Old-Drava monitoring supported by ALDI

Elements of the planned monitoring:

• Assessment and evaluation of fish fauna, especially Natura 2000 species. Similarly, monitoring of reptiles and amphibians is worth launching in the first year. These assessments are recommended to be repeated annually. They characterize the changes in the aquatic fauna, and annual assessments are necessary because this way the changeability of a year or a season marked by extreme weather and precipitation does not disrupt the data.
  
  
• The  oxbow is rich in dragonfly populations, of which no data was available before the project. However monitoring revealed that the diversified habitat environment favours their presence. Dragonfly species are bound up to water, but other factors also influence the extent of the presence of dragonfly species in a given year.
  
  
• The monitoring of seaweed vegetation: seaweed plant populations are characteristic of water supply, water flow and the changes in alluvium conditions. They are linked to the riverbed  differently and their presence reflects on what kind of water changes can be detected at different sections of the oxbow.
  
  
• Assessment of resident and migratory birds is equally substantial in terms of nature conservation. Habitats like Old-Drava are important for both of them. As for migratory birds, the resting and feeding areas are of significant importance, while for resident birds tranquility is determining beside nourishment.
  
  
• The census of Natura 2000 habitats and species is also an important element. This offers the possibility to examine these species and habitats of European significance and to give an overall picture of the whole habitat.

From a professional point of view, it is important to assess the bed of the oxbow as well. The data and conclusions of the biomonitoring will show the necessity and timing of this assessment.