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Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.20302/NC.2022.31.20

Mayflies of the Bednja River, Croatia

Marina Vilenica orcid id orcid.org/0000-0003-2053-2461 ; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Teacher Education, Trg Matice hrvatske 12, 44250 Petrinja, Croatia
Iva Vidaković Maoduš orcid id orcid.org/0000-0003-2554-0073 ; Elektroprojekt d.d., Civil and Architectural Engineering Department, Water Resources, Nature and Environmental protection Section, Alexandera von Humboldta 4, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Zlatko Mihaljević orcid id orcid.org/0000-0003-4122-2884 ; Department of Biology, Division of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia


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Abstract

Here we present the results of a mayfly study conducted on a hydromorphologically altered lowland river in Croatia, the Bednja River. Twenty-two mayfly species were recorded, Baetis fuscatus (Linnaeus, 1761) and Serratella ignita (Poda, 1761) being the most widespread and Paraleptophlebia submarginata (Stephens, 1836) and Cloeon dipterum (Linnaeus, 1761) the rarest species. A significant increase in mayfly species richness was observed along the river course. Nevertheless, cluster analysis showed that their assemblages were not grouped according to the study position along the Bednja River. The lowest species richness and diversity were recorded for the spring area. Surprisingly, the highest species richness was found at a site with moderate hydromorphological alterations, and the highest diversity at a site with severe hydromorphological alterations. This could be because the river is connected to numerous lateral streams and a variety of microhabitats are available. New distribution records in Croatia are presented for some rare species in Croatian freshwater habitats, such as Heptagenia longicauda (Stephens, 1836). Ephemera lineata Eaton, 1870 was recorded for the first time in the Pannonian lowland ecoregion (ER 11) in Croatia. Caenis cf. pseudorivulorum Keffermüller, 1960 has not yet been recorded in Croatian freshwater habitats, but since our identifications are based on juvenile specimens, its occurrence is still to be confirmed.

Keywords

Ephemeroptera; lowland river; human impact; species richness; rare species

Hrčak ID:

288189

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/288189

Publication date:

30.12.2022.

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