Working Saturday at primary school Božidar Jakac
- Details
- Created on Tuesday, 09 April 2013
Last Saturday, 6th April 2013, we joined Societas herpetologica slovenica - Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles at their visit of primary school Božidar Jakac. We had workshops for two 7th grade classes. The topic was wetland. Pupils got a chance to see and touch amphibians and reptiles, made wetland models and learned about their services, performed simple water experiments and learned about human influence on water quality. We performed six experiments. Through experiments pupils learned if water and oil mix, how detergent effects water surface tension, how swim bladder works, if egg can float. We answered all these questions and many more.
Workshop with water experiments was co-financed by the City of Ljubljana.
Cleaning actions on rivers Soča and Drava
- Details
- Created on Monday, 08 April 2013
On Friday, 22nd March 2013, members of project team had a lecture for providers of turistic services on river Soča at their Information meeting for providers and guides on Soča River before season 2013. The lecture on freswater biodiversity and managment of water ecosystems was prepared by dr. Gorazd Urbanič in dr. Maja Pavlin Urbanič from Institute for Water of the Republic of Slovenia, while Tomaž Berce, Lutra institute, presented project Aquaviva. Meeting was part of cleaning action on River Soča that took place next day, 23rd March 2013.
On Saturday morning project team joined the traditional cleaning action on River Soča, organized by Filip Hrovat from Šport center Bovec. Cleaning action took place on Soča upper course, from Kal-Koritnica to Boka waterfall. Most of the work was done by kayakers and rafters that collected litter along the river and transfered it on kayaks and boats to assembly points. There material was collected and transfered to the depot. Part of the transport was done by firemen from PGD Bovec. Together we contributed to the preservation of our alpine beauty. At the same time we tried to warn people, that the amount litter is not the only indicator of pollution. As dr. Gorazd Urbanič said for RTV Slovenija (in Slovene), there are many less noticeabale influences with a greater effect on water. Such as agriculture, urbanization and waste water.
The same Saturday there was also 21st International environmental action Drava 2013, organized by Potapljaško društvo Maribor. While divers were removing trash from Drava River, we presented freshwater biodiversity at our stand. Despite the cold weather there were many visitors, keen to learn about mysterious world of freshwater biodiversity, its meaning, benefits and threats. We had some interesting debates with several topics (from cormorant, otter road kills to non-native species). Visitors were taken away by otter fur, signal crayfish and other freshwater invertebrates, especially by dragon fly larva and stonefly larva.
More photos from all three events you can see in gallery.
We celebrated World Water Day 2013
- Details
- Created on Tuesday, 02 April 2013
On a sunny Friday, 22nd March 2013, we celebrated World Water Day. With a support of Ministry of Agriculture and the Environment and in collaboration with National Institute of Biology we prepared an all-day workshop Otter connects waters. The workshop was held at Špica in Ljubljana and was open to all visitors. In the morning several groups from primary schools and kindergartens visited us, while in the afternoon mainly families and strollers stopped by. We performed simple experiments with water. We learned how does water strider move on water surface, that water and oil do not mix, that cold water is heavier than hot water, ... We made wetland models and test them in order to learn about their services: water purification, groundwater replenishment, flood control and shorline stabilisation. We analyzed two samples from Ljubljanica River; first form Špica and second from source. With a help of magnifying glass we observed smaller freshwater inhabitants. Vistors got to know otter and learned to tell it apart from other mammals found in freshwater habitats. We touched otter's fur, smell it's faeces and counted its fingers. On Ljubljanica shore we observed coypu, a non-native rodent that can be found along waters. There were also two exhibitions: AQUALUTRA - Otter, the Queen of Waters and Drops of Science.
It was lively all day, since there were about 200 visitors. Only after sunset otter managed to pack its boxes. Vidra je svoje kovčke tako pospravila šele ob sončnem zahodu. In the end we would like to mention Ljubljana Tourism that provided the place. Insight into workshop is available in the gallery.
Otter and coypu at primary school Trnovo
- Details
- Created on Friday, 07 December 2012
Also this year we visited pupils of primary school Trnovo. At first we planned a field trip to Ljubljana moor for the next generation of pupils of the subject Organisms in nature and artificial environment. There pupils could make casts of animal footprints. Unfortunately the weather did not want to cooperate. Therefore we held a workshop in the class on 5th December 2012. Pupils got familiar with two freshwater mammals present in Ljubljanica river - otter and coypu. We looked for differences and similarities between both species. Do they have similar adaptations to aquatic environment, how do we recognize their traces. Additionally we compared casts of different animal footprints. Some photos of teh workshop are available in the gallery.
