How Important are Small Lotic Habitats of the Western Balkans for Local Mayflies?

Abstract

Mayflies are amphibious insects which represent an important link in food and energy transfer from aquatic to terrestrial habitats. They constitute a large proportion of the aquatic ecosystems' biomass. Although our knowledge about mayfly (bio)diversity in the Balkan Peninsula is still far from complete, more extensive systematic studies have been conducted within the last decade. In this chapter we explore development of mayfly research in the area of the Western Balkans, mayfly species richness in various small lotic habitats, including springs, streams and rivers, and determine the importance of such habitats for conservation of local mayflies. We discuss the value of mayflies as bioindicators of freshwater ecosystems' health, as well as the influences of various anthropogenic activities on mayfly assemblages in small lotic habitats of the Western Balkans. Moreover, we present current gaps in research and we give recommendations for future directions of mayfly research in the area of the Western Balkans.

Use of the Aquatic Mayfly (Insecta: Ephemeroptera) as Environmental Bio-Indicator in Jordan

“…Therefore, the presence or absence of mayfly species can provide important clues about the environmental health status and of the aquatic system. This enables their use as bio-indicators of the environmental conditions and helps in water quality assessments [2][3][4]. Mayfly nymphs are strongly influenced by several environmental conditions, for example, Vilenica et al [4] noted that the nymphal growth, embryonic development, and survival rate were affected by water temperature.…”

“…This enables their use as bio-indicators of the environmental conditions and helps in water quality assessments [2][3][4]. Mayfly nymphs are strongly influenced by several environmental conditions, for example, Vilenica et al [4] noted that the nymphal growth, embryonic development, and survival rate were affected by water temperature. Also other studies showed that mayflies are negatively associated with increasing conductivity and TDS of the aquatic system [5][6][7].…”