Abstract
44 stonefly species were recorded in the Pol'ana mountains (Central Slovakia). A typical representative of the west-east fauna, Rhabdiopteryx navicula, was found. The Hučava stream basin represents the southern border of the montane and submontane distribution of stonefly species, which are bound to the river basins in high and central mountain regions of the West Carpathians. Six characteristic associations of stoneflies were recorded. Shredders predominated in the upper, and scrapers and collectors in the lower section of the Hučava stream. Detritivores were more abundant in the gravel-to-sandy mesohabitat, whereas predators and scrapers prevailed in rocky mesohabitat. Total annual production was low — 340.4 g · m −2 (dry weight), though being three-times higher in the rocky mesohabitat than in the gravel-to-sandy mesohabitat. The annual P/B ratio of stoneflies reached 3.3. Clear-cutting and operation of small hydropower stations were found to have a significant impact on the taxocoenoses of stoneflies.
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