The Subterranean Species of the Vjetrenica Cave System in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The Western Balkan's Vjetrenica Cave in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina is renowned for high richness of subterranean species. However, the data on its fauna have been published only in monographs printed in a small number of copies, making them hardly accessible to the wider scientific community. To overcome this issue, we compiled the data from published monographs with the data from our own recent field surveys. Further, as they are connected via water channels or small crevices in bedrock, we defined the Vjetrenica Cave System as a system comprising Vjetrenica and Bjelusica Caves and Lukavac Spring. Altogether, 93 troglobiotic, i.e., obligate subterranean aquatic (48) and terrestrial (45), taxa were reported for the system, verifying the Vjetrenica Cave System as the second richest locality in subterranean biodiversity in the world. The global uniqueness of the system is also reflected in the fact that as many as 40 troglobiotic species were described from the system. Finally, we reviewed the factors endangering this unique subterranean community and questioned whether it will withstand human-induced changes and pressures due to infrastructural development in southern Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Automated summary

The Vjetrenica Cave in the Western Balkans is known for its rich subterranean species. However, the data on its fauna have been inaccessible to the scientific community. To address this, the researchers compiled data from published monographs and their own field surveys, and defined the Vjetrenica Cave System comprising of Vjetrenica and Bjelusica Caves and Lukavac Spring. They reported 93 troglobiotic taxa, making it the second richest locality in subterranean biodiversity globally.