The Influence of Some Environmental Variables on Diversity of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera Assemblages - Vişeu Basin Case Study

The study analyses the influence of certain biotope parameters, such as hydromorphological characteristics, channel modification, bank vegetation and riverine land use, on the diversity of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) larvae communities, in the case of the Vişeu Basin.

The results show that river bed embankments, mineral substrate exploitation, and forest exploitation of the hillsides of the river basin cause a loss in diversity of EPT communities. Based on the principle that simplification of the structure of these communities has a negative impact on the self-regulating capacity of the lotic system, several steps are necessary in order to preserve the diversity of EPT communities in the types of Carpathian rivers analysed: preserving the natural morphodynamics of the river bed, limiting substrate exploitation, avoiding changes in the substrate structure due to the extraction of boulders and large cobbles from the riverbed and preserving riparian tree vegetation on the river banks.