Relationship between Morphological Characteristics and Quality of Aquatic Habitat in Mountain Streams of Slovakia

This study evaluated the relationship between abiotic flow characteristics and habitat quality. Habitat quality was assessed using Instream Flow Incremental Methodology (IFIM), which uses bioindication. Brown trout selected as a bioindicator because of its sensitivity to morphological changes occurrence in sufficient reference reaches. The correlation stream area-weighted suitability (AWS), represents quality, evaluated. Fifty-nine reaches fifty-two mountain piedmont streams Slovakia were analysed. analysis demonstrated strongest AWS depth width. water surface area indicated that, for streams, there is significantly increasing trend value with area. Considering variation change water-surface minimal. These results can form basis deriving regression equations determine Such procedure simplify evaluation aquatic habitat, making it much more accessible design practice.