Ana Previšić

• PhD
• Professor (Associate) at University of Zagreb

Intermittent rivers are hydrologically extreme freshwater systems that periodically cease to flow. Such habitats occur worldwide, but they are most common in semi-arid regions of the world, such as the Mediterranean region. Trichoptera are frequently used in biomonitoring programmes worldwide. However, their biodiversity and ecological requirements...

Wastewater effluents and global warming affect freshwater ecosystems and impact their crucial biodiversity. Our study aimed at characterizing individual and combined impacts of wastewater effluent and increased water temperature (as one aspect of climate change) on model freshwater communities. We tested the effect of experimental treatments on gen...

Aquatic insects serve as vital inter‐habitat linkages between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, as their life cycle includes both aquatic and terrestrial stages. They facilitate the flow of energy and nutrients and play an important role in the transport of waterborne contaminants to terrestrial environments. This study focused on the under‐inves...

Freshwater biodiversity, ecosystem functions and services are changing at an unprecedented rate due to the impacts of vast number of stressors overlapping in time and space. Our study aimed at characterizing individual and combined impacts of pollution with pharmaceuticals (PhACs) and endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) and increased water temper...

Sewage pollution causes the presence of pharmaceuticals (PhAC) and endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in freshwaters worldwide. Like many other emerging contaminants (ECs), PhACs and EDCs can be bioaccumulated in various aquatic organisms. Emergence of aquatic insects connects aquatic and terrestrial food webs in riparian zones causing transfer...

Aquatic insects are the most species-rich group that inhabit freshwaters. They are connected to water by at least one life stage, usually that of the larvae, and some spend their entire life in freshwater habitats. The majority of aquatic insects’ larvae develop in water; while adults emerge and spend their lives primarily in terrestrial environmen...

Microplastic contamination of freshwater ecosystems has become an increasing environmental concern. To advance the hazard assessment of microplastics, we conducted a microcosm experiment in which we exposed a simplified aquatic ecosystem consisting of moss and caddisflies to microplastics (polyethylene, polystyrene and polypropylene) and pharmaceut...

Environmental fate of emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals and endocrine disrupting compounds at the aquatic terrestrial boundary are largely unexplored. Aquatic insects connect aquatic and terrestrial food webs as their life cycle includes aquatic and terrestrial life stages, thus they represent an important inter-habitat linkage not only...

The widespread use of methylparaben as a preservative has caused increased exposure to natural aquatic systems in recent decades. However, current studies have suggested that exposure to this compound can result in endocrine disrupting effects, raising much concern regarding its environmental impact. In contast, methylparaben has also been found to...

Although intermittent rivers are present in all climate regions, their biodiversity and ecosystem functions were largely overlooked in the past. Recently, considerable effort has been made to improve our understanding of these, however, many data gaps still remain. We conducted a study to improve knowledge of the community patterns and processes in...

In this study we describe Rhyacophila siparantum sp. nov., a new species of the Rhyacophila philopotamoides species group from the Bjeshkët e Nemuna Mountains in Kosovo, based on morphological (male adults) and molecular (sequencing of the barcode region of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI)) characteristics. The new species is morpholog...

The subfamily Drusinae (Trichoptera, Limnephilidae) is represented in Croatia with eight (8) species, including Ecclisopteryx asterix Malicky, 1979 recorded for the first time in Croatian fauna. The species was collected on two occasions: March 10th 2015 and March 6th 2021 in the Šumi Spring, at the Ivanščica Mt. in Hrvatsko Zagorje (North Croatia)...

Simple Summary Freshwater biodiversity is facing a severe crisis due to many different human-caused impacts, such as climate change, pollution, habitat alterations, etc. Aquatic insects are one of the most important bioindicators used in freshwater ecological quality assessment systems, yet knowledge on diversity dynamics of their communities is in...

A wide range of pharmaceuticals and endocrine disrupting compounds enter freshwaters globally. As these contaminants are transported through aquatic food webs, understanding their impacts on both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems remains a major challenge. Here, we provide the first direct evidence of the transfer of pharmaceuticals and endocrine...

Increased metal concentrations in aquatic habitats come as a result of both anthropogenic and natural sources. Emerging aquatic insects that play an indispensable role in these environments, transferring resources and energy to higher trophic levels in both aquatic and terrestrial habitats, may inadvertently also act as biovectors for metals and ot...

