What is new in Croatian mayfly fauna?

Here we present a first record of Baetis vardarensis Ikonomov, 1962 in Croatian freshwater habitats. The species was collected in February and March 2020 at two sites in the Sava River. With this record, Croatian mayfly species richness increased to a total of 85 species. In addition, one of the species previously known only from literature, Kageronia fuscogrisea (Retzius, 1783), was confirmed in Croatia. The species was collected in the Rečica River, in March 2020. These results confirm that our knowledge about mayfly fauna in different regions of Balkan Peninsula is still incomplete and is increasing with systematic studies

Prvi nalaz vrste Cyclops bohater Kozminski (Copepoda, Cyclopoida) u Hrvatskoj i na Balkanskom poluotoku

The species of freshwater Cyclopoida Cyclops bohater Kozminski 1933 was recorded during collection of zooplankton in one of the three Čingi-Lingi Lakes in August and September 2004. This is the first record for the Croatian fauna and also for the Balkan Peninsula. The Čingi-Lingi Lake is a gravel pit in the Podravina area of NW Croatia.Prilikom uzorkovanja zooplanktona u jednom od tri jezera Čingi-Lingi u kolovozu i rujnu 2004. godine zabilježena je vrsta slatkovodnih Cyclopoida Cyclops bohater Kozminski 1933. Ovo je prvi nalaz za hrvatsku faunu, a i za Balkanski poluotok. Jezero Čingi-Lingi je šljunčara u SZ dijelu Hrvatske u Podravini

Novi podaci za faunu zooplanktona (Crustacea, Copepoda & Cladocera) u Hrvatskoj u jezeru Čingi-Lingi

Čingi-Lingi Lake is a gravel pit produced 25 years ago. During investigation of zooplankton in the year 2004 we determined eight species. Three of them are copepods and five of them are cladocerans. Čingi-Lingi Lake is the only locality where zooplankton in the Drava Valley region has been investigated.Jezero Čingi-Lingi je šljunčara nastala prije 25 godina. Tijekom istraživanja u 2004. godini u jezeru je utvrđeno osam vrsta planktonskih račića. Tri vrste spadaju u skupinu veslonožaca, a preostalih pet u skupinu rašljoticalaca. Jezero Čingi-Lingi je prvi i za sada jedini lokalitet na kojem su vršena istraživanja zooplanktona u Podravini

The relative importance of physical-chemical factors in the brackish shallow lake Vrana (Croatia) as determinant of crustacean zooplankton community

Background and Purpose: Lake Vrana is shallow, Mediterranean, karstic lake, where water salinity is as an important ecological factor, because the lake is directly connected with the Adriatic Sea. Studies concerning zooplankton communities in these ecosystems are very scarce. To understand this very specific and unique ecosystem, the physical and chemical parameters and the makrozooplankton community structure in Lake Vrana were studied. Material and Methods: The investigation was conducetd monthly from January till December 2004 at four stations with different ecological characteristics (primarily depth, salinity, hydrology, nutrients supply). Chlorophyll a concentration was analyzed fluorometrically according to Method 445.0. Physical and chemical parameters (temperature, transparency, chlorinity, salinity, biological oxygen demand - BOD, dissolved oxygen - DO, ortho-phosphate, total phosphorus, chlorophyll a) were measured according to APHA. Data on environmental variables and makrozooplankton community were examined using Redundancy Analysis (RDA). Results: Among the 13 different species which are found in macrozooplankton community of Lake Vrana, the dominant species were Calanipeda aquedulcis Kritchagin (Copepoda), and Bosmina longirostris O.F. Műller, (Cladocera) which were present in all four stations during study period. The same occurring had Megacyclops gigas Claus, Alona sp., Alonella excisa Fischer, and Chydorus sphaericus O.F. Műller while other species appeared sporadically. The physical-chemical parameters showed temporal and spatial variations in Lake Vrana during study period resulting in different micro-habitat conditions on the studied sites. That is confirmed by the results of the RDA analysis that clearly shows the separation of stations due to the impact of studied indicators. According to multivariate analysis temperature, chlorophyll a and salinity have great influence on dynamics and structure of makrozooplankton in Lake Vrana. Conclusions: Temperature, chlorophyll a and salinity are ecological factors which define the development as well as dynamics and structure of macrozooplankton community in the Vrana Lake

