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Volume 8
Journal of Ecosystem & Ecography
ISSN: 2157-7625
Ecology 2018
March 19-20, 2018
March 19-20, 2018 | Berlin, Germany
World Conference on Ecology
Challenges in intermittent river assessment: Prospects for an unexpected obscure animal group
(Acari: Hydrachnidia)
Ivana Pozojevic
1
, Vladimir Pesic
2
, Stubbington Rachel
3
, Sanja Gottstein
1
, Milisa Marko
1
and
Datry Thibault
4
1
University of Zagreb, Croatia
2
University of Montenegro, Montenegro
3
Nottingham Trent University, UK
4
Centre de Lyon-Villeurbanne - Irstea, France
W
ater mites have complex life cycles, synchronizing five life stages according to host, prey and habitat availability and in
intermittent rivers (IRs), to dry periods as well. Multiple connections of water mites to the environment make them
sensitive to any changes and consequently, good bioindicators. Their dynamics and potential in intermittent river bioassessment
is discussed. Nine study sites from seven karst rivers, where intermittency naturally occurs, were analyzed in order to assess
water mite occurrence along several hydrological metric gradients. The sites ranged from perennial or rarely ceasing flow to
regularly ceasing flow or extremely intermittent categories. Water quality indices that include water mites (PTH and PTHfam
index, Plecoptera, Trichoptera, Hydrachnidia) were tested and compared with the EPT index (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and
Trichoptera) in order to test their applicability in intermittent river monitoring. Water mites positively associated with unstable
hydrological conditions (drying events with greater unpredictability) showed morphological features (swimming setae) typical
for lentic habitats. On the other hand, crawling mites (inhabiting both lentic and lotic hydrosystems) were found to positively
correlate with higher values of both the PTH and EPT indices (higher quality classes). The PTH and PTHfam indices were
(significantly) positively correlated with the EPT, showing slightly higher quality values (classes) in IRs when compared to the
values of the EPT index. Water mites can thus be considered as indicators that bridge the gap IR bioasssesment caused by insect
taxa sensitive to flow intermittency and pristine, naturally intermittent rivers.
Recent Publications
1. Pozojevic, Ivana; Brigic, Andreja; Gottstein, Sanja. Spatial distribution and
seasonal changes of water mite assemblages (hyrachnidia) in dinaric karst
springs // 10 Symposium for European freshwater sciences 2017 abstract
book.
2. Pozojevic, Ivana; Pesic, Vladimir; Gottstein, Sanja. Surviving the dry phase:
Water mite (Acari: Hydrachnidia) adaptations to flow intermittency in karst
rivers // The Book of Abstracts 7th International Symposium of Ecologists of
Montenegro-ISEM7
3. Vuckovic, Natalija; Vilenica, Marina; Kralj, Tomislav; Pozojevic, Ivana;
Milisa, Marko; Kerovec, Mladen; Ternjej, Ivančica; Mihaljevic, Zlatko. Littoral
macroinvertebrate communities in reservoirs of the Dinaric karst of Croatia // 10th Symposium for European Freshwater
Sciences.
4. Pozojevic, Ivana; Lajtner, Jasna; Rubinic, Josip; Barac, Ivica; Gottstein, Sanja. Key zoobenthos inhabitants as indicators
of hydrological dynamics in karst springs // Book of abstracts and programme. 2nd Central European Symposium for
Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Research.
5. Pozojevic, Ivana; Gottstein, Sanja; Mihaljevic, Zlatko. Strategije prezivljavanja vodengrinja (Acari: Hydrachnidia) u
rijekama Hrvatske koje presusuju // Knjiga sazetaka (Simpozij o biologiji slatkih voda, USB)
Biography
Ivana Pozojevic is a PhD student at the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science at the University of Zagreb, Croatia. Her research focuses on the community
ecology of springs, intermittent rivers and freshwater organisms, and she is especially interested in water mites (Hydrachnidia).
ivanapozojevic@yahoo.comIvana Pozojevic et al., J Ecosyst Ecography 2018, Volume 8
DOI: 10.4172/2157-7625-C1-032
Figure 1:
Graphical abstract
of conference paper