MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND SPATIAL PLANNING ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA Biological and Landscape Diversity in Slovenia An overview CBD Ljubljana, 2001 MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL AND SPATIAL PLANNING ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCY OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA Published by: Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning - Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia Editors in chief and executive editors: Branka Hlad and Peter Skoberne Technical editor: Darja Jeglič Reviewers of the draft text: Kazimir Tarman Ph.D., Andrej Martinčič Ph.D., Fedor Černe Ph.D. English translation: Andreja Naraks Gordana Beltram Ph.D. (chapter on Invasive Species, ......., comments on the figures), Andrej Golob (chapter on Communication, Education and Public Awareness) Revision of the English text: Alan McConnell-Duff Ian Mitchell (chapter on Communication, Education and Public Awareness) Gordana Beltram Ph.D. Designed and printed by: Littera Picta d.o.o. Photographs were contributed by: Milan Orožen Adamič (2), Matjaž Bedjanič (12), Gordana Beltram (3), Andrej Bibič (2), Janez Božič (1), Robert Bolješič (1), Branka Hlad (15), Andrej Hudoklin (10), Hojka Kraigher (1), Valika Kuštor (1), Bojan Marčeta (1), Ciril Mlinar (3), Marko Simić (91), Peter Skoberne (57), Baldomir Svetličič (1), Martin Šolar (1), Dorotea Verša (1) and Jana Vidic (2). Edition: 700 copies CIP - Kataložni zapis o publikaciji Narodna in univerzitetna knjižnica, Ljubljana 502.3(497.4)(082) 574(497.4)(082) BIOLOGICAL and landscape diversity in Slovenia : an overview / (editors in chief Branka Hlad and Peter Skoberne ; English translation Andreja Naraks, Gordana Beltram, Andrej Golob; photographs were contributed by Milan Orožen Adamič... et. al.). - Ljubljana : Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning, Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia, 2001 ISBN 961-6324-17-9 I. Hlad, Branka 119431680 Copyright: Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia, 2001: Biological and Landscape Diversity of Slovenia, Ljubljana. The document before us is one of the outputs of the project on preparation of the Biodiversity Strategy of Slovenia. It was financed by the World Bank, Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning. Our gratitude for professional assistance goes to all experts, scientific organizations, ministries and all other govern- mental organizations, inspection services, police, customs, enterprises and non-governmental organizations for their contributions. Special thanks are extended to the authors of the photographs who offered their work free of charge and thus provided for the better esthetical value and attractiveness of the document. iii CONTENTS FOREWORD ............................................................................. vii Bogs, fens and marshes ....................................................................... 40 Bogs and fens ................................................................................. 40 SUMMARY .................................................................................. ix Marshes ............................................................................................ 41 Rocky habitats, screes and dunes ...................................................... 41 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................... xii Organisation and data compilation ...................................................... xii Rural and urban landscapes ................................................................ 41 Working groups .................................................................................... xii Rural habitats (except grasslands) .......................................... 42 Additional expertise ........................................................................... xii Urban habitats .............................................................................. 43 Aims and objectives of the document .................................................. xv Specific ecosystems ................................................................................. 44 Problems, constraints and limitations in preparation of the Soil ecosystem ....................................................................................... 44 document ................................................................................................... xvi Mountain ecosystems .......................................................................... 46 Karst and subterranean habitats ........................................................ 48 ‘Mrazišča’ ................................................................................................. 50 PART 1: BIODIVERSITY ..............................................1 Wetlands .................................................................................................. 51 BIODIVERSITY ........................................................................... 3 SPECIES ..................................................................................... 57 Levels of biodiversity ................................................................................. 3 General characteristics ........................................................................... 57 Genetic diversity .................................................................................... 3 Threatened species .................................................................................. 58 Species diversity .................................................................................... 3 Degree of research ................................................................................... 59 Ecosystem diversity ............................................................................... 3 Invasive species ........................................................................................ 59 Landscape diversity ............................................................................... 4 Presentation by taxonomic groups ....................................................... 60 Biodiversity through time ........................................................................ 4 Micro-organisms ................................................................................... 60 Global and European framework ............................................................ 6 Viruses .............................................................................................. 61 Values of biodiversity ................................................................................. 6 Bacteria ............................................................................................ 61 Importance of biodiversity for human use ....................................... 7 Fungi ........................................................................................................ 62 Direct-use values of biodiversity ......................................................... 7 Micromycetes ................................................................................. 62 Indirect-use or ecological values ........................................................ 8 Macromycetes ................................................................................ 63 Aesthetic, intrinsic and cultural values ............................................ 9 Fungi symbioses (Lichens and mycorrhizae) ........................ 66 Plant species .......................................................................................... 69 Freshwater algae .......................................................................... 70 PART 2: THE STATUS OF BIOLOGICAL AND Mosses, liveworts and hornworts (bryophyta) ....................... 72 LANDSCAPE DIVERSITY ......................................... 11 Ferns and angiosperms and gymnosperms ........................... 73 Animal species ...................................................................................... 75 BIODIVERSITY IN SLOVENIA .................................................. 13 Molluscs - terrestrial and freshawater (Mollusca) ................ 77 Some main characteristics of Slovenia ................................................ 13 Leeches (Hirudinea) ..................................................................... 78 Characteristics of biological and landscape diversity in Slovenia 15 Spiders (Araneae) ......................................................................... 78 Daddy-longlegs (Opiliones) ........................................................ 79 HABITATS - BIODIVERSITY AT THE ECOSYSTEM LEVEL ....... 17 Entomostracans (Entomostraca) ............................................. 80 General characteristics ........................................................................... 17 Freshwater and brackish water malacostracans Habitat typology ........................................................................................ 17 (Malacostraca) ............................................................................. 80 Habitats and threatened plant and animal species ........................... 18 Chilopods (Chilopoda) .................................................................. 81 Criteria for the assessment of habitats ................................................. 20 Dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata) ................................ 82 Threats ......................................................................................................... 20 Stoneflies (Plecoptera)