Environmental factors affecting mayfly assemblages in tufa-depositing habitats of the Dinaric Karst

Mayfly assemblages in Plitvice Lakes National Park's tufa-depositing habitats are strongly influenced by water temperature, pH, and ammonium concentration, with distinct species groupings based on habitat type. The study, conducted monthly over a year (2007–2008), identified 14 mayfly species (20 taxa) across springs, streams, mountainous rivers, and tufa barriers. It found that mountainous streams were the most favorable habitats, while springs were the least suitable. This research highlights the sensitivity of mayflies to physico-chemical water properties, underscoring their potential as environmental indicators in these unique karst ecosystems.

Vilenica, M., Mičetić Stanković, V., Sartori, M., Kučinić, M., & Mihaljević, Z. (2017). Environmental factors affecting mayfly assemblages in tufa-depositing habitats of the Dinaric Karst. Knowledge & Management of Aquatic Ecosystems, (418), 14. https://doi.org/10.1051/kmae/2017005