Large Branchiopods in Small Water Bodies: A Case Study of the Ramsar Site “Bardača Wetland” (NW Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina)

Abstract

Ramsar site "Bardača Wetland" has been on the list of wetlands of international importance since 2007. It is situated in the northern part of Bosnia and Herzegovina, at the territory of Republic of Srpska. This site has a wide range of water bodies with various hydrological regimes that support a diverse locally adapted flora and fauna. The investigations of the large branchiopods have been carried out since 2016. The existence of this evolutionary very old group of crustaceans has previously not been known for this territory. Overall, seven taxa of large branchiopods have been recorded in temporary aquatic habitats. The notostracan Lepidurus apus and spinicaudatan Leptestheria dachalacensis were rediscovered, while the Cyzicus sp., Eoleptestheria ticinensis and Limnadia lenticularis were recorded for the first time in the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Linderiella sp. and Eubranchipus (Siphonophanes) grubii have been recorded for the first time both in the Bosnia and Herzegovina and in the territory of Western Balkans. In recent years, significant part of "Bardača Wetland" suitable for development of large branchiopods was under drainage regime and has been used as arable land. Populations of the large branchiopods are potentially extremely vulnerable due to the landscape fragmentation, pollution and the global climate change. Consequently, conservation measures are needed to ensure their continuous and sustainable existence.

Amphibians of Ramsar Site “Bardača Wetland” – A Checklist With Ecological Notes

“…In the Collection of the Natural History Department of the Museum of Republic of Srpska in Banja Luka, there are five specimens of this species (of different ages), collected in the forest on Lake Sinjak and along the Matura River in March and April, as well as one model (cast) made according to the specimen caught along the Matura River in March (Gašić, 2012). During the last few years of our field research, a noticeable decline in the population numbers of the fire-bellied toad was recorded, most likely a consequence of the ever increasing degradation of aquatic habitats at the Ramsar site "Bardača Wetland", as recently indicated by Miličić et al (2022). According to the "Decree on Strictly Protected and Protected Wild Species" in the Republic of Srpska this species is listed under the category of protected wild species (Anonymous, 2020).…”

“…The total number of individuals recorded during our field studies in the area of the settlements Bajinci and Bardača included about 20 adults and several larvae. Radević (2007) and Miličić et al (2022) previously reported presence of the Danube crested newt within the boundaries of the Ramsar site "Bardača Wetland". According to the "Decree on Strictly Protected and Protected Wild Species" in the Republic of Srpska this species is listed under the category of strictly protected wild species (Anonymous, 2020).…”

“…Dried fishponds are mostly used as arable land, which has led to the increased use of pesticides on these areas. Other wetland habitats within the Ramsar site "Bardača Wetland" are also threatened by afforestation with Canadian poplar plantations, which further dries them out, as well as by the reduced amount of precipitation during the spring, which could be linked with global climate change (Miličić et al, 2022).…”

“…Svjetoslav Obratil published the first literature data on amphibian fauna pertaining to the Ramsar site "Bardača Wetland" within its current boundaries 42 years ago (Obratil, 1980(Obratil, /1981. All other available literature sources with data on diversity and ecology of amphibians in this area are more recent (Radević, 2007;Gašić and Dujaković, 2009;Gašić, 2012;Lelo et al, 2015;Miličić et al, 2022). In this sense, the goal of this study was to create a faunistic list of amphibians of the Ramsar site "Bardača Wetland", based on both literature data and author's original multi-year field studies, with reference to certain aspects of the ecology of the recorded species.…”