Bohlen, J.1, V. Šlechtová1, R. Šanda2,3, L. Kalous1,4, J. Freyhof5, J. Vukic6, D. Mrdak7
In
this paper, we report on the distribution, habitat, population structure and
conservation needs of Cobitis ohridana
and Barbatula zetensis in the basin
of the River Morača in Montenegro. Our data show both species to be mainly
distributed in the lower stretch of the main river and some tributaries in lowland
habitats. Cobitis ohridana preferred
more shallow water with higher abundance of filamentous algae, while Barbatula zetensis was more numerous in
slightly deeper water with more stones as bottom substrate. Slight differences
in the habitat preference were observed also between juveniles and adults in
both species. Although both species are abundant in suited habitat, they have a
small distribution area in the Morača basin due to the natural rarity of
the habitat. According to our data, they are not endangered.
Key words: Balitoridae,
Cobitidae, Mediterranean, conservation, habitat preferences, autecology
1
Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech
Republic, 277 21 Libĕchov, Czech Republic, bohlen@iapg.cas.cz; 2 Charles
University, Faculty of Science, Department of Zoology, Viničná 7, 128 44
Prague, Czech Republic; 3 Czech National Museum, Department of
Zoology, Václavské náměstí 68, 115 79 Prague, Czech Republic; 4
Czech University of Agriculture in Prague, Department of Zoology and Fisheries,
165
21 Prague, Czech Republic; 5 Leibniz Institute of
Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Department Biology and Ecology of
Fishes, Müggelseedamm 310, 12587
Berlin, Germany; 6 Charles University, Faculty of Science, Department
of Hydrobiology, Viničná 7, 128 44 Prague, Czech Republic; 7
Belgrade University, Department of Zoology, Studentski trg 3, 11000 Belgrade, Yugoslavia