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[Display omitted] In the present study, based on faunistic information collected during 2014 and 2015, in association with physical–chemical conditions of the collection sites, the environmental factors influencing the composition and distribution of chironomid assemblages were investigated. In total, 164 Chironomidae taxa reported in this study extended the existing checklist with 152 taxa newly found in the Skadar Lake basin. The comparison based on the list of species from the six large, well-studied European lakes showed that Lake Constance (Switzerland/Germany/Austria) is the most species-rich waterbody with 174 taxa, followed by Lake Skadar with 164 taxa. For pupal exuviae, the most species-rich site was situated in the centre of the small lake (north-western part of the Skadar Lake). A Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) revealed that shallow coastal parts of the lake are much richer in species than the open, deeper parts of the lake. This first investigation since 1979 of non-biting midge species (including imagines) diversity will help to monitor biodiversity of the basin and to understand how protection programs influence biodiversity within the lake basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lake Skadar is a highly vulnerable ecosystem affected by various types of anthropogenic pressures. In the last few years, interest in vanadium (V) has increased due to several negative effects on the environment. Our research aims to find the V content per fractions of sediments, and estimate bioavailability, including by analyzing content ratios in the sediment, in water and macrophytes and plant tissue distribution. Low content of vanadium was recorded in the water. In the sediment of Skadar Lake, values were found in the range of 18.1 to 49.5 mgkg-1. The largest amounts of V (11.8 mgkg-1) are found in mineral crystalline lattices (residual fraction), so V is substantially immobilized in the sediment of the lake. Based on the calculated geochemical parameters, it can be concluded that the sediment of Skadar Lake is not contaminated with V and it is under the low risk category at all investigated locations. In the tissues of the examined macrophytes, the mean value of V content, in relation to the location and sampling time, is in the range 0.05-8.15 mgkg-1 of the dry part of the plant. The studied macrophytes showed a low bioaccumulation capacity for V. A different seasonal trend of concentration of V in macrophytes was recorded. And the translocation ability between individual parts of the plant is different and depends on the type of macrophytes.

The settlement of Vranjina is situated on a slope in the eastern part of the island of the same name, on the northern belt of Skadar Lake in Montenegro. With its exceptional historical and cultural values, protected natural heritage and partly preserved architectural heritage of vernacular architecture, this settlement is just one of many examples in the Skadar Lake National Park, with specific potential for rural tourism development. The Skadar Lake basin is rich in diverse ambience, which is reflected in organically developed landscapes and associative cultural landscapes through the Charter on the International Recognition of Cultural Landscapes. The results of the research, based on years of urban and architectural research in the Skadar Lake area by the authors, indicate the possibility of reviving the tradition of fishing, as an important branch of agriculture, as a contribution not only to sustainable agriculture, but also to protection and valorization of architectural heritage and traditional fishermen's houses on the Skadar Lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their capacity to accumulate various pollutants into their tissue, macrophytes play important role in biomonitoring studies and assessments of lakes contamination by ecotoxic metals. The aim of this study was to assess content of several metals (Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe and Co) in sediment and plant organs (leaf, stem and root) of the species Trapa natans L. In addition, antioxidant status of Trapa natans L. was determined, with the purpose to evaluate if enzymes catalase (CAT) and guaiacol-peroxidase (GPX) can be used as biochemical indicators of the level of pollution of aquatic environment by heavy metals. Plant and sediment samples were taken from nine locations in the freshwater Skadar Lake, Montenegro. Contents of metals in the organs of Trapa natans L. varied in the ranges (in mg kg- 1 ) 1.8-5.0 for Cu, 5-40 for Zn, 50-881 for Mn, 123- 6808 for Fe and 0.10-2.28 for Co and were the highest for all metals in the root. Activity of CAT, (89- 282 U/g/w) was higher in leaf, while activity ofGPX (1.9-10.7 U/g/w) was mostly higher in root of the plant. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between Zn content in the root of the species Trapa natans L. and activity of CAT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper deals with the modelling of hydrological processes in the catchment area of Lake Skadar in Montenegro. This lake and its catchment area is one of the most important natural resources of Montenegro. We used an existing model (Mike SHE (DHI)) to simulate the hydrological processes. Its implementation has shown some limitations that are primarily related to insufficient funds of available input data. A particular problem is the lack of data on groundwater regime as one of the key model and water balance factors. However, calibration of the model showed that the results obtained were sufficiently acceptable and that the model can be a good basis for future hydrological forecasts of the basin size. Also, the model can still be upgraded with the new data and results, as soon as the conditions call for it.

