engleski

Biodiversity monitoring in the Aljmaš floodplain near the Drava-Danube confluence (eastern Croatia)

The Aljmaš floodplain is situated on the right bank of the Drava River, along the last 12 km of the river course before confluence with the Danube River. The total surface area is 26 km2. Together with Kopački Rit Nature Park it makes a unique floodplain ecosystem of the Middle Danube. The Aljmaš floodplain is an integral part of two Natura 2000 areas in Croatia: SPA HR1000016 Podunavlje i donje Podravlje, and SCI HR2000372 Dunav-Vukovar. The Drava River in its lower course forms meanders, side arms, ponds and canals, which provides habitats for wild fauna and flora species, most of which are threatened or listed in the EU Directives on habitats and birds. Revitalisation activities in the Aljmaš floodplain were carried out in the period 2013-2021. Selected canals were deepened and sediment was removed from the old riverbed with an aim to re-establish the water flow and improve the overall ecological status. The monitoring activities of wild fauna and flora species and habitats were carried out during four-year period, from 2018 to 2021. The monitoring identified 16 habitat types, and four habitats are listed in Annex 1 of the EU Habitat Directive. The vascular flora comprises 75 species (2 ferns, and 73 angiosperms), and 13 invasive alien plant species were recorded. The faunal diversity comprises 17 freshwater fish species, 13 amphibian species, 10 reptile species, 65 bird species (21 wetland birds), and 52 mammal species. Among the vertebrate species listed in Annex 2 of the EU Habitat Directive, there are three freshwater fish, one amphibian and one reptile species. Among the recorded bird species, 20 are listed in Annex 1 of the EU Birds Directive. The presented monitoring activities had been supported by Hrvatske vode, a legal entity for water management in the Republic of Croatia.

biodiversity ; floodplain ; Danube ; Drava

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