4th International meeting SOS Proteus: CONSERVATION OF PROTEUS AND ITS HABITAT
FACING CLIMATE CHANGE CHALLENGES
Research and conservation of Proteus and protection of karst water resources in
climate change perspective; May 21 – 22, 2022, Trieste Italy (Abstract book)
Vulnerability of Proteus and groundwater
Leaflet With Proteus we share dependence on groundwater (PDF; 1.3MB)
Conservation of Proteus and other endemic cave animals is not merely an attempt to preserve the subterranean biodiversity, with cave animals we share the most important resource of fresh water – groundwater.
SOS Proteus
During seasonal flooding, some Proteus get washed out of their subterranean environment. Through this research we became involved in a rescue mission.
Proteus is restricted to its aquatic cave habitat. However, during seasonal flooding, some individuals get washed out of their subterranean environment. While this is a natural phenomenon, it is obvious that all these individuals present a constant loss to their population. These animals are often deposited on temporarily flooded fields and may survive for up to several weeks, but when the high water retreats, most die from drying out in the fields. Some are carried further into surface streams where they are preyed upon by fish or birds. This periodic loss has been balanced over the course of evolution; concerns arise when the effects of global climate change are considered: timing, frequency and magnitude of flood events are expected to change.
The Tular Cave Laboratory has extensively studied this phenomenon since 2008, and documented over 30 cases in Slovenia. All animals were found by chance and reported by local people, sometimes even in their cellars. Through this research we unexpectedly became involved in a rescue mission: 16 of these animals were saved and returned to their source population, for others it was already too late...
Read more on washed-out Proteus
Original project and laboratory records. Dates and historical terminology are retained.