The relationship between alien crustaceans and pollution in Croatian large rivers: implications for biological monitoring

Kralj, Tomislav; Ćuk, Renata; Valić, Damir; Schultz, Stewart; Žganec, Krešimir (2022) The relationship between alien crustaceans and pollution in Croatian large rivers: implications for biological monitoring. Hydrobiologia, 849 . pp. 3315-3334. ISSN 0018-8158

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Abstract

Peracarid crustaceans contribute to the homogenization of macroinvertebrate communities as one of the most important group of aquatic invaders. This study investigated the relationship between alien peracarids and physical and chemical parameters indicative of nutrient and organic pollution, and their contribution to biocontamination of macroinvertebrate assemblages. The impact of alien macroinvertebrates, particularly alien peracarids, on selected biological metrics was examined. Sampling was conducted twice (2015 and 2016/2017) at 46 sites on four major rivers (Danube, Sava, Drava, Mura), accompanied with eight measurements of physical and chemical parameters. Invasive peracarids showed predominantly negative correlations with nutrient pollution, the strongest negative correlations with ammonia, nitrites and orthophosphates. Biocontamination of macroinvertebrate assemblages, calculated as family-level Site-specific Biocontamination Index, was mostly high and severe, whilst the abundance of alien Peracarida mainly determined the biocontamination class. Sites with higher densities of alien Peracarida had lower organic and nutrient pollution and higher biological metrics than sites with lower densities. Biological metrics showed a positive correlation with alien Peracarida densities, whilst their exclusion or exclusion of all alien macroinvertebrates species affected biological metric values. Invasive peracarids can be used as indicators of nutrient and organic pollution and should be included in the calculation of biological metrics for assessing ecological status.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	This version of the article has been accepted for publication, after peer review and is subject to Springer Nature’s AM terms of use, but is not the Version of Record and does not reflect post-acceptance improvements, or any corrections. The Version of Record is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-022-04936-3
Uncontrolled Keywords:	alien Peracarida; biocontamination; macroinvertebrate assemblages; nutrient and organic pollution
Subjects:	NATURAL SCIENCES > Biology NATURAL SCIENCES > Biology > Ecology
Divisions:	Division for Marine and Enviromental Research
Depositing User:	Tomislav Kralj
Date Deposited:	02 Feb 2024 10:53
URI:	http://fulir.irb.hr/id/eprint/8463
DOI:	10.1007/s10750-022-04936-3

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