Diversity and Distributional Patterns of Stoneflies (Insecta: Plecoptera) in the Aquatic Ecosystems of Serbia (Central Balkan Peninsula)

Abstract

This work contributes to the knowledge of the fauna of Plecoptera (Insecta) of the Central Balkan Peninsula. A total of 90 species analysed in this study belong to 17 genera and 7 families. The largest number of stonefly species was recorded within the Juzna and Zapadna Morava River Basins and the rivers belonging to the Aegean Sea Basin (Pcinja, Dragovistica and Lepenac), while the lowest taxa richness was observed within the rivers Kolubara and Velika Morava, as well as from the Danube River. Based on the IUCN criteria, 10 species were classified as important from conservational point of view: Marthamea vitripennis, Protonemura lateralis and Taeniopteryx hubaulti as Critically Endangered, Dinocras mega-cephala, Nemoura cambrica, Protonemura meyeri, Protonemura praecox and Taeniopteryx nebulosa as Endangered, and Amphinemura sulcicolis and Perlodes microcephalus as Vulnerable.