Abstract
UDK: 574.5(282.249 Bunica)
 Research into the benthic diatoms in the Bunica River was performed during the period from 5th May 2013 to 9th January 2014 on three different sites, from the headwaters to the mouth. The Bunica River is located in the south-eastern part of the Mostar valley, in the south of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The aim of this research was to test the use of benthic diatoms as indicators and the use of diatom indices as a tool for estimating water quality in an example of a small karstic river. For that purpose, diatom indices were calculated using OMNIDIA GB 5.3 software. This was the first testing of diatom indices for a small karstic river. Diatom indices showed different results and huge variations between sites on the Bunica River. According to the results, the indices in the OMNIDIA software are not applicable for karstic rivers in Bosnia and Herzegovina and they must be modified for this purpose. This paper can be the first step towards calibration indices for karstic region. Also, it can be useful for the development of biomonitoring tool for karstic rivers in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Highlights
Diatoms are a good environmental indicator and are often the main component of phytobenthos and phytoplankton in surface water bodies, representing an important element in aquatic ecosystems and one of the most important groups of algae for monitoring activities (KELLY et al, 1998)
In this paper the assessment of water quality in the Bunica River was based on diatom indices where the highest percentage of the diatom taxa were selected and incorporated into the OMNIDIA database
The results showed differences in values and indicated more variations between sites on the Bunica River
Summary
The Bunica River is a short, only 5.8 km long, karstic river. It flows in the south of Bosnia and Herzegovina and belongs to the Neretva river basin. MATERIALS AND METHODS - Materijal i Metode Samples were collected from the three sites in different seasons (spring, summer, autumn and winter) in the small karstic Bunica River. Diatoms were collected using the standard procedure of scraping materials from the surface of rocks (EN 13946, 2003). Indices were calculated using OMNIDIA GB 5.3 software (LECOINTE et al, 1993). The diatom taxa counts were entered into the diatom database and indices calculation tool. All values of indices in OMNIDIA software are ranged from 1 to 20 and show five different ecological statuses (Tab. 1). The software shows ecological characteristics of species: life form, pH values, salinity, dissolved nitrogen, necessary for oxygen, saprobity, trophicity and other indicators. 1. Ranges of the diatom indices and ecological status (ELORANTA & SOININEN, 2002).
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