engleski

Microhabitat selection of subterranean amphipods in the Western Balkan peat bog

Peatlands are extremely rare, small in size and highly fragmented habitats in the Western Balkans. Nowadays, they are critically endangered mainly due to the change in drainage regimes, abandonment of traditional land management practices and climate change, resulting in rapid vegetation succession. Subterranean amphipods, as an important part of this unique aquatic environment, have been sporadically studied in the Western Balkans peatlands. With an aim to elucidate the limiting environmental factors for amphipod micro-spatial distribution, four types of aquatic microhabitats with three gradients of light, in the Croatian largest and oldest Đon močvar peat bog were studied. Amphipods were sampled using a benthos net (0.0625 m2) with the mesh size of 500 μm during one vegetation season. Species composition and structure differed significantly between the studied microhabitats, most likely due to their isolation and specific hydrology of the environment. In addition, physico-chemical water parameters, especially temperature and pH, have played an important role as an environmental barrier for species occurrence in the study area. All microhabitats were dominated by Synurella sp. Wrzesniowski, particularly deep water holes surrounded by Sphagnum spp. L. mosses. Also, an unexpected large local biodiversity of Niphargus spp. Schiödte were discussed. In order to investigate possible between-species avoidance, allotopic and syntopic occurrences were observed. High microhabitat overlapping of specific species was determined. The current study has revealed the threats and ecological status of the Đon močvar peat bog, highlighting the necessity of active conservation measures. Additionally, based on our results, we propose a general conceptual model for peatlands, as groundwater dependent ecosystems, in Croatia.

podzemni rakušci , cret ; rasprostranjenost po mikrostaništima ; zajedničko pojavljivanje

nije evidentirano