From 1 to 2 October 2026, the symposium Kopački Rit – Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow was held in Osijek, featuring an oral presentation entitled “A New Invasive Decapod Crustacean in Kopački Rit: The First Record of Macrobrachium nipponense in Croatia”.
Following the symposium, fieldwork was conducted on 3 and 4 October 2026 in and around Kopački Rit Nature Park as part of the PACT-VIRA project, which focuses on monitoring invasive species in protected areas. Particular attention was given to biological invasions as one of the pressures associated with climate change.
The fieldwork focused on invasive decapod crustaceans. Its main objectives were to determine whether an established population of Macrobrachium nipponense is present in the area, collect specimens for subsequent population genetic analyses, and investigate sites where this species occurs alongside previously established invasive crayfish species originating from North America.
An additional objective was to determine whether the North American crayfish species Pacifastacus leniusculus has reached Kopački Rit Nature Park.
This research contributes to a better understanding of the presence and spread of invasive species in protected areas, providing valuable insights for biodiversity conservation and the monitoring of pressures associated with climate change.