Microbial mats as shelter microhabitat for amphipods in an intermittent karstic spring

Microbial mats represent complex communities where cyanobacteria and diatoms as key organisms provide shelter for diverse assemblages of aquatic invertebrates, like the small stygophilous amphipod Synurella ambulans. Studies addressing such communities in the karst springs have rarely examined springheads, and have ignored intermittent springs. During high flow conditions the stygophilic crustaceans are flushed to the surface of a temporary stream Krčić where microbial mats prevent their drift and enables their successful retreat into underground in the periods of drought. The objective of this study was to characterize the microbial mat community of the Krčić Spring as a shelter for S. ambulans during strong current and high water level. Representative samples for diatom and cyanobacterial species identification and composition, as well as the fresh mat material for potential animal activity and cyanobacterial phylogenetic analysis were collected. The most dominant diatom was Achnanthidium minutissimum, whilst Fragilaria capucina, Meridion circulare, Navicula cryptocephala and Nitzschia palea had abundance greater than 0.5%. Morphological observations of cyanobacteria revealed that Phormidium favosum was the most dominant, with Hydrocoleum muscicola as a subdominant. Cyanobacterial phylogenetic relationship revealed two distinct clusters: (i) "Phormidium cluster", confirming morphological observations in both winter and spring samples, and (ii) "Wilmottia cluster", a first report for Croatia and found exclusively in the winter sample. Laboratory observations revealed a small stygophilic amphipod S. ambulans, hiding and feeding inside the pockets of fresh microbial mat. The intermittent Krčić Spring as a predator-free and competitor-free ecosystem provides a spatiotemporal conformity between microbial mat and stygophilous amphipod

Calanoida

Calanoida The following species were not listed for Croatia in “Fauna Europaea” (Boxshall 2004): Lovenula alluaudi (Guerne & Richard, 1890), Calanipeda aquaedulcis Kritschagin, 1873, Eudiaptomus hadzici (Brehm, 1939) and Eudiaptomus padanus etruscus (Losito, 1901). Lovenula alluaudi was recorded by Petkovski (1983) and Sket (1988) as inhabiting Krk Island and Lošinj Island as well as the Istria Peninsula. Calanipeda aquaedulcis was reported by Sket (1988) in costal marshes near the town of Nin (in Dalmatia) and is also known to inhabit brackish habitats along the eastern Adriatic coast, namely: Vrana Lake, Baćina Lakes and Kuti Lake, all in Dalmatia (Bukvić-Ternjej et al. 2001). Eudiaptomus hadzici was described from Lake Visovac (Bukvić et al. 1999) while E. padanus etruscus was recorded in two small reservoirs on the island of Krk (Bukvić-Ternjej et al. 2001). However, some species listed by Boxshall (2004) have not been included in our list. We omitted species reported by Krmpotić (1924): Arctodiaptomus laticeps (G. O. Sars, 1863) and Arctodiaptomus steindachneri (Richard, 1897). These two species were reported in an area called Srijem, which has been included within, and excluded from the Croatian border, partially or completely, several times between 1920 and 1939. Since 1939 only a part of Srijem is within the Croatian border; and not the sites mentioned by Krmpotić (1924). Petkovski (1960, 1983) and Naidenov (1965) suggested that within Croatian collections specimens of Arctodiaptomus kerkyrensis (Pesta, 1935) have been incorrectly identified as A. steindachneri. Based on a paper by Car (1906), Petkovski (1961) and Kiefer and Fryer (1978) reported that Arctodiaptomus laticeps, Arctodiaptomus similis (Baird, 1859) and Arctodiaptomus similis similis (Baird, 1859) occurred in Lake Cerknica, in Istria. However, Cerknica Lake has never been part of Croatia, and certainly is not in Istria. We excluded Mixodiaptomus laciniatus (Lilljeborg, 1889) and Mixodiaptomus laciniatus laciniatus (Lilljeborg, 1889), which were also listed by Boxshall (2004). Kiefer reported the possibility that these species were mistaken for Mixodiaptomus tatricus (Wierzejski, 1883) and Mixodiaptomus kupelwieseri (Brehm, 1907) in karstic area of Croatia and Montenegro (Kiefer & Fryer 1978). According to Petkovski (1983) M. laciniatus and M. l. laciniatus are distributed on the Balkan Peninsula, only in the Durmitor Mountain in Montenegro. The species are considered to inhabit high mountain lakes in Alpine region (Einsle 1993), but so far their presence in Croatia has not been confirmed.Published as part of Ternjej, Ivan Č Ica & Stanković, Igor, 2007, Checklist of fresh and brackish water free-living copepods (Crustacea: Calanoida and Cyclopoida) from Croatia, pp. 45-57 in Zootaxa 1585 on page 46, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17842

