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Institute of Botany and Botanical Garden "Jevremovac"
Faculty of Biology



    BOTANICA SERBICA
    Kupe, L.


Microscopic algae from karst lakes of Dumre region (Central Albania)
KUPE, L., ARENSA POÇI, ALEKO MIHO AND TH OMAS HÜBENER
Pages 87-98

Full reference | Abstract | Full text PDF

    ABSTRACT:  More than 90 karst lakes, oft en smaller than 1ha, and shallower than 10m, can be found sparse over limestone or gypsum in Albanian territory. The most famous are the lakes of Dumre, a zone that extends between Shkumbini and Devolli valleys (Elbasani district). These lakes do not have nor infl ows or outfl ows, and are oft en fi lled by the rainfall; therefore, their water level oscillates drastically during the year. Sporadic samples of peryphyton or phytoplankton were collected in some of Dumre lakes (Belshi, Merhoja, Mulleza, Cepi). Moreover, one sediment core (ca. 38cm) was taken in Belshi lake, in June 2005; based on Pb210 and Cs137, the sediments were the well laminated, dating only to the last 20 years (between 2005-1984), where alternated yellow and black layers might belong to one year. The calculated sedimentation rate was 1.76 cm/yr, considered relatively high, due to the strong erosion form the surrounding watershed.
    The diversity of diatoms found in Dumre lakes can be considered high, despite the limited number of samples examined. About 220 taxa of microscopic algae, diatoms (Bacillariophyta), were found in all the collected samples, represented mainly from the genera Navicula (28 species), Nitzschia (23) and Cyclotella (17). More than 170 species were found in the littoral samples of diff erent lakes, where the sample from Cepi, a shallow eutrophic pond was the richest with diatoms, more than 90 species. About 140 species were found in the core sample from Belshi lake, represented mainly from Achnnathes minutissima, Cyclotella ocellata, C. stelligera, Gyrosigma acuminatum, Cymbella affi nis, Gomphonema olivaceum or Hantzschia amphioxys. Centric diatoms Cyclotella ocellata and C. stelligera, and the pennate Achnanthes minutissima were found also relatively abundant in the population community of each sediment layer. The calculated Trophic Index of Diatoms (TIDIA) in each sediment layer oscillated from 1.2 (oligotroph) to 3.4 (polytroph), showing a moderate pollution with nutrients (phosphorous and nitrogen). Saprobic index seems to be more stable, oscillating from 1.5 (oligosaprob) to 2 (beta-mesosaprob), corresponding to scarcely polluted (I-II class) to moderately polluted water quality (II class). From the rare and interesting species of the karst lakes here were mentionioned Caloneis cf. aerophila, Gomphonema augur, Neidium bisulcatum var. subampliatum, Nitzschia geitleri, N. lorenziana, Placoneis elginensis, P. clementioides, Sellaphora levissima, Surirella venusta, Surirella cf. tenera. Caloneis sp. and Surirella sp. represent interesting or new species.
    The terrigenous hilly relief, the typical Mediterranean climate characteristics combined also with poor land use activities (land denuding), can be the principal causes of the relatively high rate of sedimentation observed in Belshi lake. The decentralized management of wastewater is recommended to prevent the eutrophication processes, and protect the water quality of the lakes. Moreover, forestation activities especially in denuded area would restore the vegetation cover and decrease the erosion.

    KEY WORDS: Albanian karst lakes; Belshi lake; sediment core sampling; Albanian diatoms

Costal vegetation of the Lalzi bay (Albania)
ALMA IMERI, MULLAJ, A., ERTA DODONA AND KUPE, L.
Pages 99-106

Full reference | Abstract | Full text PDF | Appendix

    ABSTRACT:  The paper presents results of a vegetation survey of Lalzi bay, a specifi c Albanian costal habitat. Lalzi Bay, due to the geographic position, geology and hidrology, specifi c clime, off ers a very rich vegetation. This is reflected in the big number of sintaxa. Plants assosiations are classifi ed based on principless of Zurich–Montpellier school that made the base of classifi cation in Europe sites. In this study, there 19 associations were analyzed, included in 16 alliances, that belong to 10 orders and 9 classes, with high plant diversity

    KEY WORDS:  sandy dunes, phytosociology, vegetation dynamics