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The Dinarides in the Western Balkans host a globally exceptional subterranean biodiversity, but still areas remain with little or no data on subterranean species. In this work, we present the study of subterranean fauna in the upper Neretva River catchment (Eastern Bosnia and Herzegovina), which included the first systematic exploration of the interstitial habitats in the country. During the five-day »Neretva Science Week« in the summer of 2022, we sampled six gravel bars, six springs and one cave. We gathered 268 records (taxon-locality-date) of 116 taxa, with 35 records referring to 27 terrestrial taxa. Nine terrestrial taxa were sampled in a cave, while 19 were found in aquatic samples, mostly from springs. 27 taxa were identified as obligate subterranean (troglobiotic) species, one terrestrial beetle from the cave, and 26 aquatic species, belonging to water mites, snails, and crustaceans. Eight of the aquatic troglobionts present the potential for new species to science. Of the latter, four species were distinguished based on morphology: two species of snails from the families Hydrobiidae and Moitessieriidae, one representative of Ostracoda and one Copepoda. Individuals of the aquatic troglobiotic isopods and amphipods were analysed molecularly, and based on molecular differences, two new species within the genus Proasellus and two within the genus Niphargus were proposed. Further work on all these taxa is needed for the formal descriptions of the new species to science. Despite the short study period, we have shown that the area is rich in endemic groundwater fauna. The hydroelectric power plant constructions planned in the region threaten groundwater communities by altering subterranean habitats and their connectivity. Further studies are needed to properly highlight the great diversity of the subterranean habitats of the Neretva River catchment and its wider region, and to include this knowledge in conservation strategies.

To understand the distribution of aquatic fauna in karst groundwater and its environmental response, aquatic fauna and water samples were collected from 15 epikarst springs and 9 large karst springs on the south bank of the Yangtze River in Yichang from July to August 2018. In total, 809 individuals were collected, and they belonged to 13 subclasses. We found that: ①The spatial distribution of different animals in groundwater was different. Copepoda and Ostracoda stygobionts were abundant in epikarst springs (31.3%, 23.7%), Trichoptera and Diptera were less abundant (0.4%, 2.9%). Copepoda and Amphipoda were abundant in large springs (25.0%, 8.3%), Ostracoda stygobionts were less abundant (2.2%). ②The variation range of environmental factors (pH, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+) in large karst springs (0.64, 1.25 mg/L, 34.0 mg/L, 22.1 mg/L) was narrower than that in epikarst springs (2.45, 5.68 mg/L, 59.6 mg/L, 33.4 mg/L), which indicated a relatively stable condition. ③According to the stepwise regression analysis, the main environmental factors of epikarst springs were pH, Na+ and Mg2+, and the main environmental factors of large karst springs were pH, SO42- and Mg2+. Moreover, the representative biological communities of epikarst springs were Ostracoda, Diptera and dark layer species of Turbellaria, and the representative biological communities of large karst springs were Mollusca, Diptera and Decapoda. ④According to the path analysis, Diptera mainly responded indirectly to Na+ and Mg2+ through Ostracoda, and Ostracoda stygobionts, Diptera and Turbellaria responded directly to pH in epikarst springs. In large karst springs, Mollusca mainly indirectly responded to pH through Diptera, Diptera indirectly responded to SO42- through Decapoda, and Mollusca, Diptera and Decapoda directly responded to Mg2+. The distribution of fauna in groundwater was the result of a direct response to environmental factors and an indirect response between different species.

Two new species of copepods of the genus Elaphoidella Chappuis, 1929 were discovered in a cave and a spring in northeastern Thailand. The first species, E. phuphamanensis sp. nov., belongs to species-group VII sensu Lang. It is most similar to E. turgisetosa Petkovski, 1980 in the armament of the male third exopod of the fourth swimming leg and the shape and armament of the fifth swimming leg in both sexes. However, it is easily distinguished from other congeners by the segmentation of the first swimming leg, the endopod of the fourth swimming leg, and the armature of the third exopod of swimming legs 2–4 in both sexes. The second species, E. propecabezasi sp. nov., is located in species-group I sensu Lang, where the male does not have a transformed seta on the third exopod of the fourth swimming leg and the female fifth swimming leg has four baseoendopodal robust setae, unequal in length. It is most similar to E. cabezasi Petkovski, 1982 and E. paraaffinis Watiroyram, Sanoamuang and Brancelj, 2017 in having the same armature formula as endopods 1–2 of female swimming legs 1–4. However, the ornamentation of the anal operculum, the shape of the caudal ramus, and the armature of the fifth swimming leg in both sexes distinguish them from each other. A rare gynandromorphic specimen of E. propecabezasi sp. nov. was recorded, and a revised key to Elaphoidella species in Southeast Asia is provided.