Cyclopoida

<i>Cyclopoida</i> <p>Like the calonoids, some species included in our list were not listed for Croatia in “Fauna Europaea” Boxshall (2004). Here we give some explanations as to why.</p> <p> <i>Cyclops insignis</i> Claus, 1857 was identified by Šoštarić (1888) and Car (1901) in samples taken from temporary freshwater habitats (ponds, ditches). Šoštarić (1888) also collected <i>Megacyclops gigas</i> (Claus, 1857) in samples taken from temporary freshwater habitats (ponds, ditches) near Zagreb and Varañdin.</p> <p> <i>Acanthocyclops robustus</i> Sars, 1863 and <i>Diacyclops languidoides</i> (Lilljeborg, 1901) were reported to inhabit ponds and interstitial waters near Zagreb (Petkovski 1954). <i>Acanthocyclops gordani</i> Petkovski, 1971 and <i>Metacyclops trisetosus</i> Herbst, 1957 were recorded in caves, springs and wells in Dalmatia and in other costal areas of Croatia (Sket 1986). <i>Halicyclops troglodytes</i> Kiefer, 1954, <i>Halicyclops rotundipes</i> Kiefer, 1935 were also found in interstitial waters, springs and wells in Dalmatia (Sket 1986), while <i>Diacyclops antrincola</i> Kiefer, 1967 and <i>Diacyclops bicuspidatus odessanus</i> (Schmankevitch, 1875) has been recorded in various subterranean habitats along the eastern Adriatic coast (Sket 1986, 1988, 1994). Our list also included <i>Halicyclops neglectus</i> Kiefer, 1935 reported by Petkovski (1955), although some authors (e.g. Plesa 1963; Wilson 1958) consider it to be a synonym of <i>Halicyclops rotundipes</i>. Others (e.g. Wooldridge 1977; Monchenko 1979; Dussart & Defaye 1985; Rocha 1995) do not share this opinion.</p> <p> During an investigation of several hyporheic habitats on Medvednica Mountain in 1983, a new species, <i>Acanthocyclops petkovskii</i> Pesce & Latinger 1983 was described (Pesce & Latinger 1983). Pesce & Latinger (1983) also found <i>Diacyclops languidus disjunctus</i> (Thallwitz, 1927) and <i>Diacyclops hypnicola</i> (Gurney, 1927) in the same samples as the new species.</p> <p> Through correspondence with Dr. F. Stoch it has been determined that during his investigations in Croatia he has identified several cyclopoids from various locations (see Table 1): <i>Acanthocyclops venustus stameri</i> (Kiefer, 1930), <i>Diacyclops charon</i> (Kiefer, 1931), <i>Diacyclops slovenicus</i> Petkovski, 1954, <i>Paracyclps chiltoni</i> (Thomson, 1882), <i>Paracyclops imminutus</i> (Kiefer, 1929), <i>Speocyclops</i> sp. (Stoch 1997 pers. com.).</p> <p> <i>Macrocyclops distinctus</i> (Richard, 1887) reported from Lake Vrana on the Island of Cres (Petkovski 1954) and it occurrence there has been confirmed by Sket (1988), Bukvić <i>et al.</i> (1997), Bukvić (1998a), Bukvić-Ternjej (2001), Tomec <i>et al.</i> (2002) and Ternjej and Tomec (2005). <i>Microcyclops rubellus</i> (Ljiljeborg, 1901) has also been reported in Lake Vrana (Bukvić 1998a).</p>Published as part of <i>Ternjej, Ivan Č Ica & Stanković, Igor, 2007, Checklist of fresh and brackish water free-living copepods (Crustacea: Calanoida and Cyclopoida) from Croatia, pp. 45-57 in Zootaxa 1585</i> on pages 46-47, DOI: <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/178427">10.5281/zenodo.178427</a&gt

