The intermittent rivers of south montenegro: Ecology and biomonitoring

Abstract

Intermittent rivers (IRs), rivers that periodically cease to flow, are common in the southern part of Montenegro and form a high proportion of the river networks in the Mediterranean and sub-Mediterranean parts of the country. IRs comprise of lentic, lotic, and dry patches that support rich aquatic, semiaquatic, and terrestrial communities that are largely neglected by ongoing biomonitoring programs. In this chapter, we present the recent research on the communities that inhabit the intermittent rivers of South Montenegro, with a focus on aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates and plants. For each group, we outline the characteristic communities found in the IRs. Future research should focus on including IRs in ongoing monitoring programs ensuring that their status assessment encompasses both their flowing and dry phases and their aquatic and terrestrial biotas.