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Natura Croatica Issue number: Natura Croatica, Vol. 30 No.2

Faunal features of caddisflies (Insecta, Trichoptera) in Konavle region (Croatia) with notes on DNA barcoding and conservation biology

Authors: Mladen Kučinić, Ana Šalinović-Steinbacher, Sanja Žalac, Danijela Gumhalter, Dora Hlebec, Anđela Ćukušić, Ivan Vučković, Martina Šašić, Iva Mihoci, Julijana Hađina, Mladen Vajdić

Authors and affiliation

  • Mladen Kučinić University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Rooseveltov trg 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
  • Ana Šalinović-Steinbacher Postelska ulica 10, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
  • Sanja Žalac ZSC ”Dr. Ivo Pevalek”, Plitvice Lakes National Park, Josipa Jovića 19, 53231 Plitvička jezera, Croatia
  • Danijela Gumhalter Azuritweg 2, D-70619 Stuttgart, Germany
  • Dora Hlebec Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
  • Anđela Ćukušić Ministry of Environment and Energy, Radnička cesta 80/7, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
  • Ivan Vučković Elektroprojekt d.d., Civil and Architectural Engineering Department, Alexandera von Humboldta 4, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
  • Martina Šašić Croatian Natural History Museum, Demetrova 1, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
  • Iva Mihoci Croatian Natural History Museum, Demetrova 1, 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
  • Julijana Hađina Dom zdravlja Zagreb – zapad, Hrvoja Macanovića 2a, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
  • Mladen Vajdić Croatian Natural History Museum, Demetrova 1, 10000 Croatia

Abstract

Throughout this research, 230 Trichoptera specimens were collected in the area of Konavle region, the southernmost area of Croatia. Altogether 21 species, 15 genera and 11 families were identified. DNA barcoding covered 41 specimens represented with 15 species collected in the Konavle region. The highest number of species was recorded at two localities: the spring of the River Ljuta (13) and a spring in the village Vodovađa (8). The highest number of taxa (4) was recorded within the following two families: Hydroptilidae and Hydropsychidae. From a faunistic point of view, the most interesting species in Konavle region are: Agapetus cf. kampos Oláh (the first record for Croatia), Hydroptila martini Marshall (the first record for the Mediterranean part of Croatia), Oxyethira falcata Morton (the first record for Croatia), Tinodes andrasi Oláh (type locality of the species is River Ljuta), Diplectrona cf. afra McLachlan (the first record from the Mediterranean part of Croatia) and Micropterna wageneri Malicky (the second record for Croatia). The first DNA barcoding data for the species Agapetus cf. kampos Oláh and Tinodes andrasi Oláh were entered into the BOLD database. The area of Konavle represents one of the most interesting regions for the fauna of Trichoptera and can be considered as a ”hot spot” for caddisflies in Croatia. Thus, it is necessary to install high standards for their protection.

Keywords

fauna, aquatic insects, the River Ljuta, south Croatia, mitochondrial DNA

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