Water beetles of the Danube delta, Romania (Coleoptera: Gyrinidae, Haliplidae, Noteridae, Dytiscidae, Hydrophilidae, Hydraenidae, Dryopidae, Heteroceridae)

Abstrakt: Faunistic investigation of aquatic Coleoptera in the Danube delta was carried out, based on the survey of available literature and authors’ collection data. Altogether 95 species of water beetles is recorded from the area. Along the salinity gradient, typical inhabitants of fresh water habitats in the river delta are slowly replaced by the assemblages of halophilous and halobiont species in the fluvio-marine delta and in the coastal habitats. Species with a wide distributional range in the north-western part of the Palaearctic are prevalent; species with a restricted distribution, such as Ponto-Pannonic or Pontic elements, are also represented. No true endemics are present due to the recent geological origin of the area. The most remarkable record is Agabus zimmermanni Scholz, 1920 – a new species for Romania. The importance of this territory for the survival of many rare plants and animals is emphasized and some endangering factors are pointed out.

Klíčová slova: Faunistics, bionomy, ecology, conservation, Coleoptera, water beetles, Danube delta, Romania