PALEOENVIRONMENTAL AND NEOTECTONIC INSIGHTS FROM THE PLIOCENE FOSSIL RECORD OF VELIKA PASICA CAVE, SLOVENIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR KARST SYSTEM EVOLUTION

Abstract

UDC 551.442:551.3.051:592/595(24+28)(497.4) Andrej Miheve, Ivan Hordèek, Nadja Zupan Hajna, Jon Woodhead & Anton Brancelj: Paleoenvironmental and neotectonic insights from the pliocene fossil record of Velika Pasica Cave, Slovenia: Implications for karst system evolution Velika Pasica Cave, situated on a karst plateau at an altitude of 665 meters above sea level, offers a unique record of paleontological, speleological, and tectonic processes. The cave, predominantly filled with allogenic sediments and speleothems, contains fossilized remains of the aquatic cave invertebrate Marifugia cavatica and terrestrial small mammals, characteristic of the early Pliocene (MN 15-16). Paleontological dating estimates the cave sediments to be approximately 4 Ma old, while U/Th dating of the overlying flowstone indicates deposition at 410 + 21 ka. These findings suggest that stagnant phreatic conditions prevailed prior to tectonic uplift and basin subsidence, which reshaped the karst landscape. This study highlights the dynamic interplay between neotectonics, karst system evolution, and biodiversity changes. By integrating speleobiology, geomorphology, and biostratigraphy, it provides valuable insights into the environmental history of the northern Dinarides and the impact of geological processes on karst ecosystems.

Alternate abstract:

Izvlecek UDK 551.442:551.3.051:592/595(24+28) (497.4) Andrej Mihevc, Ivan Horátek, Nadja Zupan Hajna, Jon Woodhead & Anton Brancelj: Vpogled ? paleookolje in neotektonske procese na podlagi pliocenskega fosilnega zapisa iz jame Velika Pasica, Slovenija: pomen za razvoj kraskega sistema Jama Velika Pasica, ki lezi na kraski planoti na nadmorski visini 665 metrov, nudi edinstven zapis paleontoloskih, speleoloskih in tektonskih dogajanj. Jama, pretezno zapolnjena z alogenimi sedimenti in sigami, vsebuje fosilne ostanke vodnega jamskega nevretencarja Marifugia cavatica ter kopenskih malih sesalcev, znacilnih za zgodnji pliocen (biocona MN15-16). Paleontoloske analize kazejo, da so sedimenti stari priblizno 4 milijone let, medtem ko U/Th datacije ?? njih odloZene sige kazejo na odlaganje pred priblizno 410 + 21 tiso leti (ka). Ti rezultati nakazujejo, da so v jami pred tektonskim dvigom in pogrezanjem bazena prevladovali mirni freatièni pogoji, kar dokazuje prisotnost M. cavatica. Studija izpostavlja dinamiéno prepletanje neotektonskih procesov, razvoja kraskega sistema in sprememb ? biotski raznovrstnosti. Z zdruzevanjem spoznanj iz speleobiologije, geomorfologije in biostratigrafije prispeva dragocena spoznanja o okoljski zgodovini severnih Dinaridov ter o vplivu geoloskih procesov na kraske ekosisteme.