The paper provides the results of DNA barcoding based on the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 mitochondrial gene (mtCOI) of 110 Trichoptera specimens collected in 36 springs in the Pannonian-Peripannonian, central mountainous and Mediterranean part of Croatia. We barcoded 70 species from 32 genera and 15 families. The data obtained show interesting f...

The current knowledge on bioaccumulation of emerging contaminants (ECs) in aquatic invertebrates exposed to the realistic environmental concentrations is limited. Even less is known about the effects of chemical pollution exposure on the metabolome of aquatic invertebrates. We conducted an in situ translocation experiment with passive filter-feedin...

The subgenera of Wiedemannia are poorly defined and, as such, most recently described species are not assigned to a subgenus or have been assigned to a subgenus without explanation. In this study we perform a molecular phylogenetic analysis to elucidate relationships within the genus Wiedemannia. We sequenced two mitochondrial (cytochrome oxidase c...

The Plitvice Lakes National Park is a unique area in the world with a great variety of aquatic habitats, including tufa barriers. UNESCO has protected this area since 1979. In this paper, detailed faunistic results of the first research on Trichoptera species conducted from 1997 to 2001 are shown. Sampling was done using both light and emergence tr...

More than half of the global river network is composed of intermittent rivers and ephemeral streams (IRES), which are expanding in response to climate change and increasing water demands. After years of obscurity, the science of IRES has bloomed recently and it is being recognised that IRES support a unique and high biodiversity, provide essential...

Two species of the genus Adicella, A. cremisa Malicky, 1972 and A. balcanica Botosaneanu & Novak,1965, were recorded in the summer period of 2014 which represent the first records of these species in Croatia. The former was collected at two relatively distant sites, the Krapina and the Zrmanja rivers, while the later was collected at the Krupa Rive...

Background Taxonomy offers precise species identification and delimitation and thus provides basic information for biological research, e.g. through assessment of species richness. The importance of molecular taxonomy, i.e., the identification and delimitation of taxa based on molecular markers, has increased in the past decade. Recently developed...

Mayflies are one of the most important orders of freshwater inhabiting insects and they are widely used in ecological studies. Mayfly ecology and distribution in the Mediterranean part of the Western Balkans are insufficiently investigated. Our study encompassed 9 sampling sites along the course of the Cetina River, the longest Mediterrranean river...

Two species, Oecetis furva and Orthotrichia tragetti, are recorded for the first time in Croatia. Moreover, O. tragetti is recorded for the first time in the limno-ecoregion Hungarian Lowlands (ER11). Adult caddisflies were collected from 2010 to 2012 in Kopački rit Nature Park. Sampling was conducted using light traps (15 W UV lamp) that were oper...

A description of the larva of Drusus plicatus Radovanović is given for the first time. The most important diagnostic characters enabling separation from larvae of the other Drusinae from the southeast Europe are listed. Molecular, ecological, and ethological features and distribution patterns of the species are given. Additionally, information on t...

The influences of river regulations on aquatic biota are insufficiently investigated. We assessed the level of ecological disturbance of the mayfly assemblages through the damming and flow alterations at two highly regulated Mediterranean rivers in Croatia: the Cetina River and its tributary, the Ruda. Contrary to our hypotheses, species richness,...

We use mitochondrial (mtCOI) and nuclear (nH3) sequence data to investigate differentiation of Eudiaptomus hadzici, a freshwater copepod endemic to the Western Balkans. E. hadzici has a disjunct distribution and morphological differences were observed at regional scale. In the current study 6 out of 7 known populations are included. We applied seve...

Drusinae (Trichoptera, Limnephilidae) are highland caddisflies inhabiting high-gradient, turbulent running water and spring habitats. They are disjunctly distributed over the Eurasian mountain ranges, and the majority of species is endemic to particular mountain areas. The most diverse of three main groups of the Drusinae, the grazer clade, consist...

In this paper we describe Drusus sharrensis sp. n., from the Sharr Mountains in Kosovo. Males of the new species are morphologically most similar to Drusus krusniki Malicky, 1981, D. kerek Oláh, 2011 and D. juliae Oláh, 2011 but differ mainly in exhibiting (1) a differently shaped spinose area on tergite VIII; (2) intermediate appendages anteriorly...

This paper summarizes the layout, the three work packages (WP) and the preliminary (November 2014) as well as intended outcomes of the Drusinae project funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF).

