Acta Carsologica

From geosites to karst landscapes: Roberto Gutiérrez Domech In Memoriam

2024-12-24T18:24:53+01:00

Karst Rock Weathering of The Great Pyramid of Giza

2025-02-27T08:16:48+01:00

The exposed stone blocks of soft carbonate rock, from which the pyramid is built, quickly develop a distinctive form and rock relief. The outer parts of the blocks are often undercut into overhangs. On their upper parts, a protective crust forms through rock dissolution and rapid recrystallization under the influence of occasional rain and seeping water, shielding the rock from wind erosion and dissolution. This crust, in turn, is dotted by small pits, whose bare surfaces remain exposed to wind erosion, allowing them to expand and grow deeper. In the lower sections, where the rock is fully exposed, wind erosion primarily carves out larger cups and channels. A thin crust may occasionally form over these sections, but tends to flake off quickly. This process suggests rapid karstification and the ongoing disintegration of the stone blocks.

Paleoenvironmental and neotectonic insights from the pliocene fossil record of Velika Pasica Cave, Slovenia: Implications for karst system evolution

2025-04-24T16:37:32+02:00

Velika Pasica Cave, situated on a karst plateau at an altitude of 665 meters above sea level, offers a unique record of paleontological, speleological, and tectonic processes. The cave, predominantly filled with allogenic sediments and speleothems, contains fossilized remains of the aquatic cave invertebrate Marifugia cavatica and terrestrial small mammals, characteristic of the early Pliocene (MN15–16). Paleontological dating estimates the cave sediments to be approximately 4 Ma old, while U/Th dating of the overlying flowstone indicates deposition at 410 ± 21 ka. These findings suggest that stagnant phreatic conditions prevailed prior to tectonic uplift and basin subsidence, which reshaped the karst landscape. This study highlights the dynamic interplay between neotectonics, karst system evolution, and biodiversity changes. By integrating speleobiology, geomorphology, and biostratigraphy, it provides valuable insights into the environmental history of the northern Dinarides and the impact of geological processes on karst ecosystems.

Modelling flow and transport to assess the influence of subsurface geometry on Alpine karst aquifer vulnerability

2024-12-02T11:20:01+01:00

Karst areas are highly susceptible to contamination due to rapid recharge and throughflow caused by their heterogeneous structure with unknown networks of conduits embedded in a matrix of low conductivity. Vulnerability methods have been used to ensure adequate protection of drinking water resources. However, most of the studies assessing the vulnerability of karst aquifers consider it as a constant value in time and, therefore, under special hydrological conditions in space, which is an oversimplification of reality. In this work, the behaviour of an Alpine karst system characterised by rapid flow and transfer through vertical shafts has been studied by discrete numerical modelling using MODFLOW 6. Six numerical models have been designed with the aim of representing simple common geometrical configurations found in Alpine karst systems. These models simulate how the flow and transport response at the system outlet is influenced by the aquifer geometry and recharge conditions. The results confirm that the arrival of the tracer at the spring strongly depends on the conduit geometry and the recharge conditions. This demonstrates that karst aquifer vulnerability cannot be defined as a constant value but should be specifically assessed depending on the spatio-temporal conditions.

Characteristics and importance of protected Karst springs in the southern mountainous region of Albania

2024-11-29T09:51:50+01:00

Karst formations in Albania cover an area of 6750 km², which represents 24% of the country's territory. The country has 110 karst springs with discharges exceeding 100 litters per second. Among these, Bistrica springs stands out as the largest, with an average discharge of 18.4 cubic meters per second. This study focuses on the Southern Mountain Region of Albania, known for its important karst water resources. In this region, 12 karst springs are protected due to their essential natural, scientific, educational, aesthetic and economic value. The objective of this research is to perform a geoinformatics analysis and evaluation of these protected karst resources. To achieve this, we collected extensive literature on protected springs, as well as reach data about the protected springs of the study area and analysed them using ArcGIS 10.1 software to generate geoinformation about these resources. This geoinformation includes a wide range of geographic and geologic-hydrogeological data. We aim to improve the understanding and promotion of protected karst resources in the Southern Mountain Region of Albania

Cave-PY a QGIS plugin to identify cave levels from geospatially referenced cave surveys

2025-03-06T21:07:00+01:00

Cave-PY is a QGIS plugin developed to identify and analyze cave levels from geospatially referenced cave survey data. Cave levels, cave tiers, or cave stories are subhorizontal passages in karst systems that develop at different elevations due to base level changes or litho-structural factors. This algorithm processes point cloud data by calculating horizontal distances between survey points based on user-defined slope thresholds and proximity radius parameters. The horizontal extent is grouped into elevation classes to identify potential cave levels. We use Stortuvhola cave located in Northern Norway, a multi-level system, where we demonstrate the plugin's ability to effectively reveal cave levels from both survey station data and complete cave survey datasets. The sensitivity tests we performed highlight the importance of appropriate parameter selection based on survey characteristics. While Cave-PY offers an efficient method for the initial extraction of cave levels, it is important that the results are validated through morphological criteria and cave survey information for correct interpretation. We believe this tool addresses a gap in the existing methodology for geospatial analysis of caves.

