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“Učka and Ćićarija Underground 2024” is a research and educational project organized by the Section for Biospeleology of the Biology Students Association BIUS. The aim of the project is to list and compare the subterranean fauna of selected caves and pits in the Učka and Ćićarija regions, as well as to educate biology students on conducting biospeleological field and laboratory research. The project also includes educational programs for primary and secondary school students on the diversity of the underground fauna of Učka, Ćićarija and Croatia, with an emphasis on the importance of protecting karst landscapes from human impact. This project continues the previous section initiatives, “Učka Underground 2022” and “Učka and Ćićarija Underground 2023”.
Učka and Ćićarija are composed of sedimentary rocks (primarily limestone, dolomite, and breccia) dating from Cretaceous deposits 145 million years ago to more recent Quaternary deposits. The limestone composition provides conditions for the formation of underground karst forms, such as caves, pits, and caverns. These speleological objects are particularly valuable as habitats for endemic subterranean fauna. In the Učka Nature Park, there are approximately 240 known speleological objects, most of which have not yet been explored biospeleologically. The first biospeleological survey of the Učka Nature Park, which includes Učka and part of the Ćićarija area, was conducted by the Croatian Biospeleological Society between 2006 and 2010. From then until 2022, no biospeleological research was carried out. To date, 10 endemic subterranean invertebrate taxa have been identified in the Učka and Ćićarija region. Among them are noteworthy species such as the isopods Monolistra bericum hadzii and Thaumatoniscellus speluncae. The endemic beetle Croatodirus bozicevici, which has the ability to filter water, has so far been found exclusively in a cavern within the Učka Tunnel. It is expected that further research in this area will uncover new species, yet unknown to science.
This project is a step towards future investigations of unexplored objects and the establishment of monitoring programs in caves and pits of significant biodiversity. All collected samples are part of the collection of the Croatian Biospeleological Society and may be used in future studies of this region.
The “Underworld of Učka and Ćićarija 2024” project is conducted in collaboration with the Public Institution „Učka Nature Park“ and the Croatian Biospeleological Society. The fieldwork phase of the project took place from July 17–23, 2024, during which a total of 12 speleological objects were visited.
Literature:
Plan upravljanja Parkom prirode Učka i pridruženim zaštićenim područjima i područjima ekološke mreže (PU 6018). Javna ustanova Park prirode Učka, 2022.
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