Workshop - scientific topics

The provisional placement of currently registered participants in the working groups can be viewed here.
The group placement is not fixed, i.e., the participants may request to change groups prior to the beginning of the work, with regards to their own preferences. 

Working groups will be organized to discuss the following topics:

       One of the basic characteristics of the Croatian part of the Adriatic Sea is its large archipelago. Throughout the history, the islands were isolated areas with the traditional economies based on agriculture and fishery, the economic activities which are still present in the areas such as Zadar archipelago. The main setback of the economic and social development on the islands, both in history and today, has been the insufficient water supply which especially referred to the smaller offshore islands. The reason for the lack of surface water has been the dominant karst relief which limits the appearance of surface water to limited contact zones of the permeable and impermeable rocks, in spite of the fact that the annual rainfall ranges from 700 to 1200 mm. Within such circumstances, various types of traditional water supply have been used to meet the needs of population. Traditional forms of water supply systems - e.g. old water tanks, wells, ponds (man-made and natural), collection of rainwater from roofs, transportation of water from the mainland using the tanker ships, reservoirs for the rainwater collected from the inclined surfaces, etc. – can be observed on most of the islands in Zadar Archipelago (Dugi otok Island, Kornati Islands), and on the many of those islands they are the only source of drinking water. On the other hand, the Island of Pag, with its non-permeable flysch deposits which act as a hydrological barrier, exhibits relative abundance of surface water. However, with the transformation of the islands’ economies towards tourism and services, the needs for water on the islands grow rapidly, creating a pressure on the existing water supply systems.

Study materials:

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       Agricultural zones in Mediterranean karst regions have had extraordinary significance for the inhabitants’ existence. One of such zones is located near Vransko jezero Lake in Zadar County in Littoral Croatia. Vransko jezero Lake is the largest lake in Croatia (30 km2) and it is one of the rare natural habitats of water birds remaining in the Mediterranean. Because of its rich biodiversity of flora and fauna and fresh water springs, Vransko jezero Lake and its surroundings have been proclaimed a nature park in 1999. But natural balance of the lake is being more and more endangered by traditional agriculture activities and contemporary food production facilities. Conflicts between local population and Park Authorities are becoming more frequent in recent years, sometimes resulting in the destruction of Park’s natural values. Therefore, it is essential to find a solution that will be satisfactory for the both parties.

Study materials:

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http://www.zastita-prirode.hr/eng/Protected-Nature/Protected-Areas/Nature-parks/Nature-park-Vransko-jezero

3. Indicators of sea-level and climate changes: examples from Zadar’s region

       During the late Pleistocene – Holocene period, palaeoenvironmental changes of the Eastern Adriatic coast were mostly caused by sea-level fluctuations induced by global climate change. Area surrounding Zadar is characterized by rocky karstified coast, low tidal range, indented shoreline with numerous islands, abundant palaeontological, archaeological and historical evidences, which offer optimal prerequisite for sea-level change studies. Among karst deposits, submerged speleothems are often used as the primary record source of sea-level while coastal speleothems are used as indicators of palaeocimatic changes. Most palaeocilimatic researches are conducted in the Modrič Cave, some 30 km from Zadar. Water samples have also been collected and analyzed to determine the origin of cave water. Modrič cave is very rich in speleothems and only small groups of tourist are allowed to enter, thus the cave environment remains largely intact. Remains of man-made objects, such as port facilities, docks, fish ponds, built during the Roman rule, also provide firm evidence of the sea-level change in the last 2000 years. Such evidences are found throughout Zadar’s Archipelago, namely on the Pag Island, Kornati Islands National Park, etc.

Study materials:

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