Publications
Influence of Experimental Eutrophication on Macrozoobenthos in Tufa-Depositing System of Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
Phosphorus emerged as the critical limiting nutrient for periphyton growth in Plitvice Lakes National Park, significantly boosting chlorophyll a levels on substrates enriched with phosphorus or combined nitrogen-phosphorus treatments. The study, employing nutrient-diffusing substrates in situ, revealed that lower tufa deposition rates further amplified periphyton development, while macrophytes mitigated these effects, likely through flow modulation and root respiration. Although eutrophication did not directly alter tufa deposition, it influenced macrozoobenthos abundance seasonally, with gazers and detritivores dominating in phosphorus-enriched environments. Seasonal variations overshadowed the impacts of nutrient treatments on both autotrophic and heterotrophic communities, underscoring the system's sensitivity to environmental shifts.
Source identification of carbohydrates and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a rural area near the Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
A study near Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia, reveals distinct seasonal variations in airborne organic compounds, with PM 10 concentrations higher in summer despite typical European winter heating practices. Anhydrosugars dominated carbohydrate levels year-round, while polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) peaked seasonally, with benzo(b)fluoranthene highest in spring and winter. Multi-statistical analyses identified mixed sources in spring—traffic, domestic heating, biomass burning, and biogenic emissions—as well as seasonal shifts in dominance, such as traffic and biogenic sources in autumn and domestic heating in winter. The annual average of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) fell below EU safety thresholds, underscoring regional air quality variations linked to human and natural activities.
Long-Term Chironomid Emergence at a Karst Tufa Barrier in Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
A 14-year study at Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia, revealed that water temperature and organic matter availability are the primary drivers of chironomid emergence, with faster-flowing lotic habitats supporting the highest abundance. Over 80 species were identified, dominated by Parametriocnemus stylatus. The research also observed a prolonged flight period in recent years, potentially linked to rising winter water temperatures, though not yet statistically significant. This long-term investigation provides critical insights into chironomid phenology and habitat preferences in diverse freshwater ecosystems.
The Dynamics of Stand Structure Development and Natural Regeneration of Common Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in Plitvice Lakes National Park
A study on the dynamics of common beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) stands in Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia, reveals that structural gaps—caused by both abiotic and biotic factors—are the primary drivers of forest development. Using three periodic measurements (1998, 2009, and 2018), researchers found that these gaps significantly influence the growth, survival, and natural regeneration of beech stands. The findings challenge the current passive management model in the park, suggesting a shift toward more active intervention to sustain and renew the forest ecosystem. This research underscores the importance of structural dynamics in protected forests, offering insights for conservation strategies.
Vegetational and Structural Features of Forest Clearings in Plitvice Lakes National Park
A comprehensive analysis of forest clearings in Plitvice Lakes National Park reveals five distinct plant communities, with the Salicetum capreae being the most prevalent. The study identified 257 vascular plant species across 60 families, dominated by Asteraceae, and highlighted significant representation of hemicryptophytes (H) and Eurasian chorological types. Notably, 11 strictly protected, 6 nearly threatened, 3 vulnerable, 2 data-deficient, and 4 endemic species were documented. The research, employing taxonomic keys and the Braun-Blanquet approach, also found that most clearings have an anthropogenic origin, are irregular in shape, occupy small areas (<1000 m²), and are located along forest edges or roads. This study provides the first detailed vegetational and structural data for this habitat type, offering a foundation for future research.
GIS-Based Visitor Count Prediction and Environmental Susceptibility Zoning in Protected Areas: A Case Study in Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
A novel GIS-based method for environmental susceptibility zoning effectively predicts visitor counts and assesses environmental impacts in protected areas, with moderate accuracy. Applied to Plitvice Lakes National Park—Croatia's oldest and largest national park—the approach integrated route density and historical visitor data over 20 years, identifying the central part of the park as the most vulnerable due to high visitor load, primarily within moderately restricted zones. The study demonstrated that while current environmental susceptibility is stable, these findings offer critical insights for adaptive park management strategies.
Social Media as a Tool of Building Reputation and Identity of National Parks
Plitvice Lakes National Park emerged as the top performer among nine European national parks in terms of social media effectiveness, significantly influencing visitor numbers and educational outreach. The study introduced a new formula to measure Social Media Effectiveness, revealing that strategic marketing communication—focusing on pathos, ethos, and logos—enhances reputation, identity, and visitor behavior. While English language barriers and post frequency on Facebook posed challenges, effective communication positively impacted tourism and youth education. The research employed rhetorical and descriptive text analysis to assess communication strategies across platforms, highlighting the potential of social media in promoting environmental protection and sustainable tourism.
Exploring National Park Visitors’ Judgements from Social Media: The Case Study of Plitvice Lakes National Park
A comprehensive analysis of visitor reviews from Plitvice Lakes National Park reveals that tourists' perceptions extend beyond natural beauty, highlighting significant interest in accessibility and management practices. By leveraging 15,673 TripAdvisor reviews spanning 2007 to 2021, researchers applied advanced techniques such as multidimensional scaling, sentiment analysis, and natural language processing to identify key strengths and weaknesses of the park. The study underscores that visitors' judgments are not solely focused on landscape aesthetics but also critically assess factors like route management and accessibility, providing actionable insights for protected areas worldwide.
