Nutrient inputs, trophic status and water management challenges in the transboundary Lake Skadar/Shkodra, western Balkans
A transboundary water quality-monitoring program was conducted in 2007-2009 to investigate the trophic status and nutrient budget of Lake Skadar/Shkodra, which is a large, shallow lake shared by Albania and Montenegro. The parameters included, amongst others, total phosphorus (TP), total ni...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of Belgrade, University of Novi Sad
2014-01-01
|
| Series: | Archives of Biological Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0354-4664/2014/0354-46641402667S.pdf |
| _version_ | 1811196760005017600 |
|---|---|
| author | Skarbøvik Eva Perović A. Shumka Spase Nagothu Udaya Sekhar |
| author_facet | Skarbøvik Eva Perović A. Shumka Spase Nagothu Udaya Sekhar |
| author_sort | Skarbøvik Eva |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A transboundary water quality-monitoring program was conducted in 2007-2009
to investigate the trophic status and nutrient budget of Lake Skadar/Shkodra,
which is a large, shallow lake shared by Albania and Montenegro. The
parameters included, amongst others, total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen
(TN), suspended particulate matter, chlorophyll a, phytoplankton,
transparency, temperature and oxygen levels. In addition, hydrological data
were scrutinized. The results show that inputs from the tributaries amounted
to 176 tons of TP and 3 200 tons of TN, with annual area specific loads of
50-70 kg/km2 of TP and 950-1100 kg/km2 of TN. Despite relatively high inputs,
data from the lake indicate that it is presently in a mesotrophic condition,
probably due to its large volume and low water residence time. It is assumed
that water bodies in the Western Balkans are under increased environmental
pressure due to the economic and societal development in the region. In our
study, interactions with stakeholders revealed that this also applies to Lake
Skadar/Shkodra, but at the same time, the stakeholders suggested a number of
mitigation options that can improve the situation. In addition, harmonized
transboundary monitoring and increased data transparency were deemed
important to improve future decision-making. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T01:04:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5c6969b60bc545f28142686b5003d756 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0354-4664 1821-4339 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T01:04:26Z |
| publishDate | 2014-01-01 |
| publisher | University of Belgrade, University of Novi Sad |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Archives of Biological Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-5c6969b60bc545f28142686b5003d7562022-12-22T03:54:19ZengUniversity of Belgrade, University of Novi SadArchives of Biological Sciences0354-46641821-43392014-01-0166266768110.2298/ABS1402667S0354-46641402667SNutrient inputs, trophic status and water management challenges in the transboundary Lake Skadar/Shkodra, western BalkansSkarbøvik Eva0Perović A.1Shumka Spase2Nagothu Udaya Sekhar3Bioforsk - Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research, Еs, NorwayUniversity of Montenegro, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Podgorica, MontenegroAgricultural University of Tirana, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food, Tirana, AlbaniaBioforsk - Norwegian Institute for Agricultural and Environmental Research, Еs, NorwayA transboundary water quality-monitoring program was conducted in 2007-2009 to investigate the trophic status and nutrient budget of Lake Skadar/Shkodra, which is a large, shallow lake shared by Albania and Montenegro. The parameters included, amongst others, total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), suspended particulate matter, chlorophyll a, phytoplankton, transparency, temperature and oxygen levels. In addition, hydrological data were scrutinized. The results show that inputs from the tributaries amounted to 176 tons of TP and 3 200 tons of TN, with annual area specific loads of 50-70 kg/km2 of TP and 950-1100 kg/km2 of TN. Despite relatively high inputs, data from the lake indicate that it is presently in a mesotrophic condition, probably due to its large volume and low water residence time. It is assumed that water bodies in the Western Balkans are under increased environmental pressure due to the economic and societal development in the region. In our study, interactions with stakeholders revealed that this also applies to Lake Skadar/Shkodra, but at the same time, the stakeholders suggested a number of mitigation options that can improve the situation. In addition, harmonized transboundary monitoring and increased data transparency were deemed important to improve future decision-making.http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0354-4664/2014/0354-46641402667S.pdfEutrophicationmonitoringSkadar/ShkodraWestern Balkanstransboundary water management |
| spellingShingle | Skarbøvik Eva Perović A. Shumka Spase Nagothu Udaya Sekhar Nutrient inputs, trophic status and water management challenges in the transboundary Lake Skadar/Shkodra, western Balkans Archives of Biological Sciences Eutrophication monitoring Skadar/Shkodra Western Balkans transboundary water management |
| title | Nutrient inputs, trophic status and water management challenges in the transboundary Lake Skadar/Shkodra, western Balkans |
| title_full | Nutrient inputs, trophic status and water management challenges in the transboundary Lake Skadar/Shkodra, western Balkans |
| title_fullStr | Nutrient inputs, trophic status and water management challenges in the transboundary Lake Skadar/Shkodra, western Balkans |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nutrient inputs, trophic status and water management challenges in the transboundary Lake Skadar/Shkodra, western Balkans |
| title_short | Nutrient inputs, trophic status and water management challenges in the transboundary Lake Skadar/Shkodra, western Balkans |
| title_sort | nutrient inputs trophic status and water management challenges in the transboundary lake skadar shkodra western balkans |
| topic | Eutrophication monitoring Skadar/Shkodra Western Balkans transboundary water management |
| url | http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0354-4664/2014/0354-46641402667S.pdf |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT skarbøvikeva nutrientinputstrophicstatusandwatermanagementchallengesinthetransboundarylakeskadarshkodrawesternbalkans AT perovica nutrientinputstrophicstatusandwatermanagementchallengesinthetransboundarylakeskadarshkodrawesternbalkans AT shumkaspase nutrientinputstrophicstatusandwatermanagementchallengesinthetransboundarylakeskadarshkodrawesternbalkans AT nagothuudayasekhar nutrientinputstrophicstatusandwatermanagementchallengesinthetransboundarylakeskadarshkodrawesternbalkans |