The Balkan Peninsula is one of the most important European hotspots of freshwater biodiversity. The region is, however, to a large extent insufficiently investigated. Here we present data on distribution of caddisflies in one particularly understudied area, the Republic of Kosovo. Our data include the first records of Adicella altandroconia Botosan...

The caddisfly subfamily Drusinae BANKS comprises roughly 100 species inhabiting mountain ranges in Europe, Asia Minor and the Caucasus. A 3-gene phylogeny of the subfamily previously identified three major clades that were corroborated by larval morphology and feeding ecologies: scraping grazers, omnivorous shredders and filtering carnivores. Larva...

Two new species of the genus Drusus (Trichoptera, Limnephilidae, Drusinae) from the Western Balkans are described. Additionally, observations on the biodiversity and threats to the region's endemic aquatic fauna are discussed. Drusus krpachi sp. n. is a micro-endemic of the Korab Mountains, Macedonia, and D. malickyi sp. n. is a micro-endemic of th...

In South-Eastern Europe the Balkan Peninsula represents one of the most interesting centres of biodiversity for different animal groups, including Trichoptera. The Republic of Macedonia is located in the Western Balkans, and harbours due to its geology highly diverse hydrological biotopes (rivers, streams, springs, lakes), particularly in mountain...

In this study we present morphological, molecular and ecological features of the last instar larvae of Drusus bosnicus with data about distribution of this species in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We also included the most important diagnostic features enabling separation of larvae of D. bosnicus from larvae of the other European Drusinae and Trichoptera...

New species are described in the genera Wormaldia (Trichoptera, Philopotamidae) and Drusus (Trichoptera, Limnephilidae, Drusinae). Additionally, the larva of the new species Drusus crenophylax sp. n. is described, and a key provided to larval Drusus species of the bosnicus-group, in which the new species belongs. Observations on the threats to regi...

The caddisfly community composition and structure were studied in the Mediterranean (i.e., central part of Herzegovina) and the temperate (i.e., Central Bosnia) regions of the country which differ considerably regarding the climate, hydrology, geomorphology, and vegetation. In both studied areas, four rivers with seven sampling sites each were sele...

In a recent 3-gene phylogeny of the trichopteran subfamily Drusinae Banks 1916, molecular data clearly correlated with the morphology and feeding ecology of larvae. The largest of three main groups, the Drusinae grazer clade, exhibits an unusual larval feeding ecology for Limnephilidae, and is the most diverse group. In this paper we describe four...

New species are described from the genera Consorophylax and Anisogamus (Trichoptera, Limnephilidae, Limnephilinae, Stenophylacini). Additionally the larva of the genus Anisogamus, and the larval stages of Anisogamus waringeri sp. nov. and A. difformis (McLachlan 1867) are described. The new species Consorophylax vinconi sp. nov. is a microendemic f...

Adults and larvae of two new cryptic, endemic caddisflies, Ecclisopteryx keroveci sp.n. and Ecclisopteryx ivkae sp.n., are described and illustrated from the Western Balkans. Phylogenetic analysis (Bayesian MCMCMC) and association of different life history stages in both cryptic species were achieved through comparison of morphological characters a...

Adult aquatic dance flies (Empididae) were collected during April 2006, October 2007 and July 2012 in Bosnia and Herzegovina using sweep nets and by aspirator. Sampling was done on six sampling sites. From 15 species recorded in this study, 5 are new to the fauna of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Roede-riodes macedonicus Wagner & Horvat, Wiedemannia (Phil...

In the spring area of the Una River the caddisfly Drusus vespertinus Marinković-Gospodnetić, 1976, which belongs to the Drusus bosnicus group, was recorded for the first time in Croatia. This is the first finding of the Drusus bosnicus group species in Croatia. This paper presents the diversity, distribution and ecology of the genus Drusus in Croat...

The aim of our study was to investigate how exposure to heavy metal-rich waters from gypsum mining affects the morphology and levels of primary DNA damage in Gammarus balcanicus. Chemical analysis revealed increased concentrations of metals in water and sediment collected at a site impacted by gypsum mine wastewaters. The specimens also showed elev...

The karst areas in the Dinaric region of the Western Balkan Peninsula are a hotspot of freshwater biodiversity. Many investigators have examined diversification of the subterranean freshwater fauna in these karst systems. However, diversification of surface-water fauna remains largely unexplored. We assessed local and regional diversification of su...

