Naslov
Meiofauna constitute a considerable portion of invertebrate drift among moss-rich patches within a karst hydrosystem

Autori
Sertić Perić, Mirela ; Dražina, Tvrtko ; Špoljar, Maria ; Radanović, Ines ; Primc, Biserka ; Habdija, Ivan

Izvornik
Biologia (Bratislava) (0006-3088) 69 (2014), 3; 363-380

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
drift; macroinvertebrates; meiofauna; habitat patchiness; Plitvice Lakes; flow velocity

Sažetak
Aiming to establish the most frequent invertebrate taxa in drift at the small spatial scale within a moss-rich karst tufa-precipitating hydrosystem, we sampled drift among microhabitats differing in substratum type and flow conditions along a tufa barrier-cascading lotic reach. Additionally, we addressed the question of the contribution and the potential significance of meiofauna within the overall invertebrate drift at the small spatial scale. During the study period, a total of 60 invertebrate taxa were recorded in the drift. Six of these taxa belonged to the annelid/arthropod meiofauna and they represented 35% of total drift density. Macroinvertebrates found in drift were represented mainly by larval insects. The composition of the most abundant taxa in total drift was as follows: Alona spp. (Cladocera 26.7%), Riolus spp. (Coleoptera: Elmidae 13.2%), Simulium spp. (Diptera: Simuliidae 12.2%), Enchytraeidae (Oligochaeta 10.4%), Hydrachnidia (6.3%), Orthocladinae (Diptera: Chironomidae (3.9%) and Naididae (Oligochaeta 3.6%). Faunal drift densities and amounts of transported particulate matter (PM) were highest at the fast-flowing sites located at the barriers and lowest at the slow-flowing sites within pools. Similarly to the seasonal amounts of transported PM, faunal drift was lowest in winter, and peaked in autumn and in late spring/early summer. Correlation between flow velocity and PM-faunal drift densities suggested a significant effect of the dislodged PM, though a minor influence of discharge and flow velocity on faunal drift. We suggest that the small-scale habitat heterogeneity and the respective feeding and refugial strategies of the fauna, as well as faunal passive dislodgement initiated by the shear forces of the flow were the most important drivers of observed drift patterns.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Biologija

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