Ecological patterns of Odonata assemblages in karst springs in central Montenegro

Abstract

-Karstic springs are important habitats for maintaining freshwater biodiversity. However, little is known about Odonata larvae assemblages in karstic springs, and studies about the ecological factors that determine species distribution in these habitats are still lacking. In this study the composition of Odonata larvae communities from 91 springs located in the central part of Montenegro was investigated. The richest fauna was found in sublacustrine springs, followed by limnocrenes, while that of the rheocrenes was less rich. The results obtained confirm the main research hypothesis that Odonata larvae assemblages in the karstic springs in the central part of Montenegro were comparably influenced by the environmental parameters acting on the level of individual springs as well as the factors acting at the landscape level. Odonata larvae assemblages divided springs into four groups. On the other hand, the springs could be divided into three groups based on habitat and landscape characteristics. CCA indicates that disturbance factors such as the permanence and directness of human influence on springs for use as drinking water sources are foremost in determining Odonata assemblages at the level of individual springs. The habitat scale considered several factors that influence Odonate assemblages, including altitude and riparian vegetation. This study proves that further odonatological studies in springs should include both types of factors and their interactions.Keywords: Odonata / Montenegro / springs / crenobiology / diversity Résumé -Patterns écologiques des assemblages d'Odonates dans les sources karstiques du centre du Monténégro. Les sources karstiques sont des habitats importants pour le maintien de la biodiversité des eaux douces. Cependant, on sait peu de choses sur les assemblages de larves d'odonates dans les sources karstiques et des études sur les facteurs écologiques qui déterminent la répartition des espèces dans ces habitats font toujours défaut. Dans cette étude, la composition des communautés de larves d'odonates de 91 sources situées dans la partie centrale du Monténégro a été étudiée. La faune la plus riche a été trouvée dans les sources sublacustres, suivies par les limnocrènes, tandis que celle des rhéocrènes était moins riche. Les résultats obtenus confirment la principale hypothèse de recherche selon laquelle les assemblages de larves d'odonates dans les sources karstiques dans la partie centrale du Monténégro étaient influencés par les paramètres environnementaux agissant au niveau de chaque source ainsi que par les facteurs agissant au niveau du paysage. Les assemblages de larves d'odonates ont séparé les sources en quatre groupes. Par ailleurs, les sources pourraient être divisées en trois groupes en fonction des caractéristiques de l'habitat et du paysage. La CCA indique que des facteurs de perturbation tels que la permanence et l'influence humaine directe sur les sources utilisés comme sources d'eau potable sont essentiels pour déterminer les assemblages d'odonates au niveau de...

Ecological traits of dragonfly (Odonata) assemblages along an oligotrophic Dinaric karst hydrosystem

“…This study confirmed that there is a strong relationship between distribution of freshwater benthic organisms and water temperature, dissolved oxygen concentration, nutrients, water velocity and substrate type (Corbet, 1964;Giller and Malmqvist, 1998;Moog, 2002;Allan and Castillo, 2007). In accordance with their previously recorded preferences for environmental factors (Corbet and Brooks, 2008;Pe sić et al, 2017), dragonfly larvae of the Plitvice Lakes hydrosystem favored habitats with higher water temperature, i.e. tufa barriers.…”

Application of macroinvertebrate multimetrics as a measure of the impact of anthropogenic modification of spring habitats

“…Spring group C includes most of the modified springs of the study area. The construction of cribs leads to the transformation of these environments into semi‐lotic habitats, often with the formation of still water areas and the accumulation of organic material (Pešić et al, ). This probably explains the relationship between the indicator species mentioned and hydromorphological alteration.…”

“…The effects of human‐induced environmental changes are evident for many springs in the Dinaric karst. Ecohydrological analyses of macroinvertebrate data have identified the modification of springs for drinking water supply or for aesthetic reasons as an important determinant of the composition of macroinvertebrate assemblages in springs (Lencioni, Marziali, & Rossaro, ; Pešić, Dmitrović, Savić, & von Fumetti, ; Pešić, Gligorović, Savić, & Buczyński, ; Płóciennik, Dmitrović, Pešić, & Gadawski, ; Savić et al, ). In general, the mode of modification when tapping a spring depends on the natural characteristics of a spring, especially its discharge (Stevanović, ).…”

Ecological Factors and the Distribution of Adult Odonata in Puerto Rico

“…Of particular importance is the role of anthropogenic disturbance and how it affects the insects. Because Odonata are sensitive to disturbance, they are often considered good indicators of environmental quality (Samways and Steytler 1996, Kutcher and Bried 2014, Valente-Neto et al 2015, Pešić et al 2017. Given the well documented patterns of land use and anthropogenic disturbance in Puerto Rico, further research on this area is encouraged.…”