Influence of Experimental Eutrophication on Macrozoobenthos in Tufa-Depositing System of Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia

Phosphorus emerged as the critical limiting nutrient for periphyton growth in Plitvice Lakes National Park, significantly boosting chlorophyll a levels on substrates enriched with phosphorus or combined nitrogen-phosphorus treatments. The study, employing nutrient-diffusing substrates in situ, revealed that lower tufa deposition rates further amplified periphyton development, while macrophytes mitigated these effects, likely through flow modulation and root respiration. Although eutrophication did not directly alter tufa deposition, it influenced macrozoobenthos abundance seasonally, with gazers and detritivores dominating in phosphorus-enriched environments. Seasonal variations overshadowed the impacts of nutrient treatments on both autotrophic and heterotrophic communities, underscoring the system's sensitivity to environmental shifts.

Vurnek, M., & Matoničkin Kepčija, R. (2025). Influence of Experimental Eutrophication on Macrozoobenthos in Tufa-Depositing System of Plitvice Lakes National Park, Croatia. Limnological Review, 25(2), 14. https://doi.org/10.3390/limnolrev25020014