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The effect of relative humidity on the convective heat exchange between a solid surface and an ambient air stream is analyzed in this study. In the experimental part, a unique closed-circuit climatic wind tunnel is utilized, allowing full-scale experiments to be conducted with full control over the environmental parameters defining the experimental boundary conditions. The experimental configuration, which includes a specific design of a specimen to promote a controlled heat flow through the specimen body, might bring new insights into the field of energy-related calculations or prediction of building energy consumption. The novelty of this work lies in the implementation of relative humidity as an independent factor within thermal modelling, which might contribute to increasing the accuracy of building energy simulation models. The computational analysis of experimental results indicates relative humidity as an important parameter, which can affect the convective heat transfer coefficient by up to 37%. The major effects have been observed after exceeding a relative humidity of 50–55%.

The caddisfly genus Psilopteryx Stein, 1874 (Limnephilidae) represents a taxonomically challenging group in which species boundaries have traditionally been defined solely by adult morphology, as larval stages lack reliable diagnostic characters. This difficulty is particularly evident within the Psilopteryx psorosa species group in Central Europe, where species delimitation has relied primarily on subtle and often variable differences in male genital morphology, while reliable diagnostic characters for larvae and females remain unavailable. In this study, we applied a multilocus molecular approach to evaluate species boundaries within this complex. We analysed 58 specimens collected across eight montane regions in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Germany, including material from the type locality of P. psorosa . Based on male genital morphology and following the taxonomic concept of Mey and Botosaneanu (1985), the analysed specimens were initially assigned to two subspecies: P. psorosa psorosa and P. psorosa bohemosaxonica . Two mitochondrial genes (COI, cytB) and one nuclear marker ( wingless ) were analysed using haplotype-based analysis, genetic distances, and phylogenetic inference. Across all analysed markers, genetic divergence was low, with median uncorrected p -distances not exceeding 0.3% and maximum divergence below 2%. Mitochondrial haplotypes were widely shared among regions and taxa, and neutrality tests performed on the complete mtDNA dataset yielded significantly negative values. Haploweb analysis of the nuclear marker recovered a single field for recombination (FFR), while both single-gene phylogenetic reconstructions and the concatenated multilocus analysis failed to recover reciprocally monophyletic groups corresponding to the traditionally recognised taxa. Our results indicate that the analysed forms represent a single evolutionary lineage and that the observed morphological differentiation reflects geographically structured intraspecific variation rather than distinct species.

The ecology and distribution of caddisflies is an important topic with regard to the general biodiversity of insects and also the ecological quality of freshwaters. Our recent rediscovery of Chimarra marginata (Linnaeus) in the Czech Republic took place after more than 80 years and is important from a biomonitoring point of view. We present new data from the Ohře River in western Bohemia and give a review of the historical occurrence of this species in the territory of former Czechoslovakia. Ecological preferences are discussed as well as the potential value of the species for bioindication. This report also emphasizes the importance of regular routine sampling to monitor changes in species diversity.

We report the first record of Hydroptila ivisa Malicky, 1972 in Slovakia. The faunistic survey of caddisflies was conducted on the eastern slopes of the Veľká Fatra Mountains in the village of Blatnica (Turiec River Basin, central Slovakia) in 2024. One male and two females of Hydroptila ivisa were attracted by UV light traps at the Blatnický potok stream. In 2025, the presence of the species was confirmed at the same locality with the capture of two additional females. Furthermore, one male and one female were recorded upstream in the Gaderský potok stream, the main tributary of the Blatnický potok stream, located within the Veľká Fatra National Park. This is only the third known location of the species in the Carpathians; consistent with its already known habitat preferences, it was found in the rhithral. We also present a list of caddisfly species recorded during the survey, which expands the known species diversity of the region.

We present the first record of Anatopynia plumipes (Fries, 1823) from Slovakia. Larva of this species was found in a semi-permanent oxbow lake, a remnant of a plesiopotamal-type side arm of the Danube River.

The distribution and diversity of insects are crucial conservation issues. The order Trichoptera is comprised of numerous endangered species, but the rarity of some makes it challenging to determine their conservation priority. In recent decades, data based on caddisfly larvae have become more frequent in limnological research in Slovakia. Our research, focusing mainly on adult caddisflies, has led to more reliable and accurate identification of many species that cannot be identified with certainty in the larval stage.We combined several entomological methods, including sweeping, Malaise traps, and UV light attraction, to increase the likelihood of catching rare species. The text lists and discusses the discoveries of caddisfly species that are particularly important for faunistics or biodiversity in Slovakia, as well as in the Central European context. Enoicyla reichenbachii (Kolenati, 1848), Limnephilus incisus Curtis, 1834, Ptilocolepus granulatus (Pictet, 1834) and Oecetis testacea (Curtis, 1834) were recorded for the first time in Slovakia. The rare species Hagenella clathrata (Kolenati, 1848) and Adicella balcanica Botosaneanu and Novák, 1965, previously found in Slovakia, were also recorded. Additionally, a new locality of Adicella syriaca Ulmer, 1907 indicates a further northward shift of this Mediterranean species. We further discussed the faunistically important records of Beraeamyia hrabei Mayer, 1937, Allotrichia pallicornis (Eaton, 1873), Ceraclea riparia (Albarda, 1874), Grammotaulius nitidus (Müller, 1764) and Limnephilus fuscicornis Rambur, 1842 from Slovakia. The conservation status of each species is proposed and discussed on the basis of our faunistic records, in accordance with the forthcoming update of the Slovak Red Book.

