Publication details
Vodní brouci jako zrcadlo našemu hospodaření s vodou
| Title in English | Water beetles as a mirror of our watermanagement |
|---|---|
| Authors | |
| Year of publication | 2018 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Vodní hospodářství |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Keywords | Coleoptera; nature conservation; endangered biotopes; biodiversity |
| Description | Aquatic beetles are an important part of biota in running and standing waters in the Czech Republic. However, many species are affected by uniformed management decisions and high anthropogenic pressures including fish farming, large-scale ameliorations, morphological degradation of streams and pollution. Most endangered aquatic habitats in the Czech Republic include large rivers and oligotrophic ponds and pools. On the other hand, some threatened beetle species have found new suitable habitats at post-industrial sites and reappeared after meaningful habitat restoration. Fundamental change in our attitude toward wetland habitats is required to maintain the standing biodiversity of aquatic beetles and other biota. Suitable management can be relatively cheap and easy, such as creation and protection of small, unmanaged water bodies including spontaneously created ones, maintenance of proper restoration practices, and avoidance of new large-scale amelioration and large dam projects. Other measures, especially the decrease of nutrient inputs to aquatic ecosystems, will require cooperation across many stakeholder groups. Aquatic beetles serve as bioindicators of natural and near-natural conditions in that process. |