Macrozoobenthos of spring of the river Ljuta

Cilj istraživanja je bio određivanje sastava i sezonske dinamike zajednice makrofaune izvora rijeke Ljute. U sklopu ovog istraživanja vodotoka Ljute u Konavlima uzimani su uzorci makrozoobentosa i analiziran je kemizam izvorišnog područja rijeke Ljute. Od statističkih metoda za analizu djelovanja okolišnih faktora na zajednicu makrozoobentosa korištene su Kruskal‐Wallis ANOVA i kanonička korespondencijska analiza. Dobiveni rezultati su pokazali kako je brojnost odraslih jedinki roda Elmis podjednaka tokom istraživanog razdoblja. Brojnost jedinki roda Baetis i Protonemura je najviša u proljeće i ljeto, dok je brojnost jedinki roda Gammarus, Agapetus i ličinki roda Elmis bila najveća ljeti. Okolišni faktori koji su imali najizražajnije djelovanje na zajednicu makrozoobentosa su pH, protok, koncentracija amonijaka, temperatura i provodljivost. Uporabom saprobnog indeksa sukladno Okvirnoj direktivi o vodama utvrđeno je da je izvor rijeke Ljute vodotok dobrog ekološkog stanja.The aim of the research was to determine the composition and seasonal dynamics of the macroinvertebrates in the spring of the river Ljuta. Samples of macroinvertebrates were taken and the chemism of the spring area was analyzed. For statistical analysis of the effects of environmental factors on the macroinvertebrate community, Kruskal‐Wallis ANOVA and Canonical correspondence analysis were used. The results showed that the number of adult specimens of the genus Elmis was constant during the study period. The number of specimens of the genus Baetis and Protonemura was highest during spring and summer, while the number of specimens of the genus Gammarus, Agapetus and larvae of Elmis was highest during summer. Environmental factors that have had the most expressive effect on the macroinvertebrate community were pH, discharge, ammonia concentration, temperature and conductivity. Using saprobic index according to the Water Framework Directive has been established that spring of river Ljuta is watercourse with good ecological status