Original scientific paper
Nematode feeding types in a tufa-depositing environment (Plitvice Lakes, Croatia)
Tvrtko Dražina
; Division of Zoology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Maria Špoljar
; Division of Zoology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Biserka Primc
; Division of Zoology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Ivan Habdija
; Division of Zoology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Free-living nematodes are an important group in all benthic habitats. They occur in high abundance and due to the feeding types they have strong influence on bacteria, algae, detritus and meiofauna in periphyton and sediments. The main aims of this study were to determine the vertical distribution of nematodes and their feeding types within the moss-covered tufa barrier over a one year period in Plitvice Lakes National Park. Altogether 23 taxa were identified with a maximum value of 198 ind. 10 cm-2 in spring. Stylet-bearing suction feeders were the dominant nematode feeding type in bryophytes and in the deeper layers of the tufa substrates. The domination of Adenophorea and the high value of the maturity index (MI) confirmed that this was clean, unpolluted water and showed the oligotrophic state of investigated habitat. The results demonstrated that nematodes, due to their high abundance and biomass, play an important role in karst water sediments.
Keywords
freshwater nematodes; trophic structure; tufa-depositing systems; bryophytes
Hrčak ID:
122566
URI
Publication date:
30.6.2014.
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