This was the exihibition about Dinaric Karst and its biggest animal, the blind neothenic Dinaric cave salamander, Proteus or "Dragon's baby". On this project I was working on the concept and design of the exhibition.
"The Dinaric Karst is one of the largest "islands" of limestone in Europe , with an area of approximately 70,400 km 2 . It spreads through seven countries around the Adriatic Sea , while its largest portion of 26,000 km 2 is in Croatia.
The Dinaric Karst abounds in diverse landscape and rich biodiversity. It is home to many endemic rock-dwelling species, and to last large European predatory mammals and birds of prey. Beneath the predo m inantly dry stony surface, the caves of the Dinaric Karst preserve the beauty of varied speleothe m es, fossilised re m ains of ani m als and early people, a singular fauna of m ore than 1,300 cave ani m als, as well as vast supplies of drinking water, which is beco m ing increasingly precious to hu m ankind.
The greatest treasure of the Dinaric Karst underground is symbolically displayed at this exhibition in chests. Throughout history, chests in houses have been the repositories for the most treasured belongings of people.
The Dinaric Karst has more than 18,000 caves, mostly vertical pits (potholes) . The deepest known is Lukina pit on Mt. Velebit in Croatia , which is 1,394 m deep. In Velebita pit there is the deepest cave vertical line (- 506 m) in the world.
Dinaric limestone caves have simple and uniform ecosystem with only few habitats, but with an extraordinary concentration of different cave species. The best known Postojna cave system in Slovenia has more than 80 cave animals, twice as any other cave in the world rich in fauna.
In the darkness, the only food supply is the scarce amount of organic waste from the surface. In terrestrial habitats cave beetles prevail, but in water, crustaceans and snails are dominant, since niches are free from insect competitors.
In terrestrial habitats, the predators are mainly carabid beetles, pseudoscorpions and spiders. In water, except the underground "King" predators are extremely rare, consisting only of a few invertebrates, and periodic fish visitors.
HIS MAJESTY - THE KING
The last in the food net is the blind neothenic Dinaric cave salamander, Proteus . Its females reach sexual maturity when they are 18 years of age, and living until 80. The latest molecular research has confirmed the existence of many sister Proteus taxa which underwent genetic separation before Ice Age." |
