MACROINVERTEBRATE COMMUNITY OF THE BORAČKO LAKE LITTORAL IN THE ASSESSMENT OF ECOLOGICAL STATUS

Abstract

The benthic invertebrates of freshwater ecosystems are a very heterogeneous group of organisms, and their common characteristic is that they are larger than <0.5 mm. Diverse tolerance of benthic invertebrate taxa, as well as sensitivity to degradation factors, provide their reliable application in determining the ecological status of a lake ecosystem. This paper is based on the analysis of the benthic invertebrates community of Boračko Lake at four research sites (two of them without significant anthropogenic effects and the other two at the bathing sites (beaches) – modified waterbody). For the purposes of this paper, the samples were taken during May and July 2020. Degradation indices (Diversity Index and EPT-S) and Organic Pollution Indicators (Total Taxes, Saprobic Index, BMWP and ASPT Index) were used to assess the ecological status. A high correlation was found between the values of the degradation index (EPT-S and H ') and sediment, as well as between the index of organic pollution (BMWP, UBT) and sediment. The sediment condition can be efficiently analyzed by the values of diversity index, a total number of taxes, BMWP index and EPT-S index applying linear regression analysis. Benthic invertebrates community of the Boračko Lake littoral indicates hydro-morphological changes (HyMo) and therefore it can bus used to assess the ecological status.