Adult aquatic dance flies (Empididae) were collected during July 2012 and July 2013 in Montenegro using sweep nets and by aspirator at 21 sampling sites. From 25 species recorded in this study, 22 species are new to the fauna of Montenegro: Chelifera pyrenaica Vaillant, Hemerodromia laudatoria Collin, Clinocera stagnalis (Haliday), Clinocera wesmae...

Peatlands in Croatia are rare, small in size and isolated habitats. Due to the abandonment of traditional land-management practices, and particularly to the progressive vegetation succession, they are critically endangered. Caddisfly faunistics and ecology of peatlands in Croatia have never been studied. A total of seven caddisfly taxa were collect...

Applying the phylogenetic species concept and the sexual selection theory we have reviewed some natal aspects of incipient species and their accelerated evolution. How can we recognise early stages of divergence? Which selection pressures are at work during speciation? Which pathways accelerate the speed of speciation? Which kinds of trait variabil...

This paper describes the previously unknown larva of Drusus vinconi Sipahiler, 1992. Information on the morphology of the 5th larval instar is given, and the most important diagnostic features are illustrated. In the context of existing identification keys the larva of D. vinconi keys together with D. annulatus (Stephens, 1837), D. biguttatus (Pict...

Adult caddisflies were collected in early summer and autumn in 2012 at various freshwater habitats within Papuk Nature Park. Caddisflies were collected using sweep nets and light traps at eight sampling sites. A total of 360 individuals belonging to 33 species, 24 genera and 11 families were recorded during the current study. A preliminary list of...

The aim of this study was to determine which environmental factors influence emergence of insects at two contrasting habitats: one with constant and one with variable water temperature. We hypothesized that emergence of holometabolous insects is triggered by water temperature where temperature variations occur, while light is the main stimulus for...

Water quality monitoring is greatly dependent on identification tools for aquatic and semi-aquatic insects. Species-level identification improves resolution and precision of water quality assessment and requires comprehensive keys. With the aim of increasing the suitability of Drusinae for such applications, this paper gives a description of the hi...

The caddisfly community composition in different microhabitats at tufa barriers was studied in the Plitvice Lakes NP, Croatia. Three tufa barriers were investigated and six emergence traps were installed at each site covering various microhabitats. Sampling was conducted monthly during the year 2008. Tufa barriers are lake outlet habitats, but they...

Drusus chrysotus is a cold water stenotherm species inhabiting spring reaches and headwaters of mountain streams. It has a disjunct distribution range covering mountain ranges across central Europe, and has now been recorded for the first time in Croatia, in the Gorski kotar region, thus extending its distribution range to the Dinaric Western Balka...

A new species of stonefly of the genus Siphonoperla from the Dinaric Mountains of Macedonia is described. The description of S. korab sp. n. is based on morphological and genetic characters. We also provide notes on habitat and distribution of this new taxon. Further notes on the biogeography of the genus are added.

Annitella apfelbecki is one of three Annitella species with distribution ranges restricted to the Balkan Peninsula. In this paper, we describe the hitherto unknown female of A. apfelbecki and give the most important morphological features to enable its identification and separation from the other Annitella females. Additionally, we provide new data...

In the Swiss Jura adults of Drusus mixtus and unknown Drusinae larvae which could not be identified with existing keys were sampled. Based on ripe pupae, the unknown larvae were identified as D. mixtus. The association was confirmed by specimen rearing in aquaria.Based on morphology, larvae of D. mixtus key out together with Drusus croaticus in exi...

Drusus klapaleki Marinković-Gospodnetić, 1971, is distributed in central Bosnia and Herzegovina and it belongs to the D. bosnicus Group. In the Balkan Peninsula, the D. bosnicus Group consists of 9 taxa with allopatric distribution. This study has 2 objectives. One is to describe the morphological characters of the Drusus klapaleki larva. Another o...

Species of the genus Drusus usually inhabit cold springs and spring areas of mountain streams. Isolation of populations and a patchy distribution are reasons for high diversity and endemism in this genus. Nine taxa from the bosnicus group (genus Drusus) live in the Balkan Peninsula (Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Macedonia). This stud...

Caddisflies were collected in the Plitvice Lakes NP during 2008 using emergence traps at 3 locations at tufa barriers. A total of 2217 specimens, belonging to 44 species, 27 genera and 12 families were recorded during this study. Six species, Hydroptila cognata, Hydroptila occulta, Ecnomus tenellus, Potamophylax luctuosus, Beraeodes minutus and Cer...

