engleski

Macrozoobenthos community in fast flowing streams of Slavonian mountains

The Pannonian ecoregion of Croatia is characterized not only by lowland features, but also with a mountain range consisting of Psunj, Papuk and Krndija mountains (west and north), and Požeška Gora and Dilj (south and east). As a recognition for its unique geological and biological features, Papuk was pronounced Nature Park and Geopark. However, the published material on its diversity is still scarce, especially for macroinvertebrates. Our aim is to shed some light on the diversity of the stream invertebrate fauna and their application in water quality assessment. The sampling was conducted in spring 2017 in Velika Rijeka (Krndija) and Šumetlica (Psunj) streams and in Jankovac (Papuk) stream in spring 2018. Quantitative sampling of the macrozoobenthos was performed, following the AQEM protocol (multi- habitat sampling), using 500 μm mash hand net, and physico-chemical water parameters were measured concurrently. Macroinvertebrates were isolated in the laboratory and identified to the genus/species level. Total number of identified taxa was 102, with 44 species identified. The highest biodiversity was recorded at Jankovac site, followed by Šumetlica and Velika Rijeka streams. Chironomids and oligochaetes were the most abundant in Velika Rijeka (816 and 89 Ind. / 0.0625 m2, respectively) whilst the EPT group had the highest abundance and diversity in Jankovac stream. Aforementioned groups are used in water quality bioassessment protocols and all three streams indexed “good” ecological state. This preliminary study reveals a great diversity of macrozoobenthos community in the understudied Pannonian streams and thus serves as a good starting point for further research.

macrozoobenthos community, Papuk, stream

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