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

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

Ecological patterns of Odonata assemblages in karst springs in central Montenegro

“…Similar differences in classification of the Dynaric karst springs based on the faunistical and environmental factors affecting the individual springs were pointed out by Płóciennik et al (2016) and Gligorović et al (2016).…”

“…This can be explained by the larger surface area and the standing water body nature of these springs which is primarily induced by the spatial factor, i.e., the location of these water bodies within the lake. Studies on other taxa, such as aquatic Heteroptera (Gligorović et al, 2016) and aquatic gastropods (Pešić and Glöer, 2013) confirm that sublacustrine springs contain the most diverse assemblages. Similarly, limnocrene springs showed considerably higher Odonata diversity when compared to rheocrenes, indicating the importance of lentic habitats in the study area for maintaining the regional biodiversity of Odonata spring populations.…”

“…The research on karstic springs proves that Odonata communities separated on the basis of faunistic similarity are much better defined and more dissimilar than springs, according, respectively, to their habitat and landscape characters. Faunistic dissimilarity between springs, even on a small spatial scale, was indicated for some groups such as chironomids (Płóciennik et al, 2016) and water bugs (Gligorović et al, 2016).…”

Checklist of Heteroptera of Montenegro

“…These specimens were identified by Czech-German hemipterist Franz X. Fieber and they turned out to be two species new to science -Pachypterna fieberi Fieber, 1858 andHalticus puncticollis Fieber, 1870. First large-scale studies of Heteroptera in Montenegro were performed and published by Friedrich . He personally collected most of the material at the following localities: Ulcinj, Rijeka NOTONECTINAE Latreille, 1802 Notonecta glauca glauca Linnaeus, 1758 ; ; ; Gligorović et al (2010Gligorović et al ( , 2016.…”

“…Notonecta maculata Fabricius, 1794 Gligorović et al (2016). Poisson, 1926Gligorović et al (2016. PLEIDAE Fieber, 1851 Plea minutissima minutissima Leach, 1817 Gligorović et al (2016).…”