STONEFLIES (PLECOPTERA) OF THE VTACNIK MOUNTAINS (WEST CARPATHIANS)

This study presents basic information on Plecoptera taxocenoses inhabi ting the Vtacnik mountain range. The nymph morphology and ecology of t wo Carpathian endemics, Nemoura carpathica and Leuctra pusilla, is dis cussed. The predominant stoneflies species have central European and m ore particularly south-central European distribution. The river basin draining the Vtacnik massif represents the south-west border of the mo untain and submountain stoneflies distribution. In the Vtacnik mountai ns the following communities have been distinguished: the crenal mount ain community, the spring-brooklets and mountain brook community, the mountain torrents community (all inhabited by cold stenothermal specie s), the eurythermal community (rheophilous and nonrheophilous species occurring in different types of lotic biotopes), and the mesothermal c ommunity, restricted to warmer submountainous streams.