Assessment of Benthic Free-Living Nematode Assemblages Diversity in Kune – Vain Wetland (Adriatic Coast, Albania)

Abstract

This work presents preliminary data on benthic free-living nematode assemblages from Kune-Vain Wetland Complex, situated in the northern part of the Adriatic coast in Albania. The study was carried out during a joint ecological approach, to collect chemical-physical and biological data of the wetland and evaluate the hydrological intervention in improving the environmental situation and increase resilience to climate change. The sampling was conducted bimonthly from July 2018 – July 2019, in three main water body component of Kune-Vain wetland, Ceka, Zaje and Merxhani. Nematode assemblages were analyzed in term of composition and structure, determining taxonomic composition up to genus level and biological traits. Nematodes were the dominant component of meiobenthos in all three water bodies, comprising 98-100%. Their taxonomic composition reflected the chemical features of transitional habitat dominated by brackish genera. Genera composition revealed different diversity patterns among water bodies. The most dominant genera were Sabatieria and Terschellingia, both deposit feeders and characteristic of bad ecological quality status.

Keywords

• Adriatic coast
• Wetland
• Meiobenthos
• Nematode assemblage diversity
• Biological traits

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