Exploring Tourist Preferences on the Visitor Management System: the Case Study of Plitvice Lakes National Park
A study reveals that Croatian visitors to Plitvice Lakes National Park prioritize infrastructure and services more than international tourists, while repeat visitors emphasize safety and stakeholder engagement. The research used an online survey based on the Park’s Management Plan, analyzing responses from 214 participants between May and July 2022 with statistical tests like Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon U and Kruskal-Wallis. Findings suggest that national tourists value service improvements, while frequent visitors expect higher safety standards and greater input in decision-making. Retail interventions were deemed less critical compared to other management aspects. This study underscores the importance of integrating visitor preferences into park management strategies for sustainable conservation.
Influence of number of visitors and weather conditions on airborne particulate matter mass concentrations at the Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia during summer and autumn
A study on Plitvice Lakes National Park reveals that airborne particulate matter (PM) concentrations are significantly influenced by visitor numbers and weather conditions, particularly during summer and autumn. The research found that both indoor and outdoor PM levels rise with an increase in visitors, indicating local anthropogenic contributions alongside background sources. Additionally, PM1 concentrations correlated with higher outdoor temperatures, while outdoor PMs showed a U-shaped pattern, suggesting photochemical reactions play a role in particle production and growth. The study also noted daily periodicity in PM levels but no weekly trend. These findings highlight the complex interplay between human activity and environmental factors in shaping air quality within this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Problems of protecting the world natural heritage sites in Russia and abroad (example of lake Baikal and the “Plitvice lakes” national park)
A comparison of protection strategies for UNESCO World Heritage Sites reveals that consolidating management under a single legal entity, as seen with Plitvice Lakes National Park, enhances conservation effectiveness. The study highlights the inadequacy of domestic legislation in safeguarding authentic landscapes, proposing the adoption of international conventions—such as the Convention on the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage—to mitigate threats like unauthorized construction. It also advocates for Russia's adherence to the European Landscape Convention to strengthen landscape protection frameworks. For Lake Baikal, the research suggests establishing a sui generis regime for its Central Ecological Zone, centralizing administration and aligning with IUCN and World Heritage Committee recommendations. This approach could address accumulated environmental damage and regulate tourism while fostering sustainable economic development.
Distribution and transfer of naturally occurring radionuclides and 137Cs in the freshwater system of the Plitvice Lakes, Croatia, and related dose assessment to wildlife by ERICA Tool
A study of Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia, reveals that naturally occurring radionuclides and 137Cs exhibit significant variability across different lakes, likely due to underlying geological differences. The research found that 210 Pb in sediments indicates an allochthonous contribution of up to 312 Bq kg −1 at the watercourse's beginning, decreasing downstream. Low 40 K activity concentrations (27.5 ± 20.1 mBq L −1) in lake waters may contribute to higher 137 Cs levels in fish (1.5 ± 0.4 Bq kg −1), which are an order of magnitude above average values for Croatian freshwater systems. The study also highlights that site-specific data significantly impact radiological dose assessments, with water activity concentrations leading to notably higher dose rates than sediment-based ones. Additionally, the incremental dose rate from 137 Cs was found to be negligible compared to background levels.
Hydrological System of the Plitvice Lakes—Trends and Changes in Water Levels, Inflows, and Losses
Extreme hydrological events in the last decade, including high discharges, have significantly altered the Plitvice Lakes' system. Research reveals that while Kozjak Lake previously experienced decreasing discharges with rising water levels and growing tufa barriers (pre-1990s), post-2001 trends show increased discharges, falling water levels, and shrinking barriers due to erosion. Water losses from the lake system remain stable but occur during low-water periods, influenced by both surface flow and underground hydrological conditions. This study provides a methodological framework for analyzing similar karst systems formed by tufa deposition.
Autonomous Vehicles Mapping Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia
A groundbreaking study leverages autonomous vehicles and advanced remote sensing to map Plitvice Lakes National Park, revealing intricate bathymetric features of its cascading lakes. The research demonstrates that increased dissolved organic matter disrupts travertine formation, a critical process in the park's unique ecosystem. By combining high-resolution aerial imagery with multibeam sonar surveys conducted by an autonomous surface vehicle, the study generated unprecedentedly detailed and georeferenced bathymetric models. These models captured numerous depressions consistent with previous studies, offering deeper insights into the lakes' geological dynamics. The integration of autonomous vehicles significantly enhanced survey efficiency, data precision, and accuracy compared to traditional manual methods.
Checklist of aquatic Diptera (Insecta) of Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia, a UNESCO world heritage site
A comprehensive checklist of aquatic Diptera (Insecta) in Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatiareveals 157 species and seven taxa across 13 families. The study, spanning 50 years of research, identifies 12 previously unrecorded species, including members of Chironomidae, Dixidae, Scathophagidae, and Stratiomyidae. Chironomidae dominates the diversity with 62 species (plus seven taxa), followed by Empididae (22) and Limoniidae (19). Sampling across 25 sites—representing springs, streams, tufa barriers, and lakes—highlights the highest species richness in springs but also underscores gaps in knowledge for certain families. This work not only expands the documented biodiversity of Plitvice Lakes NP but also calls for further research to address missing taxonomic data, particularly in underrepresented aquatic Diptera families.