We present the first record of the caddisfly species Adicella syriaca Ulmer, 1907 from Slovakia, which is also the northernmost record of the species so far. Based on the literature data, we can conclude that the species spread 250 km northwards, compared to the previous records, inhabiting north Pannonian rivers, including the Danube floodplain (the Upper Danube). We suppose that a possible explanation for the species range shift is the climate change, since this can lead to changes in species distribution. For aquatic invertebrates, more studies predicted occurrence shifts, but specific examples are not common.

Old buildings, in particular, those coming from the first half of 20\" century often suffer With increased dampness in masonry coming from different sources. Some of them, however, have aesthetically rendered valued facades which are worth saving. For the design of new alternative mortars for renovation interventions, it is essential to obtain properties of original renders. Mechanical properties of mortars are in general assessed on standardized test samples; however, this approach cannot be always well applicable for in situ taken mortars or rendering materials. This paper is devoted to the specification of complex experimental procedure allowing to effectively obtain strength parameters of in situ collected renders which will be comparable with laboratory produced alternative mortars. Throughout this paper the detailed description of in situ collected renders sampling procedure is provided. Further, the adjusted approach of flexural strength testing in three-point arrangement and compressive strength tests for both cut renders samples and laboratory prepared alternative mortars is outlined. The suitable set up of testing procedures of materials coming from old or historical buildings introduces a key area for obtaining experimental relevant data being the bases for their sustainable renovations.

The number of studies assessing the downstream effects of multiple reservoirs on benthic communities over a large spatial scale has been disproportionally less compared with studies of the effects of a single reservoir, while even fewer studies have examined the responses of non-insect macroinvertebrates on the impact of river discontinuity. The main objective here is to present the effect of seven large reservoirs in a 364-km long stretch of the Váh River, which is the longest river in Slovakia. We assessed the longitudinal changes in environmental variables to identify their possible cumulative effect and recovery distance. Moreover, the spatial variability in the taxonomical and functional structure of the non-insect benthic invertebrate community was evaluated. We do not detect the true cumulative effect of any variable, because of the apparent recovery before reaching the next reservoir. Although the environmental variables closely match with the division of the river based on the river network development, the non-insect community indicates a more extensive disruption of the river environment. On the basis of species data clustering, three groups of sites (stretches) are found to reflect their longitudinal position in the river rather than their position relative to the reservoir (upstream, downstream and in-between sites). The difference between these groups also mirrors the functional structure of the benthic community. Water temperature, conductivity and chemical oxygen demand create a significant gradient causing shifts in taxonomical, as well as functional community composition. The canonical correspondence analysis shows that all reservoirs cause a shift in the structure of benthic communities as they are similar to communities at more distant sites downstream. Moreover, the reservoirs situated in the upper and middle stretch of the river were detected to have the most impact on the ecological attributes of the community. The multi-level pattern analysis reveals 31 non-insect taxa and four functional traits associated with one or two river stretches in a longitudinal profile of the Váh River. Of the indicator species, Stylaria lacustris, Nais christinae, Ophidonais serpentina and Limnodrilus claparedeianus are found to be associated with the severe downstream modification (potamalization) of the river environment induced by reservoirs.

This study was based on the complex environmental monitoring of the Danube River in Slovakia. Out of 23 monitored sites, three were chosen for the aim of this study. The three sites were sampled regularly three times per year during a 25-year period, which started in 1990, 2 years before the Gabčíkovo waterworks became operational. Each site represented one of the main potamal types, which we recognised according to the habitat characteristics as eupotamal, parapotamal and plesiopotamal. In order to assess changes which occurred during the 25 years, we studied taxocoenoses of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera, which sensitively reflect anthropogenic impacts. The changes caused by the Gabčíkovo waterworks manifested in a decrease of the species diversity in eupotamal because of the disappearance of rheophilous taxa. In the parapotamal and plesiopotamal sites, the initial decrease was followed by a partial recovery of biodiversity due to the artificial floodings. After they were stopped, the decrease occurred again and until 2015, the insect taxa became rare. Conversely, in the eupotamal site, there was an increasing trend in biodiversity since 2011 until 2015. Overall increase in the floodplain index values indicated a loss of connectivity between the floodplain habitats and their fauna with the main channel during the last 25 years. In this paper, we also extended the floodplain index with data on habitat values and indication weight for several stonefly species.