The structure of macrozoobenthos on phytal and lithal habitats of river Konavočica

Cilj istraživanja je bio odrediti sastav makrozoobentosa na različitim tipovima staništa te utvrditi sezonsku dinamiku zajednice makrozoobentosa rijeke Konavočice. Različita staništa nude resurse koji odgovaraju pojedinim vrstama pa čak i pojedinim razvojnim stadijima iste vrste, primjerice zaštitu od predatorskog pritiska ili izvore hrane. Uzorkovanje makrozoobentosa provedeno je na ušću rijeke Konavočice u rijeku Ljutu tijekom 11 mjeseci 2012. i 2013. godine. Brojnost makrozoobentosa uspoređivala se između dva različita mikrostaništa, fitala (staništa na vodenom bilju) i litala (staništa na kamenoj podlozi) te tijekom godišnjih doba. Upotrebom Mann Whitney U - testa, Kruskal-Wallis analize varijance, Spearmanovih koeficijenata korelacije i CCA ordinacijom utvrdila sam razlike u brojnosti populacija na različitim staništima, sezonsku dinamiku i ekološke preferencije dominantnih svojta. Veća brojnost jedinki zabilježena je na fitalu u odnosu na lital. Maksimumi razvoja populacija bili su većinom u proljeće.The aim of the research was to determine the macroinvertebrate structure at two habitat types phytal (water vegetation) and lithal (stones) and to determine seasonal dynamics of macroinvertebrates in the river Konavočica. Different habitats provide resources suitable for the species and even different developmental stages of the same species (e.g., protection from predatory pressure or food sources). Macroinvertebrate sampling was conducted at the confluence of the river Konavočica into river Ljuta during 11 months in 2012. and 2013. The numbers of macroinvertebrate were compared between two different microhabitats, phytal and lithal and between the seasons. Mann Whitney U-test, Kruskal-Wallis test, CCA ordinationand, Spearmans correlation coefficients were used to prove significant differences and relationships among taxa and taxa and environmental factors. The highest number of individuals was recorded on phytal, and during the spring compared to other seasons