Benthic macroinvertebrates in a tufa‑depositing environment: a case study of highly vulnerable karst lotic habitats in Southeast Europe
2024
Аутори:
Simović, PredragMilošević, Djuradj
Simić, Vladica
Stojanović, Katarina
Atanacković, Ana
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Jakovljević, Marija
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Petrović, Ana
Тип документа:
Чланак у часопису (Објављена верзија)
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© 2024, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
Метаподаци
Приказ свих података о документуАпстракт:
Karst freshwater ecosystems are considered biodiversity hotspots, highlighting their sensitivity and vulnerability to environmental change. However, our understanding of the distribution and ecology of macroinvertebrates in lotic karst habitats is still incomplete. Therefore, to fill the knowledge gaps, the current study was conducted in the Dinaric and Carpathian–Balkan Mountains in Serbia, Southeastern
Europe. We studied aquatic macroinvertebrates and their relationship with environmental parameters
at 25 sampling sites in three habitat types (springs, the upper reaches, and tufa barriers) in 12 rivers
and streams in Serbia, seasonally, between 2019 and 2022. We recorded 85,072 individuals within 206
taxa. Most environmental variables were comparable among the three habitat types, which most probably resulted in comparable abundance and diversity of benthic macroinvertebrates. However, taxa richness was lower in springs compared to upper reaches and tufa barriers. Environmental parameters had a greater impact than spatial effects on shaping the macroinvertebrate community. Moreover, IndVal analysis revealed a list of 30 indicator taxa associated with specific habitat types. We emphasized that highly specialized species support vulnerable functions in high-diversity karst freshwater ecosystems. Therefore,this study establishes a scientific foundation for implementing effective management strategies for these unique aquatic ecosystems.
Кључне речи:
Serbia; Springs; Tufa barriers; Macroinvertebrate diversity; Sensitive taxaИзвор:
Hydrobiologia, 2024Финансирање / пројекти:
- Министарство науке, технолошког развоја и иновација Републике Србије, институционално финансирање - 200122 (Универзитет у Крагујевцу, Природно-математички факултет) (RS-MESTD-inst-2020-200122)