Mobile organisms such as raptors, positioned high in the food chain, are good indicators of negative or positive landscape dynamics, since their response is fast. This assumption was tested by investigating the Scops Owl (Otus scops) population in a traditional Central European agricultural landscape (Goričko Nature Park [GNP]) in Slovenia. The negative trend in male calling Scops Owls was correlated with static and dynamic environmental change variables derived from remotely sensed or field-based, multi-temporal data sources.
COBISS.SI-ID: 21112579
Decisions made by grassland owners are crucial for the conservation of extensive grasslands (EGs); however, the predispositions determining how adults decide to act in certain situations are developed during childhood. Children are future decision-makers and potential grassland owners; therefore, the factors that form and affect their attitudes towards EG conservation need to be examined. Positive attitudes could be developed during environmental education, and this study aimed to understand the influence of elementary school children’s interest in and knowledge of grasslands, sources of learning about grasslands and experience working with grasslands on their attitudes towards preserving EGs. Principal component analysis and structural equation modelling results showed that interest in grasslands directly influenced attitudes towards preserving EGs, while experience and learning also indirectly influenced these attitudes.
COBISS.SI-ID: 25202952
The rare orchid, Nigritella lithopolitanica is endemic to species-rich mountain grasslands of the south-eastern Alps with the majority of its distribution area in Slovenia. We examined phenotypic variation in morphological and reproductive traits among seven of 16 extant populations in relation to the floristic composition and stature of the grasslands surrounding these plants. Inflorescence length varied the least among populations and was uncorrelated with either habitat characteristics or location. This stability presumably reflects its reliance on specialized pollinators. Other traits display appreciable variation among populations and covary with grassland composition and stature. Taller plants occur within taller swards and allocate more to vegetative growth and less to reproduction. The presumably reflects an adaptive trade-off to enable competitive success under competitive conditions. We conclude that N. lithopolitanica has low competitive potential and thrives best on sites with thin soils, some stone cover, and in open, low-density swards of vegetation where competing grasses are shorter. Grazing appears to favour this species whereas the recent human removal of stones from these habitats represents a clear threat to the persistence of this rare species.
COBISS.SI-ID: 20104707