Fear of the dark? A mesopredator mitigates large carnivore risk through nocturnality, but humans moderate the interaction
Carnivores in Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia, exhibit flexible activity patterns to mitigate risks from apex predators and humans. The study found that while grey wolves, Eurasian lynx, and red foxes show distinct temporal behaviors—humans are diurnal, large carnivores are crepuscular (active at dawn and dusk), and foxes are nocturnal—their activity overlaps significantly, particularly when body size differences are small. Foxes increase nocturnality in response to higher large carnivore activity, likely to reduce visual detectability and avoid aggression. However, human presence moderates this effect, potentially by disrupting risk cues or providing temporal shielding. This research highlights the role of temporal partitioning as a mechanism for species coexistence and resource access, with implications for trophic interactions and ecosystem services in protected areas.
Plitvice Lakes National park harbors ancient, yet endangered diversity of trout (genusSalmo)
Plitvice Lakes National Park, renowned for its unique karstic watersheds and biodiversity, harbors two evolutionary distinct species of trout: Salmo labrax and Salmo trutta. This study, using mitochondrial gene markers from 150 trout samples across 17 localities, reveals low genetic diversity within populations and restricted gene flow, likely due to habitat fragmentation and degradation. The findings highlight the urgent need for conservation measures to protect these ancient yet endangered trout species, which coexist in both 'pure' and admixed populations.
Soils and sediments of Prošće Lake catchment as a possible terrigenous input in the lakes system
Soils and sediments in the Prošće Lake catchment of Plitvice Lakes National Park play a significant role in purifying water before it reaches the phreatic zone, acting as both an accumulation and transformation zone for potential pollutants. The study found that quartz is the dominant mineral in these samples, with dolomite present in half and calcite as a dominant phase in one sample. Minor phases include feldspars, chlorites, and muscovite. Organic matter was also detected across all samples. This terrigenous input, primarily from surface waters like streams and overland flow during snow thawing or rain, is minimal but not negligible due to longstanding preservation efforts. The research used X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to analyze these minerals, providing insights into their potential influence on the lakes' water chemistry and contributing to understanding this natural phenomenon.
The interrelation between development, management, and management issues in Plitvice Lakes National Park
Plitvice Lakes National Park's management and development have faced significant challenges since its establishment in 1949, with a notable imbalance in tourism-related business growth. The study reveals that while the park has prioritized hotels and hospitality businesses, other sectors have been neglected, leading to reduced benefits for the local community and ecosystem services. Current management goals are insufficiently focused on conservation and evaluation of natural components, highlighting gaps in achieving stated objectives. The research analyzes past management achievements and current practices to underscore these issues, providing insights into the complexities of balancing development with preservation in protected areas.
Challenges in the Management of Plitvice Lakes National Park, Republic of Croatia
Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia's oldest and largest protected area, faces significant challenges despite its high conservation status and UNESCO World Heritage designation. A SWOT analysis reveals that while the park excels in biodiversity conservation, investments, and workforce, it struggles with visitor overload in a small area, lack of management plans for tourism, education, or marketing, and threats like inadequate water supply infrastructure and excessive construction near villages. Opportunities lie in leveraging its protected status and strong financial health to adopt sustainable tourism practices, develop educational programs, and implement long-term management strategies—provided these efforts remain politically neutral and continuous. This study underscores the need for strategic, resilient management to ensure Plitvice Lakes remains a benchmark for conservation and tourism excellence.
First systematic investigation of adults and second checklist of caddisflies of the Plitvice Lakes National Park with notes on research history, biodiversity, distribution and ecology
Plitvice Lakes National Park, recognized by UNESCO since 1979, harbors the highest caddisfly (Trichoptera) biodiversity in Croatia, with 89 species recorded to date. This study presents the first systematic investigation of adult caddisflies conducted between 1997 and 2001, identifying 77 species using light and emergence traps. It also provides an updated checklist and explores factors contributing to this exceptional biodiversity, comparing species assemblages across 12 localities and different aquatic habitats—springs, streams, lakes, and tufa barriers. The research highlights the unique ecological conditions of the park, offering insights into its rich faunal composition and historical research context.
Marshland vegetation of Plitvice Lakes National Park (Croatia)
A study of Plitvice Lakes National Park's marshland vegetation identified 13 distinct plant communities, including three previously unrecorded in Croatia. Using the Braun-Blanquet methodology and numerical classification, researchers confirmed that traditional community classifications align well with observed clusters. The research also revealed ecological characteristics through Ellenberg indicator values and plant life form analysis, highlighting specific features at the vegetation alliance level. Notably, the Phragmitetum australis association, which supports Ligularia sibirica—a rare European species—was found to be widespread. While the study contributes positively to biodiversity, it also notes negative impacts linked to lake eutrophication, posing conservation challenges.
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