Harpacticoids are an important component of meiofaunal assemblages in hyporheic zone. The goal of this study was to investigate distribution patterns of interstitial harpacticoid assemblages from four pre-Alpine streams originating in the Dinaric Karst and flowing into the Ljubljanica River. The sampling was conducted in 2002 at 12 locations distributed at a distance of approximately 1 km along each stream including tributaries, at a depth of 30–60 cm in the wetted channel (three sites per location) and depths from 65 to 160 cm on the stream banks (one site per location) using a Bou-Rouch pump. Concurrently, the interstitial water’s physical and chemical parameters were measured at two sites within each location (streambed, streambank). A total of 24 harpacticoid species were found, 12 of which were stygobionts (i.e., species living exclusively in groundwaters). Among them, two previously unknown species for science were found. Harpacticoid assemblage composition, with the exception of those from the Iška stream, did not differ significantly between the streams, indicating interconnectivity of the interstitial milieu. Sediment structure, amounts of particulate organic matter, conductivity and redox conditions seemed to have certain impacts, indicating the importance of hydrological and geological settings for harpacticoid assemblages.

This paper presents an overview of means of valorization of pile-dwelling sites inscribed to Unesco World heritage list. Carried out on the scale of the Alps, this study aims to relativize the deterministic logics by which the invisibility of pile-dwelling sites would be an obstacle for their valorization. Also, with elaboration of decision-making grid, the study proposes a support tool for the local stakeholders.

The number of freshwater species belonging to the genus Parastenocaris reported from ten countries of Southeast Asia is quite limited. Only two species have been reported so far from freshwater habitats there, compared to over 290 described species of the family Parastenocarididae worldwide. During the first study of the hyporheic zone of two small rivers in central Vietnam, two new species of the family Parastenocarididae were collected, Parastenocaris sontraensis sp. nov. and Parastencaris vugiaensis sp. nov. Both were collected from the gravel bar along the rivers (Suoi Da and Vu Gia river) using the Karaman–Chappuis method. Both the new species belong to the brevipes group of the genus Parastenocaris Kessler, 1913 sensu Lang (1948), and Reid (1995). Parastenocaris sontraensis sp. nov. is similar to P. hinumaensis Kikuchi, 1970 and Parastenocaris jane Karanovic, 2006 in the brevipes-group. Parastenocaris sontraensis sp. nov. differs from both Parastenocaris species by (i) Exp P3 with three segments in the male, (ii) caudal rami with seven setae, and (iii) caudal rami about 2.4 times as long as wide. Parastencaris vugiaensis sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by the unique combination of the following characters: (i) the elliptical shape of caudal rami, (ii) apical seta (V) with bulbous base, and (iii) anal operculum extends beyond the end of anal somite. Until now, 14 stygobiotic species of Copepoda have been recorded in Vietnam (including two new species in this paper), which is relatively few compared with nearby Thailand with 25 species. Short comments on other stygobiotic Copepoda from Vietnam are added.

Interstitial water that occupies the pore spaces within unconsolidated sediments is a unique habitat, inhabited by surface as well as exclusively subterranean species (stygobionts). The best studied of all interstitial habitats is the hyporheic zone, an interface between surface water and groundwater (phreatic zone) environments. The Sava River in central Slovenia (i.e., at the Ljubljana alluvial plain) readily qualifies as one of the global hotspots of interstitial biodiversity, while data from other river sections are lacking. In 2015, we sampled two gravel bars on the final Slovenian section of the river (Eastern Slovenia), and collected nine samples per site using the Bou-Rouch pumping method. At »Čatež ob Savi« and »Obrežje« sites, at least 26 invertebrate species with 14 stygobionts and 25 invertebrate species with 13 stygobionts were identified, respectively. Altogether, 33 invertebrate taxa with 16 stygobionts were recorded, which increased the previously known interstitial stygobiotic richness of the Sava River in Slovenia by eight species (to 37 species). Three species of the stygobiotic amphipod genus Niphargus were recorded in Slovenia for the first time, one of which is even a new species to science. We discuss the novel results in the context of current national conservation practices.

Pseudohesperocyclops loeiensis, new genus, new species, was collected from plastic containers that receives water from a 120-meter-deep well drilled into Cretaceous formations composed of sandstone, claystone, siltstone, conglomerate, and gypsum in Loei province, northeast Thailand. The new genus differs from the related genera Metacyclops Kiefer, 1927 and Hesperocyclops Herbst, 1984, by the shape of the female genital double somite, the swimming leg armature formula, and the P4 Enp number of segments, as well as on the form of P5. The new species shares several characters with Metacyclops cushae Reid, 1991, and Metacyclops thailandicus Boonyanusith, Sanoamuang & Brancelj, 2018, which are moved to this new genus. All three members of the new genus differ in the shape of the female genital double somite, the anal operculum, the furcal rami, and the P1 Enp-2 apical spine. Detailed comments on the regional ecology and sampling methods are included to promote collecting samples from other, less common habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two obligate cave-dwelling species of cyclopoid copepods (Copepoda, Cyclopoida) were discovered inside caves in central Thailand. Siamcyclops cavernicolus gen. et sp. nov. was recognised as a member of a new genus. It resembles Bryocyclops jankowskajae Monchenko, 1972 from Uzbekistan (part of the former USSR). It differs from it by (1) lack of pointed triangular prominences on the intercoxal sclerite of the fourth swimming leg, (2) mandibular palp with three setae, (3) spine and setal formulae of swimming legs 3.3.3.2 and 5.5.5.5, respectively, and (4) specific shape of spermatophore. Metacyclops thailandicus sp. nov. resembles M. cushae Reid, 1991 from Louisiana (USA). It differs from it by (1) distal segment of the endopod of the fourth swimming leg with one apical spine, (2) the fifth swimming legs with one broad segment, (3) the spine formula of the distal segment of the exopod of the swimming legs 3.4.3.3, and (4) well developed anal operculum reaching articulation with caudal rami. Detailed descriptions of the habitats of the new species and up-to-date keys to the genera and subgenera of the Bryocyclops and Microcyclops groups are provided, along with an updated list of obligate groundwater species of Copepoda in Southeast Asia.

