Subterranean fauna of the Lukina jama–Trojama cave system

Velebit Mt. has a special place in the hearts of Croats, and cavers talk about explorations of its pits with a smile on their faces. We like to brag about the richness of Velebit’s subterranean fauna, but we did not have a published checklist.

Last week, a paper was published on the subterranean fauna of the Lukina jama–Trojama cave system, the deepest pit in Dinaric karst. Results show 41 cave-obligated species, mostly in the deepest parts, and almost half of them are endemic to northern Velebit. This officially gave the Dinaric karst a new hotspot of subterranean biodiversity.

It is especially gratifying when decades of research and work are crowned with a paper like this. These results would have been impossible without the selfless cooperation and logistical support of the entire speleological community.

The paper was made in collaboration with friends and colleagues from SubBio Lab, ADIPA, ZOSPEUM, Intitut Ruđer Bošković and Biološki odsjek.