Macroalgae of the Krka River waterfalls
The tufa waterfalls of the Krka River are a dynamic freshwater ecosystem, in which the tufa-building process is closely tied to specific macroscopic conglomerates of algae
During spring and autumn 2024, a comprehensive survey of the flora and macroalgae vegetation was conducted at seven waterfalls: Bilušića buk, Brljan, Manojlovac, Rošnjak, Miljacka, Roški slap and Skradinski buk. Field work included in situ documentation and sampling of macroscopic algae and cyanobacteria communities, with taxon determination conducted in the laboratory. Samples were determined to the species level, or the lowest possible taxonomic level. At each location, the environmental parameters were also recorded, including water flow, light availability, type of substrate, and intensity of carbonate deposition. A total of 81 macroalgae taxa were determined, dominated by the cyanobacteria with 37 taxa (45% of all recorded taxa), then Chlorophyta with 28 taxa (35%), Rhodophyta with 8 taxa (10%), Xanthophyta with 5 taxa (7%), Chrysophyta with 2 taxa (2%) and one taxon of Phaeophyta (Heribaudiella fluviatilis) (1%).
The macroalgae community is divided into 14 different types, including the dominant filamentous algae (Cladophora glomerata, Chara spp., Vaucheria spp., Zygnemataceae communities), tufa-building calcifying algae (such as Gongrosira spp., Oocardium incrustatum), cyanobacteria crusts (such as Nostoc spp., Oscillatoriales), filamentous red algae (e.g., Batrachospermum spp., Lemanea spp., Bangia atropurpurea), associations of crusty red and brown freshwater algae (Hildenbrandia–Heribaudiella), cold water algae (Hydrurus foetidus), terrestrial algae (Trentepohlia aurea) and taxa tolerant of higher salinity and brackish water (Polysiphonia subtilissima).
Macroscopic flora of algae and cyanobacteria were strongly affected by the hydrology and microhabitat conditions, with pronounced zonation associated with water flow dynamics and light availability. A historical comparison confirmed the presence of 15 species recorded by Hansgirg in 1890, and 24 species recorded by Golubić in 1957, indicating the long-term stability of key macroalgae communities, and increased diversity. The results highlight the importance of macroalgae and cyanobacteria in biological and geomorphological processes involved in tufa-building.
Research
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