Short Overview on the Benthic Macroinvertebrate Fauna of the Danube River

Abstract

This article gives a rough overview on the occurrence and distribution of selected benthic invertebrates along the Danube River. The description of the benthic community within typological units of the Danube is based on the results from the Joint Danube Surveys. Species richness and abundance illustrate the structure and dominant groups of the benthic community. Furthermore the role of environmental impacts like hydromorphological changes, pollution, navigation as well as neozoa is shortly addressed and highlighted. In this context a conceptual framework of the multi-stressor complex of large rivers is introduced and discussed. Finally the biodiversity losses of selected species are reflected on a European scale.