The Macrophyte Indices for Rivers to Assess the Ecological Conditions in the Klina River in the Republic of Kosovo
Macrophytes are important elements of aquatic ecosystems that grow in or near water. Their taxonomic composition, species diversity, depth, and density are indicators of environmental health; as such, Macrophytes are used to assess the ecological status of water bodies. Under the aim of assessing th...
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MDPI AG
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/11/1469 |
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| author | Pajtim Bytyçi Albona Shala-Abazi Ferdije Zhushi-Etemi Giuseppe Bonifazi Mimoza Hyseni-Spahiu Osman Fetoshi Hazir Çadraku Fidan Feka Fadil Millaku |
| author_facet | Pajtim Bytyçi Albona Shala-Abazi Ferdije Zhushi-Etemi Giuseppe Bonifazi Mimoza Hyseni-Spahiu Osman Fetoshi Hazir Çadraku Fidan Feka Fadil Millaku |
| author_sort | Pajtim Bytyçi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Macrophytes are important elements of aquatic ecosystems that grow in or near water. Their taxonomic composition, species diversity, depth, and density are indicators of environmental health; as such, Macrophytes are used to assess the ecological status of water bodies. Under the aim of assessing the ecological status of the Klina River in Kosovo, a survey was conducted at eight sampling sites along the river course to analyze macrophyte composition, diversity, density, and cover. Three samples were collected at each sampling site from early June to late September. The following macrophyte indices were used to assess the ecological status of the river: Macrophyte Index for Rivers (MIR), River Macrophyte Nutrient Index (RMNI), and River Macrophyte Hydraulic Index (RMHI). Our sampling area included the upper reaches of the river where no organic pollution was detected (oligotrophic), the middle reaches where polluted water from farms is discharged into the river, and the lower reaches characterized by heavy organic pollution from settlements and various industrial activities. There is a positive correlation (<i>p</i> < 0.05) between water temperature, turbidity, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), orthophosphates (PO<sub>4</sub><sup>3−</sup>), ammonia (NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>), nitrites (NO<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup>), calcium (Ca<sup>2+</sup>), and potassium (K+) with plant density, RMNI, RMHI, EQR-RMNI, EQR-RMHI, and MIR. Sodium (Na+) has stronger positive correlation (<i>p</i> < 0.01) with RMNI and RMHI indices and negative correlation with EQR-RMNI and EQR-RMHI. Our results show that ecological status along the river varies from high and good upstream to poor, bad, and moderate running downstream. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:58:44Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T00:58:44Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-74dbcb69efd3412b89d55b73e7c645322023-11-23T14:39:09ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472022-05-011111146910.3390/plants11111469The Macrophyte Indices for Rivers to Assess the Ecological Conditions in the Klina River in the Republic of KosovoPajtim Bytyçi0Albona Shala-Abazi1Ferdije Zhushi-Etemi2Giuseppe Bonifazi3Mimoza Hyseni-Spahiu4Osman Fetoshi5Hazir Çadraku6Fidan Feka7Fadil Millaku8UBT—Higher Education Institution, Kalabria, Street Rexhep Krasniqi Nr. 56, 10000 Prishtina, KosovoManagement of Tourism, Hospitality and Environment, University “Haxhi Zeka” in Peja, 30000 Peja, KosovoDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Prishtina, Mother Teresa 5, 10000 Prishtina, KosovoDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Materials & Environment, Sapienza University of Rome, Via Eudossiana 18, 00184 Rome, ItalyManagement of Tourism, Hospitality and Environment, University “Haxhi Zeka” in Peja, 30000 Peja, KosovoDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University, 51240 Niğde, TurkeyUBT—Higher Education Institution, Kalabria, Street Rexhep Krasniqi Nr. 56, 10000 Prishtina, KosovoUBT—Higher Education Institution, Kalabria, Street Rexhep Krasniqi Nr. 56, 10000 Prishtina, KosovoDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Prishtina, Mother Teresa 5, 10000 Prishtina, KosovoMacrophytes are important elements of aquatic ecosystems that grow in or near water. Their taxonomic composition, species diversity, depth, and density are indicators of environmental health; as such, Macrophytes are used to assess the ecological status of water bodies. Under the aim of assessing the ecological status of the Klina River in Kosovo, a survey was conducted at eight sampling sites along the river course to analyze macrophyte composition, diversity, density, and cover. Three samples were collected at each sampling site from early June to late September. The following macrophyte indices were used to assess the ecological status of the river: Macrophyte Index for Rivers (MIR), River Macrophyte Nutrient Index (RMNI), and River Macrophyte Hydraulic Index (RMHI). Our sampling area included the upper reaches of the river where no organic pollution was detected (oligotrophic), the middle reaches where polluted water from farms is discharged into the river, and the lower reaches characterized by heavy organic pollution from settlements and various industrial activities. There is a positive correlation (<i>p</i> < 0.05) between water temperature, turbidity, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), orthophosphates (PO<sub>4</sub><sup>3−</sup>), ammonia (NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>), nitrites (NO<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup>), calcium (Ca<sup>2+</sup>), and potassium (K+) with plant density, RMNI, RMHI, EQR-RMNI, EQR-RMHI, and MIR. Sodium (Na+) has stronger positive correlation (<i>p</i> < 0.01) with RMNI and RMHI indices and negative correlation with EQR-RMNI and EQR-RMHI. Our results show that ecological status along the river varies from high and good upstream to poor, bad, and moderate running downstream.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/11/1469macrophyteecological statuspollutionmacrophyte indices |
| spellingShingle | Pajtim Bytyçi Albona Shala-Abazi Ferdije Zhushi-Etemi Giuseppe Bonifazi Mimoza Hyseni-Spahiu Osman Fetoshi Hazir Çadraku Fidan Feka Fadil Millaku The Macrophyte Indices for Rivers to Assess the Ecological Conditions in the Klina River in the Republic of Kosovo Plants macrophyte ecological status pollution macrophyte indices |
| title | The Macrophyte Indices for Rivers to Assess the Ecological Conditions in the Klina River in the Republic of Kosovo |
| title_full | The Macrophyte Indices for Rivers to Assess the Ecological Conditions in the Klina River in the Republic of Kosovo |
| title_fullStr | The Macrophyte Indices for Rivers to Assess the Ecological Conditions in the Klina River in the Republic of Kosovo |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Macrophyte Indices for Rivers to Assess the Ecological Conditions in the Klina River in the Republic of Kosovo |
| title_short | The Macrophyte Indices for Rivers to Assess the Ecological Conditions in the Klina River in the Republic of Kosovo |
| title_sort | macrophyte indices for rivers to assess the ecological conditions in the klina river in the republic of kosovo |
| topic | macrophyte ecological status pollution macrophyte indices |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/11/1469 |
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