Anđelka Plenković-Moraj

Travertines and calcareous tufa deposits: an insight into diagenesis

Travertines and calcareous tufa are porous deposits formed by interactions between ambient precipitation of calcium carbonate and resident organisms under different temperature regimes. The distinctions between travertine as thermal spring deposits and calcareous tufa (Kalktuff) as deposits in the springs and rivers at ambient temperatures are fluid. Both represent end points in bio- and physico-chemical calcification processes across a broad gradient of temperature, mineral composition and ion saturation levels. Ecological preferences of micro- and macroorganisms in travertine depositional systems result in the re-distribution of water flow, modification of the landscape and its ecology. The resulting sedimentary structures include new environmental settings with different and diversified biota. They also include different microenvironments of diagenesis with different timings of the processes involved. Conditions in modern ambient temperature travertines of the Plitvice system of lakes and waterfalls are compared with the similar, ancient system of Rocchetta a Volturno, in the central Apennines. Diagenetic alterations are described and illustrated starting with biologically identified primary deposits.

Observations on the diatom Navicula hedinii Hustedt (Bacillariophyceae) and its transfer to a new genus Envekadea Van de Vijver et al. gen. nov.

The population of an unknown naviculoid diatom from Lake Vrana in Croatia was identified as Navicula hedinii, a species described in 1922 from a small lake in eastern Turkestan (China). This species has some similarities with Navicula pseudocrassirostris, a marine species found in European coastal waters. Based on the ultrastructure of the two species, they can no longer be included within the taxonomical concept of Navicula sensu stricto. Following a comparative morphological analysis of both species with genera bearing similar characters (Adlafia, Veigaludwigia, Kobayasiella, Cavinula, Stenoneis, Climaconeis, Berkeleya, Sellaphora, Cosmioneis), a new genus, Envekadea is proposed for the two species. The new genus is characterized by a sigmoid raphe course with golfclub-like terminal fissures deflected in opposite directions, the areolae covered by external porous hymenes and the presence of one chloroplast, H-shaped in valve view.

Defining centric diatoms of most relevant phytoplankton functional groups in deep karst lakes

Phytoplankton in karst lakes is characterized by co-occurrence of chrysophytes (Chrysophyceae), dinoflagellates (Dinophyceae), and diatoms (Bacillariophyta) as the most diverse and abundant group. Using Reynolds functional approach in ecological phytoplankton investigations makes karstic lakes comparable and facilitates interpretation of their responses to changing environmental conditions. Accurate taxonomic identification to species level, based on precise resolution of specific characteristics by electron microscopy, is essential in order to correctly associate species into coda. This paper defines the most abundant centric diatoms and coexisting species in the phytoplankton of karst lakes in Croatia as a contribution to better description of phytoplankton functional groups dominated by centric diatoms. Several representatives for diatom-based Reynolds functional groups of four lakes in Croatia were described in this paper: Pantocsekiella costei and Stephanocostis chantaica for group A, Pantocsekiella ocellata and Cyclotella distinguenda for group B, and Stephanodiscus neoastraea for group C, together with their ecological preferences which clearly correspond to pertaining functional classification. Selected and coexisting functional groups define natural, oligo- to mesotrophic karst deep lake systems.

Overflow effect on the dynamics of the rotifer community in cascade lake systems

Many recent studies have been concerned with rotifer life cycles in relation to changes of abiotic environmental conditions (PAULI 1990), predatory pressure (CHRISTOFFERSEN et al. 1993, DuMONT et al. 1994), competition (GILBERT 1985, SARMA et al. 1996) and availability of food (HESSEN 1992, RoTHHAUPT 1995). In karstic standing waters, especially in cascade hydrosystems, these ecological interactions are very complex and insufficiently understood.

Do benthic diatom assemblages reflect abiotic typology: a case study of Croatian streams and rivers

Abstract Benthic diatoms are widely used in Europe and worldwide to access ecological status of running waters. One of key goals of Water Framework Directive is to classify rivers and streams using biological quality elements and type specific reference conditions. According to system B which incorporates additional abiotic descriptors, there are 24 water types in Croatia. For biological analyses 92 rivers and streams with 140 sampling points were chosen and sampled for benthic diatoms and water chemistry simultaneously. Self organizing map (SOM) analysis was used to define biotypes from species composition and abundance of benthic diatoms. Grouping of samples in SOM resulted in 10 distinctive groups. Based on their geographical position and site characteristics, groups represent sites with similar properties (as waterbed, catchment size, altitude, size of stream) belonging to different ecoregions in Croatia. Analysis of variance revealed statistically significant differences (p<0.05) among SOM groups concerning ammonia, nitrates and total phosphorus. Indicator species analysis (IndVal) singled out species that were significantly characteristic (p<0.05) for SOM and abiotic types. Compared to abiotic groups, in which 7 out of 24 have no indicator species, all SOM groups have one or several characteristic diatom species, thus indicating diatom assemblages as valuable site descriptors. Canonical analysis of principal coordinates analysis also indicated that SOM grouping of samples is statistically reliable. Grouping of similar sites, although placed into different abiotic types, makes SOM groups with its corresponding representative species an easy tool for water quality assessment and description of reference assemblage.

Erratum to: Morpho-functional classifications of phytoplankton assemblages of two deep karstic lakes

Due to an unfortunate turn of events, the first-and surnames of all authors were transposed in the original publication. The correct representation of the authors and their affiliations are listed above and below and should be treated as definitive by the reader.