<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The composition of water bug communities from 32 springs located in the central part of Montenegro was investigated. Twenty five species were identified, including 13 reported as new to Montenegro. The most common species were <italic>Hydrometra stagnorum</italic> and <italic>Velia</italic> sp. (Gerromorpha). Our study in the central part of Montenegro revealed that environmental and faunistic classification of karstic springs based on water bug communities may not correspond with each other. According to environmental characteristics, springs were divided into three groups indicating anthropogenic impact on the spring habitats. Water bug communities divided springs into four groups. There are differences in species richness between these four types of water bug assemblages and among the studied spring types. Results of CCA analysis revealed spring size as the main driver of biotic diversity of aquatic bugs in springs. Our study showed that community groups of water bugs specified in the biotic classification of spring habitats are much better defined than assemblages distinguished in the environmental site classification.</p>
</abstract>

The composition of water bug communities from 32 springs located in the central part of Montenegro was investigated. Twenty five species were identified, including 13 reported as new to Montenegro. The most common species were Hydrometra stagnorum and Velia sp. (Gerromorpha). Our study in the central part of Montenegro revealed that environmental and faunistic classification of karstic springs based on water bug communities may not correspond with each other. According to environmental characteristics, springs were divided into three groups indicating anthropogenic impact on the spring habitats. Water bug communities divided springs into four groups. There are differences in species richness between these four types of water bug assemblages and among the studied spring types. Results of CCA analysis revealed spring size as the main driver of biotic diversity of aquatic bugs in springs. Our study showed that community groups of water bugs specified in the biotic classification of spring habitats are much better defined than assemblages distinguished in the environmental site classification.

Ecological patterns of water bug (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) assemblages in karst springs: a case study from central Montenegro

Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences and Mathematics

Oceanological and Hydrobiological Studies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The composition of water bug communities from 32 springs located in the central part of Montenegro was investigated. Twenty five species were identified,...

Ecological patterns of water bug (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) assemblages in karst springs: a case study from central Montenegro

Article Category: Original research paper

Published Online: Dec 12, 2016

Page range: 554 - 563

Received: Mar 24, 2016

Accepted: Apr 29, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ohs-2016-0046

Keywords
water bugs, Montenegro, springs, crenobiology, diversity

© Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdańsk, Poland. All rights reserved.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Ecological patterns of water bug (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) assemblages in karst springs: a case study from central Montenegro

Article Category: Original research paper

Published Online: Dec 12, 2016

Page range: 554 - 563

Received: Mar 24, 2016

Accepted: Apr 29, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ohs-2016-0046

Keywordswater bugs, Montenegro, springs, crenobiology, diversity

© Faculty of Oceanography and Geography, University of Gdańsk, Poland. All rights reserved.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
water bugs, Montenegro, springs, crenobiology, diversity