The presence of the Dinaric genus Mesostalita Deeleman-Reinhold, 1971 (Arachnida: Araneae: Dysderidae) in the Julian Prealps (NE Italy)

2025-02-13T19:55:10+01:00

Mesostalita is a genus of woodlouse hunter spiders (Arachnida: Araneae: Dysderidae), currently including three species: M. nocturna, M. kratochvili, and M. comottii. These are cave-dwelling species, endemic to the Dinarides. The genus distribution range is examined, focusing on published localities. In particular, the presence of Mesostalita in the Julian Prealps (NE Italy) is investigated by researching previous reports from the area. A new record, Foran di Landri cave, is reported, representing the fourth known occurrence of the genus in the area. A brief description and some photographs of the female specimen found in the cave are provided. Following this finding, the genus distribution range must be extended northwards to include the Julian Prealps, on the other side of the Isonzo-Soča river (representing a biogeographical barrier for many cave-dwellers), opposite to the Dinarides. This makes Mesostalita one of the few troglobitic north-western Dinaric genera living on both sides of the river. Further sampling in caves in the area (to find at least a male individual) and molecular analyses are necessary to clarify the proper, specific status of specimens living in the Julian Prealps and their phylogenetic relationships within the genus.

Cave-dwelling Bats Carry Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Salmonella spp. That Pose a Public Health Threat in West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

2024-12-06T13:53:48+01:00

Salmonella spp. is a bacteria that can be transmitted between humans and bats through feces, food, and water contamination in the environment, causing foodborne illness. This bacterial infection will be more hazardous if the bacteria become resistant to antibiotics. Bats are wild animals that have the potential to spread resistant germs into the human environment because their habitats are where they live and forage is shrinking, forcing bats to migrate from their natural habitat to the human environment. Bats never receive antibiotics but can contaminated by bacteria was resistance antibiotics because they have close contact with humans, animals, and the environment. They are contaminated with resistant bacteria when they look for food and drink. Our research focuses on identifying the resistance that exists in Salmonella spp. bats in caves because it can endanger public health. The miss net is set at the cave’s mouth between 4 to 10 pm, the miss net is checked periodically. If a bat is caught, it is swabbed with a sterile cotton bud and then examined for Gram staining and biochemistry to identify bacteria. Salmonella spp. isolates were evaluated for antibiotic sensitivity with tetracycline, azithromycin, cefotaxime, amoxicillin, gentamicin, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, and ciprofloxacin. We successfully isolated nine Salmonella spp bacteria. The sensitivity test results showed that Salmonella spp. bacteria from cave bats in West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, were resistant to the antibiotics azithromycin 77.7%, amoxicillin 22.2%, and tetracycline 11.1%.

Interview with Professor Jurij Kunaver

2025-04-24T07:45:06+02:00

Prof Jurij Kunaver is a renowned geographer and Professor Emeritus at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. He conducted pioneering research of the glaciokarst and caves in the Julian Alps and the Upper Soča Valley and became a leading expert in the field of karst geomorphology in high mountains, advancing the understanding of mountain landscapes and their dynamic processes. With a strongly interdisciplinary approach, he combined geomorphology with environmental sciences and education. He was a key figure in geographical organisations in Slovenia, lecturer and mentor for many generations of students, organiser of dozens of national and international meetings and conferences, and editor of numerous scientific and educational publications. He was chairman of the Association of Slovenian Geographers and co-founder of the Association of Geography Teachers and the Geomorphological Society of Slovenia. During his academic career, he focused on field-based research, geomorphological mapping and innovative teaching methods. In addition to his academic work, he actively explored caves and mountains and transferred this passion to his scientific work, scientists and students. Prof Kunaver is an advocate of lifelong learning and remains active even after his active academic career has ended. His legacy includes a profound impact on geomorphological studies, geographic education and public engagement in environmental protection. His influence on the updating of tourist information, especially in the field of natural history in the area of the Julian Alps, particularly in the Upper Soča Valley and Bohinj, has been also noticeable over the last decade.

A tribute to Wolfgang Dreybrodt (1939-2025)

2025-07-27T12:41:27+02:00

A tribute to the late Prof. Wolfgang Dreybrodt — physicist and karstologist — whose pioneering work fundamentally advanced our understanding of essential karst processes.