THE IMPACT OF ANTHROPOGENIC ACTIVITIES ON THE STRUCTURE OF ICHTHYOFAUNA IN THE UPPER COURSE OF THE NERETVA RIVER
Клучни зборови:
ichthyofauna; river regulation; endemic species; non-native fishes.Апстракт
The Neretva River is one of the most important centers of freshwater fish endemism in Europe, supporting numerous autochthonous and endemic species adapted to cold, fast-flowing habitats. This study examines long-term changes in the ichthyofauna of the upper Neretva River by combining historical records with field data collected between 2011 and 2023, with particular emphasis on native and endemic populations and the impacts of non-native species. Historical data indicate that the upper Neretva was originally dominated by salmonid assemblages, while contemporary results show that headwater sections still retain near-natural, salmonid-dominated communities. In contrast, downstream transitional sections exhibit increasing contributions of allochthonous species and declining abundances of endemic taxa. The most pronounced changes were observed in hydroaccumulations, especially Jablanica Lake, where river impoundment caused a shift from lotic, salmonid-dominated assemblages to lentic communities dominated by non-native, eurythermal species.Overall, dam construction and flow regulation are identified as the main drivers of ichthyofaunal change, promoting biotic homogenization and increasing pressure on endemic species. Conservation efforts should prioritize the protection of remaining free-flowing river sections and the prevention of further species introductions.
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