Research, Surveys and Data Management

Nature Conservation 4/2008 — 19. 8. 2008 — Research, Surveys and Data Management

Research and Surveys in Montenegro

authors: Roman Mlejnek, Vratislav Ouhrabka, Petr Zajíček

Speleological and biospelological research in the Montenegro karst areas, carried out in 2004-2007, obtained new discoveries.

In total, 29 new caves were discovered, mostly of the abyss character, with the depth ranging between 7 to 60 meters. In the article, eight of them, considered to be the most important, are described in details. They are the Orlova jama Abyss (-98 m) in the Orjen Mts., the Mahovinasta jama Abyss (-62 m) and the Jama Ulica Abyss (-50 m) in the Bukovina Mts., the Ledena djevojka (-80 m), Phoenix (-78 m) and Bijela djevojka (-104 m) abysses in the Rumija Mts., the Alexander the Great Abyss (-160 m) in the Prekomica Mts. and the Prométheus Abyss (-133 m) in the Živojo Mts. The research can hopefully continue in the Alexander the Great Abyss. From a point of view of zoology, findings of some cave beetles (Coleoptera) are the most remarkable. They include e.g. ground beetles from the genus Adriaphaenops (Carabidae, the Phoenix, Prométheus and Alexander the Great abysses), round fungus beetles of the genus Blattochaeta (Leiodidae, the Ice Virgin, Little Virgin, Phoenix and White Virgin abysses) and rove beetles of the genus Seracamaurops (Staphylinidae, the Ice Virgin, Phoenix and Škrapa abysses).