Since July 2020, systematic field and laboratory research of macrozoobenthos has been carried out as part of the activities of the project Monitoring of water, groundwater, recent sedimentation, habitats and fauna – GROUP 1: Monitoring of ecological status of surface waters and monitoring of additional biological indicators. Researchers from the Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb and the Department of Biology, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University in Osijek, with the cooperation of the staff of JUPP Kopački rit and Hrvatske vode, are participating in the field and laboratory work.
Field work is carried out at 15 sites in the wider area of the Kopački rit Nature Park, four times a year. Given the composition and structure of the macroinvertebrate community, which are important indicators of water quality and changes in the state of the environment, the diversity characteristic of wetland habitats and canal freshwater systems in which macrophytic vegetation develops has been determined.
The presence of different groups of macroinvertebrates such as Oligochaeta, Hirudinomorpha, Mollusca and Crustacea, and a number of different insect species have been reported. During the overall research period, important data will be collected that will contribute to a better understanding and protection of this hydrobiological dynamic area, as a unique aquatic oasis of biodiversity.
