Natura Croatica Issue number: Natura Croatica, Vol. 18 No.1

Sastav i struktura zajednica makrozoobentosa mediteranske krške rijeke Cetine i njene pritoke Rude

Authors: Ivan Vučković, Ivana Božak, Marija Ivković, Mirjana Jelenčić, Mladen Kerovec, Aleksandar Popijač, Ana Previšić, Siniša Širac, Ivona Zrinski, Mladen Kučinić

Authors and affiliation

  • Ivan Vučković Elektroprojekt d.d., Civil and Architectural Engineering Department, Alexandera von Humboldta 4, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
  • Ivana Božak Varićakova 14, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
  • Marija Ivković Division of Zoology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
  • Mirjana Jelenčić Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
  • Mladen Kerovec Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
  • Aleksandar Popijač Kopački rit Nature Park Public Institution, Mali Sakadaš 1, 31327 Kopačevo, Bilje, Croatia
  • Ana Previšić ; Department of Biology (*Laboratory for Entomology), Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Rooseveltov trg 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
  • Siniša Širac Hrvatske vode, General Managers’ Office, Deputy of General Manager, Ulica grada Vukovara 220, HR-10000 Zagreb
  • Ivona Zrinski Croatian Environment Agency, Inland Water and Marine Unit, Ksaver 208, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia
  • Mladen Kučinić University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Rooseveltov trg 6, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Benthic invertebrate communities of the Cetina River and the upper reach of the Ruda River were sampled monthly at 11 sites from August 2004 to August 2005. The sampling sites were located along the longitudinal gradient of the Cetina and in the upper reach of the Cetina's largest tributary, the Ruda River. Throughout the study, a total of 310225 animals were collected in 366 samples. In the upper and middle reaches the most numerous taxa were Amphipoda and Gastropoda, while the most numerous taxon in the lower reaches was Gastropoda. The highest and the lowest population density of benthic invertebrates were recorded at the sites Preo~ki Most in June 2005 (22728 individuals/m2) and Radmanove Mlinice in November 2004 (90 individuals/m2), respecti- * Note: surname of authors in alphabetical order, except first and corresponding author Croatian Natural History Museum, Demetrova 1, Zagreb, Croatia M:NATURAnatura_1-09vuckovic.vp 24. lipanj 2009 10:20:47 Color profile: Disabled Composite 150 lpi at 45 degrees 50 Vu~kovi}, I. et al.: Benthic macroinvertebrate communities in the Mediterranean karst river the Cetina... vely. At sites Trilj I and Trilj II, the most numerous taxa were Oligochaeta and Chironomidae, indicators of watercourses with higher organic loads. The composition of benthic invertebrate communities at sites along the entire course of Cetina does not reflect the situation expected under natural conditions due to flow regulation and construction of hydroelectric power plants and reservoirs.

Keywords

physico-chemical parameters, macroinvertebrate community structure, Mediterra- nean karst river, regulated river Vu~kovi}, I., Bo`ak, I., Ivkovi}, M., Jelen~i}, M., Kerovec, M., Popija~, A., Previ{i}, A., [irac,