New records of Limoniidae and Pediciidae (Diptera) from Croatia

New records are provided for Limoniidae and Pediciidae from Croatia, with new distribution records for species in 12 different genera. Four genera and 18 species are newly recorded for Croatia. Until now, including this data, 87 Limoniidae and eight Pediciidae have been recorded from Croatia. In this paper we confirm presence of Ormosia (Oreophila) bergrothi (Strobl, 1895) and we give the first records of Dicranota (Paradicranota) pavida (Haliday, 1833) and Molophilus (Molophilus) repentinus Starý, 1971 from Balkan Peninsula

Defining Patterns and Rates of Natural vs. Drought Driven Aquatic Community Variability Indicates the Ongoing Need for Long Term Ecological Research

Most ecologists have used climate change, as an omnipresent pressure, to support their findings in researching the vulnerability of specific taxa, communities, or ecosystems. However, there is a widespread lack of long-term biological, biocoenological, or community data of periods longer than several years to ascertain patterns as to how climate change affects communities. Since the 1950s, southern Europe has faced an ongoing trend of drying and loss of precipitation. A 13-year research program in the Dinaric karst ecoregion of Croatia aimed to comprehensively track emergence patterns of freshwater insects (true flies: Diptera) in a pristine aquatic environment. Three sites, spring, upper, and lower tufa barriers (calcium carbonate barriers on a barrage lake system that act as natural damns), were sampled monthly over 154 months. This coincided with a severe drought event in 2011/2012. This was the most significant drought (very low precipitation rates for an extended period of time) in the Croatian Dinaric ecoregion since the start of detailed records in the early 20th century. Significant shifts in dipteran taxa occurrence were determined using indicator species analysis. Patterns of seasonal and yearly dynamics were presented as Euclidian distance metrics of similarity in true fly community composition compared at increasing time intervals, to ascertain the degree of temporal variability of similarity within the community of a specific site and to define patterns of similarity change over time. Analyses detected significant shifts in community structure linked to changes in discharge regimes, especially to the drought period

Spatial distribution and seasonal changes of mayflies (Insecta, Ephemeroptera) in a Western Balkan peat bog

Peat bogs are unique wetland ecosystems of high conservation value all over the world, yet data on the macroinvertebrates (including mayfly assemblages) in these habitats are still scarce. Over the course of one growing season, mayfly assemblages were sampled each month, along with other macroinvertebrates, in the largest and oldest Croatian peat bog and an adjacent stream. In total, ten mayfly species were recorded: two species in low abundance in the peat bog, and nine species in significantly higher abundance in the stream. Low species richness and abundance in the peat bog were most likely related to the harsh environmental conditions and mayfly habitat preferences. In comparison, due to the more favourable habitat conditions, higher species richness and abundance were observed in the nearby stream. Three of the recorded species, Caenis luctuosa from the peat bog, and Eurylophella karelica and Leptophlebia marginata from the stream are new records for the Croatian mayfly fauna. Typical Central European life cycle patterns were confirmed for several species (e.g. Baetis vernus, Nigrobaetis niger, Electrogena ujhelyii), while for several others (e.g. Habrophlebia fusca, Paraleptophlebia submarginata) some discrepancies were observed. Therefore, these results provide new and valuable information on the ecology of mayflies in peat bog habitats