The Channel Islands are a small archipelago of British dependencies just off the coast of Normandy at the western end of the English Channel. There were only three records for stygobitic Crustacea [Niphargus fontanus Bate, 1859 and N. kochianus Bate, 1859 from Jersey and N. aquilex Schiődte, 1855 from Guernsey] from the archipelago and no systematic survey has been carried out of the islands for their groundwater fauna till present. Recently sampling was carried out in wells, boreholes and springs on the four largest islands, Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney and Sark during February 2012. Niphargus aquilex was widespread across all four islands and did not appear to be restricted to any particular geology. Niphargus ladmiraulti was present in large numbers in a single borehole on Jersey, the first record of this species from the archipelago. Niphargus kochianus was collected from two sites on Alderney and the syncarid Antrobathynella stammeri (Jakobi, 1954) from two sites on the west coast of Jersey. The records for A. stammeri are new for the Channel Islands and possibly represent the first records of this species from the French bio-geographical area. The presence of N. fontanus on the islands was not confirmed. Several species of stygophilic Cyclopoida were also recorded during the survey along with epigean freshwater invertebrate taxa, which were mostly present in springs and shallow wells close to surface streams.

Microcrustacean (Copepoda, Ostracoda) assemblages were investigated at the interface of the vadose and phreatic zones in the alpine karstic aquifer from the Julian Alps in Slovenia (SE Europe). Two temporary and one perennial karstic outlets were sampled by filtering the water several times over 2 years. Concurrently, benthos from the mouth of a perennial spring and from an adjacent spring brook were collected. Altogether 24 microcrustacean species were recorded. The spatial and temporal variation in drift densities and species composition was high indicating complex groundwater hydrological pathways being dependent on precipitation regime. Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) clearly separated drift samples from temporary springs and other sample groups (drift in perennial spring, spring mouth and spring brook benthos). ANOSIM revealed statistically significant differences between all sample groups (Diacyclops zschokkei, Elaphoidella phreatica and Mixtacandona sp. B contributed over 50 % to the observed differences among sample groups. Three species (Nitocrella sp., Speocyclops infernus, Lessinocamptus pivai), known to be typical epikarst species, were collected only in the drift from one temporary spring (T2). Mao Tau species accumulation curves did not reach asymptote for the drift from temporary springs, but did for the drift from perennial spring, and for the spring mouth and the spring brook benthos. The results on drift composition indicated the variation in the origin of the water discharging at the interface of vadoze and phreatic zones depending greatly on water level conditions, while the drift densities were higher in the water presumably discharging from phreatic zone (perennial spring and temporary springs during low water levels).

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V prispevku je obravnavan način vzpostavljanja okoljskega informacijskega sistema, katerega del so tudi vode. Ključni cilj informacijskega sistema je ohraniti in izboljšati kakovost ter razpoložljivost informacij, potrebnih za izvajanje okoljske politike, prispeva pa tudi k zmanjševanju upravnega bremena in boljšemu okoljskemu odločanju. Predstavljeni so temeljna načela za vzpostavitev informacijskega sistema in njegov pomen ter evropske razmere na tem področju. Na podlagi slovenskih primerov in izkušenj so opisana dosedanja prizadevanja in prikazana je prednost dostopa, izmenjave in združljivosti podatkov na primeru voda. Izpostavljene so prednosti porazdeljenega informacijskega sistema tudi za področje voda. Predstavljen je pilotni projekt nadgradnje osnovnih podatkov hidrografije in dejanske rabe vrste vodnih zemljišč ; This article describes a way of establishing an environmental information system, part of which includes water. A key objective of the information system is to maintain and improve the quality and availability of information necessary for the implementation of environmental policy. This also contributes to a reduction of administrative burdens and to better environmental decision-making. The article gives the basic principles for the establishment of an information system and explains its significance. It describes the current European situation regarding this. Through Slovenian examples and experiences, efforts made are presented, and the advantage of access, sharing and interoperability in the case of water is shown. The advantages of a distributed information system for water sector are highlighted. A pilot project upgrading hydrography data and land use water land is presented.