engleski

Assessing the conservation status of lower course of Una river using records of Adephagan Coleoptera

Carabid and Hydradephagan water beetles possess a range of characteristics needed for the evaluation of the conservation status of wetland habitats as they have a strong role as environmental indicators. The aim of the research was to estimate the conservation value of the lower course of Una where it forms the border between Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is the part of the Croatian National Ecological Network and a potential NATURA 2000 site. Sampling was conducted along the river and its narrow coastal area in 2009. We used a D-framed pond net and pitfall traps to collect beetles at six selected sites along the research area. We comprised a variety of microhabitats differing in vegetation density or disturbance caused by water flow: open fast-flowing and slow-flowing water (with orwithout vegetation), stagnant water, side canal, fish pond, periodically flooded grasslands, agricultural land. Here, we present the first results on adephagan diversity of this area. The highest richness of hygrophilic carabid species were found in wet grasslands and riparian willow forests, while the richest Hydradephagan community was found in densely vegetated stagnant water along the river shoreline. The lower Una valley has undergone low human impact with well preserved riparian habitats, hence representing a highly valuable site for investigated group of Coleoptera. The maintenance of natural course enabling periodical flooding of surrounding grasslands, suitable agriculture practices as well as restricted vegetation removal management are necessary for effective conservation of such rare habitat types.

carabid beetles; water beetles; Una river

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