Population structure of the Balkan golden loach (Sabanejewia balcanica) from the Sava River Basin and ecological characteristics of the habitat

Edina Hajdarević, Isat Skenderović, Alen Bajrić

This study analyzed the population structure of Sabanejewia balcanica based on 98 specimens collected from eight river locations in northern Bosnia and Herzegovina within the Sava River Basin. Total body length measurements were grouped into 11 length classes with 0.5 cm intervals, while body mass data were categorized into five weight classes (0.5 g intervals).

The ichthyofauna at the investigated sites consisted of five families: Cyprinidae, Nemacheilidae, Cobitidae, Percidae, and Cottidae. A relatively uniform composition of zoobenthic communities was recorded across the sampling locations. In the valleys of rivers and streams where the specimens were collected, floodplain forest communities belonging to the Alnetea glutinosae class (alder, willow, and poplar) were present.

The determination of population structure parameters and the identification of ecological habitat characteristics provide a foundation for assessing the vulnerability of S. balcanica populations in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The findings also represent an important starting point for future research and conservation planning.