Chironomid larvae (Chironomidae, Diptera) in epiphytic communities of shallow freshwater ecosystem

Mali Sakadaš je specifičan slatkovodni ekosustav s obzirom da se može po površini klasificirati kao bara za vrijeme niskog vodostaja (~ 0.25 ha) ili kao (plitko) jezero tijekom razdoblja plavljenja i visoke vode. S obzirom na to da svjetlost prodire do dna, omogućen je razvoj makrofitske vegetacije. Veliki biodiverzitet vrsta čine ga vrlo složenim sustavom. Istraživanje je provedeno u listopadu 2016. godine pri čemu je utvrđeno sedam rodova makrofitske vegetacije. Pojedine makrofitske vrste su odvojene te posebno isprane da bi se utvrdio sastav epifitske zajednice na svakoj vrsti posebno. Taksonomske skupine beskralježnjaka su prebrojane i razdvojene, dok su ličinke trzalaca (Chironomidae, Diptera) determinirane do najniže taksonomske kategorije i svrstane u funkcionalne hranidbene skupine. Utvrđena je dominantnost ličinki trzalaca na svim lokalitetima te je najveća raznolikost i brojnost ličinki trzalaca zabilježena na dominantnoj submerznoj vrsti Ceratophyllum demersum. Makrofitska vrsta C demersum se pokazala kao povoljan tip substrata za ličinke trzalaca osiguravajući dovoljnu količinu hrane. U istraživanju su potpunosti prevladavale Chironominae u brojnosti i raznolikosti, dok su sljedeće najbrojnije bile skupine Ephemeroptera i Zygoptera. Pronađene svojte ličinki trzalaca su karakteristične za eutrofna vodena tijela.Mali Sakadas is a specific freshwater ecosystem since it can be classified as a pond during low water levels (~ 0.25 ha) or as a (shallow) lake during times of flooding and high water levels. Since light penetrates to the bottom, it is possible to develop submerged macrophyte vegetation. A large amount of nutrients and high biodiversity make it a very complex system. This research was conducted in October 2016, when seven species of macrophyte vegetation were identified. Macrophyte species are separated and especially washed to determine the composition of the epiphytic community on each species separately. Taxonomic groups of invertebrates were counted and separated, while chironomid lavaes (Chironomidae, Diptera) were identified to the lowest taxonomic category and classified into functional feeding groups. The dominance of chironomid larvae on all sites was determined and the largest variety and number of chironomid larvae were recorded on the dominant submerged species Ceratophyllum demersum. Macrophytic species of C. demersum proved to be a preferred type of substrate for chironomid larvae providing sufficient amounts of food. According to the research, Chironomidae were prevalent in number and diversity ahead of Ephemeroptera and Zygoptera, respectively. The found chironomid taxa are characteristic for eutrophic water bodie