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Paranais litoralis, a euryhaline aquatic oligochaete, was recently recorded in the middle stretch of the Danube River basin. This study provides more details about population abundance and habitat preferences of the species, inhabiting a lowland stretch of the Váh River in Slovakia. For the first time, few specimens were identified at one sampling site in September 2015, whereas in May 2016 the species was found at three sampling sites, with abundance ranging from 86 to 614 individuals per square meter. Regarding its habitat distribution, P. litoralis prefers sandy substrata but occurs also on muddy and stony substrata. The possible origin of this isolated population is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temporal and spatial distribution patterns of lotic larval stoneflies assemblages were investigated in Demänovka river basin (West Carpathians). Qualitative and quantitative samples were performed seasonally from October 1995 to August 1997 in 13 sampling sites. The most numerous families were represented Leuctra, Protonemoura and Isoperla. Analysis of functional feeding group distribution patterns clearly showed dominance of shredders in higher reaches, and collector gatherers and predators in the middle and lower reaches. Four stoneflies species assemblages were distinguished based on PCA analysis. Using permutation test CCA analysis of 15 environmental factors we selected 3 most important, according to the stones ratio of the stream, altitude and erosion index. Taxa Brachyptera, Capnia and Protonemura nimborum are characteristic for silicate streams, while taxa Leuctra braueri and Leuctra prima for carbonate torrents. The stonefly metrics expressed as original-environmental and human impacts. High diversity values were related to the middle reaches. The significantly highest values of saprobic index were found in the lower reaches of the Demänovka stream. The significantly highest values of erosion index were found in the lower reaches of the Priečne stream (ski slopes). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]