The paper presents a description of the hitherto unknown larva of Ecclisopteryx malickyi Moretti 1991. Information for the identification of this species is given, and the most important diagnostic features are illustrated. Some zoogeographical and ecological notes are added. Furthermore, larval morphology of the whole genus is discussed and differ...

Adult caddisflies were collected monthly from October 2008 to October 2009 at 25 sites along the course of the rivers Kupa and Čabranka, and at various habitats in their tributaries. Altogether 38 species were recorded. Regarding the seasonal composition of caddisfly fauna, the highest number of species was recorded in the spring months, followed b...

A larval key of the Drusinae of Central Europe and the dinaric western Balkan is presented. Phylogeographic relationships are discussed in the light of molecular genetics, feeding ecology and larval morphology.

In this study we present morphological features of the last instar larvae of Drusus ramae Marinkovic-Gospodnetic, 1971, and Drusus medianus Marinkovic-Gospodnetic, 1976, both of which are endemic species from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Using the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I gene (COI), larvae of these species were successfully associated with ad...

Benthic invertebrate communities of the Cetina River and the upper reach of the Ruda River were sampled monthly at 11 sites from August 2004 to August 2005. The sampling sites were located along the longitudinal gradient of the Cetina and in the upper reach of the Cetina's largest tributary, the Ruda River. Throughout the study, a total of 310225 a...

The impact of Pleistocene climatic changes on the biogeography of the European freshwater fauna is still far less understood than for terrestrial taxa. Similarly, the processes in the refu gial regions, especially in the Balkans , seem to be more complex than originally recognized. The Balkans is renowned for its high biodiversity and endemism, but...

The hitherto unknown larva of Annitella apfelbecki (Klapálek, 1899) is described and discussed in the context of contemporary Limnephilidae keys. In addition, its life cycle is discussed, and zoogeographical and ecological notes are included. Finally, we provide some additional information on the morphologically very similar larva of Melampophylax...

The Balkan Peninsula is one of three major European refugial areas. It has high biodiversity and endemism, but data on the age and origin of its fauna, especially endemics, are limited. Mitochondrial sequence data (COI and 16S genes) were used to study the population structure and phylogeography of the caddisfly Drusus croaticus and the phylogeny a...

Benthic invertebrate communities of the Cetina River and the upper reach of the Ruda River were sampled monthly at 11 sites from August 2004 to August 2005. The sampling sites were located along the longitudinal gradient of the Cetina and in the upper reach of the Cetina's largest tributary, the Ruda River. Throughout the study, a total of 310225 a...

The larva of Tinodes braueri McLachlan 1878 is described for the first time and compared with the larvae of other species in the genus. In addition, notes on the zoogeography and ecology of the species are included.

A description of the hitherto unknown larvae of Drus us radovanovici septentrionis Marinković-Gospodnetié, 1976 and Drusus croaticus Marinković-Gospodnetié, 1971 is given. The most important diagnostic features enabling separation from larvae of the other Drusinae are listed and illustrated. Larvae of D. croaticus are distinguished by the combinati...

The impact of Pleistocene elimatic changes on the biogeography of European freshwater fauna is still far less understood than in the case of terrestrial taxa. Similarly, the processes underlying biodiversity and speciation in refugial regions , especially the Balkans, seem to be more complex than originally recognized yet little studied. The Pleist...

Adult caddisflies were collected in altered and man-made habitats of the hydro-electric power plant system in the Drava River in spring and autumn 2006. All sampled habitats (reservoir, drainage ditches, tailrace canals and old river channel) are greatly influenced by hydro-technical management. Altogether 24 species were recorded. Five species, Hy...

Adult Trichoptera were observed at the Plitvice Lakes, Croatia during two years (2000 and 2001) using pyramid-type emergence traps. A total of 1350 individuals and 37 species were collected. Throughout the study, the emergence patterns showed only minor variations regarding differences in particular habitats. During 2000 most species emerged in Jun...

Adult caddisflies were collected in altered and man-made habitats of the hydro-electric power plant system in the Drava River in spring and autumn 2006. All sampled habitats (reservoir, drainage ditches, tailrace canals and old river channel) are greatly influenced by hydro-technical management. Altogether 24 species were recorded. Five species, Hy...