert (Western desert of Egypt) = Kraški skalni relief v Qari in Beli puščavi (Zahodna puščava v Egiptu). Acta carsologica. [Tiskana izd.]. 2023, [vol.] 52, [no.] 2/3, str. 197-217, ilustr., zvd. ISSN 0583-6050. https://ojs.zrc-sazu.si/carsologica/article/view/12796/11894, DOI: 10.3986/ac.v52i2-3.12796. [COBISS.SI-ID 178797315]
KNEZ, Martin, LIU, Hong, SLABE, Tadej. Clustered stone forest in Pu Dou Chun (Yunnan, China) = Gručasti kamniti gozd v Fižolji vasi (Pu Dou Chun, Junan, Kitajska). Acta carsologica. [Tiskana izd.]. 2022, vol. 51, no. 1, str. 47-63, ilustr. ISSN 0583-6050. https://ojs.zrc-sazu.si/carsologica/article/view/10688/10597, http://www.dlib.si/details/URN:NBN:SI:doc-Y41SNY09, DOI: 10.3986/ac.v51i1.10688. [COBISS.SI-ID 133496323]
SLABE, Tadej, KNEZ, Martin, DRAME, Leon. Development model of rock relief on thick horizontal and gently sloping rock strata exposed to rain = Razvojni model skalnega reliefa debelega vodoravnega in malo nagnjenega sklada kamnine, ki je izpostavljena dežju. Acta carsologica. [Tiskana izd.]. 2021, vol. 50, no. 2/3, str. 209-230, ilustr. ISSN 0583-6050. https://ojs.zrc-sazu.si/carsologica/article/view/9308/9659, http://www.dlib.si/details/URN:NBN:SI:doc-W7VPJ05Q, DOI: 10.3986/ac.v50i2-3.9308. [COBISS.SI-ID 90835971]
KNEZ, Martin, SLABE, Tadej, TRAJANOVA, Mirka, AKIMOVA, Tatjana, KALMYKOV, Igor. The karren peeling off on marbles in Altai (Altai Republic, Russian Federation) = Luščenje škrapelj na marmorjih v Altaju (Altajska republika, Ruska federacija). Acta carsologica. [Tiskana izd.]. 2020, letn. 49, št. 1, str. 11-38, ilustr. ISSN 0583-6050. https://ojs.zrc-sazu.si/carsologica/article/view/7197/8248, DOI: 10.3986/ac.v49i1.7197. [COBISS.SI-ID 35064323]
BLATNIK, Matej, CULVER, David C., GABROVŠEK, Franci, KNEZ, Martin, KOGOVŠEK, Blaž, KOGOVŠEK, Janja, LIU, Hong, MAYAUD, Cyril, MIHEVC, Andrej, MULEC, Janez, ALJANČIČ, Magdalena, OTONIČAR, Bojan, PETRIČ, Metka, PIPAN, Tanja, PRELOVŠEK, Mitja, RAVBAR, Nataša, SHAW, Trevor R., SLABE, Tadej, ŠEBELA, Stanka, ZUPAN HAJNA, Nadja, KNEZ, Martin (urednik), OTONIČAR, Bojan (urednik), PETRIČ, Metka (urednik), PIPAN, Tanja (urednik), SLABE, Tadej (urednik). Karstology in the classical karst. Cham: Springer, cop. 2020. XII, 222 str., ilustr., zvd., graf. prikazi. Advances in karst science. ISBN 978-3-030-26826-8. ISSN 2511-2066. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-26827-5. [COBISS.SI-ID 17912067]