Open AccessCOMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF EPILITHIC DIATOM ASSEMBLAGES OF SPRINGS AND STREAMS IN THE KONJUH MOUNTAIN (BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA)
Author(s) -
Jasmina Kamberović,
A. Kišić,
Dubravka Hafner,
An elka Plenković-Moraj
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
radovi šumarskog fakulteta univerziteta u sarajevu
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2490-3183
pISSN - 1512-5769
DOI - 10.54652/rsf.2016.v46.i2.73
Subject(s) - diatom , habitat , streams , community structure , spring (device) , ecology , indicator species , biodiversity , geography , hydrobiology , environmental science , biology , aquatic environment , mechanical engineering , computer network , computer science , engineering
UDK: 574.587:582.26/.27(234.422 Konjuh)
Springs are recognized as hotspots for freshwater biodiversity conservation. The study objective was to analyze and compare the biodiversity of epilithic diatom communities of spring and stream habitats in the Konjuh Mountain (B&H). The measuring of basic water physical and chemical parameters and diatom sampling were carried out during summer and autumn period in 2013.
Diatom assemblages were collected from 10 locations: (i) five locations were placed in small mountain springs that flow into headwater streams, where another 5 localities were placed. Diatoms were collected by scrubbing the rocks using standard methodology. Relative diatom cell abundances were established by counting up to 400 frustules on permanent slides prepared in Naphrax.
Spring habitats were more diverse in diatoms (H' loge =1.67 average) in comparison with headwater stream habitats (H' loge=1.15 average), which was confirmed by t-test (t=2.79; p=0.013). The similarities of community structure from different habitats were investigated by non-metric multidimensional scaling, on the Bray-Curtis similarity matrix in software package Primer 6.
Using Permutational Manova test, a different diatom composition was proved between spring and stream communities (Pseudo F=2.66, p=0.012), while the seasonal difference in the community structure was not confirmed (F=0.586, p=0.876). The most abundant and frequent species in spring habitats were: Achnanthidium minutissimum (Kützing) Czarnecki, Cocconeis pseudolineata (Geitler) Lange-Bertalot, Gomphonema pumilum var. elegans E.Reichardt & Lange-Bertalot, Meridion circulare (Greville) C.Agardh and Planothidium lanceolatum (Brébisson ex Kützing) Lange-Bertalot. The most frequent and abundant species in headwater stream habitats were: Achnanthidium minutissimum (Kützing) Czarnecki, Cocconeis placentula var. euglypta (Ehrenberg) Grunow, Cocconeis placentula var. lineata (Ehrenberg) van Heurck and Cymbella tridentina Lange-Bertalot, M.Cantonati & A.Scalfi.
In comparison with streams habitats, the springs are heterogeneous with specific diatom composition due to more stable water flow. Although the springs cover very small areas, the diversity of species that inhabit them must not be neglected in planning the use of these natural resources.