Drinking water supply systems have largely influenced the development of various cultures. Some wells have been preserved for centuries and help us today to understand how the concepts of water resource and water law have been developed. A nice example of older wells is located in the area of Veliki Ostros on the south-eastern Montenegro coast of Skadar Lake. These are Vladimir well from the 11th century and a group of 12 Boljević wells that testify to unusual customary water law related to the clan structure of the society in the past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of aquatic plants to analyze the heavy metal pollution of a lake environment has a number of advantages over the standard chemical methods of the analysis of metal presence in water and sediment. The macrophyta Lemna minor L., sampled from Lake Skadar in Montenegro has been used as a bio-indicator. Floating macrophyte L. minor accumulates metals from water through its submerged roots and floated leaves. The contents of Cd, Cu, Co, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, Sr and V were determined in sediments, water and the plant. The results obtained indicated a very high capacity of L. minor for the accumulation of Mn. In addition, higher Zn concentration was found in root tissue comparing to the sediment. The concentration of the other metals under investigation decreases in the following order: sediment > L. minor(root) > L. minor(leaf) > water. Higher concentrations of all metals in the tissue of L. minor were observed at the end of the growing season. A higher metal content was recorded in the root compared to the leaf. In descending order, the concentrations in plant tissues were found for the following metals: Mn > Zn > Sr > Cu > Ni > Pb > Co > V > Cr > Cd, while the series of bioaccumulation is, in descending order: Mn > Zn > Ni > Co > Pb > Cu > Cr > V > Sr > Cd.

This paper deals with a conceptual solution for the supply of a part of electrical energy for the needs of Aluminium Plant Podgorica (KAP) in Montenegro from a large Floating Photovoltaic Power Plant (FPPP), that would be installed on the nearby lake. The recommended FPPP, with an innovative azimuth angle control method and total installed power of 90 MWp, would consist of 18 power plants having an installed power of 5 MWp each. An analysis using the NREL solar insolation database ascertained that the recommended FPPP power plant can achieve a significantly higher production in comparison with previous solutions. An economic analysis has shown that the recommended power plant would yield positive economic indicators. Additionally, such a power plant would significantly contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a part of Sediment Quality Triad (SQT), organic extracts of sediment from Skadar Lake (a Mediterranean lake and the largest freshwater reservoir in southeastern Europe) were investigated in order to evaluate possible ecotoxicological contamination by organic pollutants and to obtain a comprehensive insight into the ecotoxicological hazard. Sediments were investigated for toxicity by two different bioassays. Acute cytotoxicity was investigated using the fibroblast-like cell line RTL-W1 (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in combination with the neutral red retention assay. The embryos of zebrafish (Danio rerio) were used to assess the toxic and teratogenic potential of organic extracts of the sediment. Preliminary results point to the presence of a cytotoxic and teratogenic potential in Skadar Lake sediment extracts in certain locations.

Organic extracts of sediments from Skadar Lake (National park and protected RAMSAR site) were investigated for their mutagenic potential using Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 strains in the presence and absence of metabolic activation. Five different concentrations of sediment extracts from five different sampling sites were assayed, and mutagenic results were obtained for both strains. These studies present a part of the EULIMNOS project and included a battery of bioassay testing and in situ investigations of microbial community structures of Skadar Lake sediments. The obtained results show mutagenic risk potential in five collected samples in the absence and presence of metabolic activation. Additional studies are required in order to identify and quantify the chemical compounds responsible for the mutagenic activity present in Skadar Lake sediments.

Lake Skadar is located on the Yugoslav-Albanian border. The lake is the largest at the Balkan and has a surface area which fluctuates seasonally from 370 to 600 km2. Although its precise origin is unknown, the lake probably for med during the Tertiary and/or Quaternary periods by dissolution of limestone in an active tectonic basin. The present day lake, a subtropical body of water lying 5 m above sea level, has a 5490 km2 drainage basin. The area of Skadar Lake basin and the lake itself, with all their specific features, was and still is a challenge for various researchers. However, in spite of all that, the water status of the Skadar Lake has not been defined in the light of "EU Guideline for water".Regarding it, in this work are emphasized the basic aims of aforementioned guideline, with retrospective view on their practical implementation. The available database of the current monitoring of the Skadar lake waters is shown in this work in order to distinguish the necessity for operative monitoring in the direct lake basin and research monitoring of the Skadar Lake waters, according to defined elements.The processed data show the impact of pollution sources in the basin (waste waters in the settlements and industries, where the Aluminium plant in Podgorica is dominant and uncontrolled usage of fertilizers) on Skadar Lake waters quality, but it is not still enough to define the Skadar lake waters status according to elements from the Guideline.

Cu is an essential microelement for plants, but it can be toxic at high concentrations. The aquatic macrophytes that have been used as bioindicator species in this study are Phragmites australis, Ceratophyllum demersum and Lemna minor. The plants, water and sediments were tested for Cu content in six locations around Skadar Lake, Montenegro across four different periods of 2011. The content of Cu in the examined sediment was in the range of 23.9-54.4 mg kg-1. The largest proportion of Cu (64%) was associated with its oxidizable phase in the form of organic complexes. The concentration of Cu in the studied macrophytes declined in the following order: L. minor > P. australis > C. demersum. The highest content of Cu was detected in the root of L. minor (31.0 mg kg-1 dry weight) in October. During the research period, the concentration of Cu was constantly increasing in the leaves of P. australis and in the root and leaves L. minor, while other parts of the macrophytes recorded different trends. The highest correlation of Cu content with sediment was noted for P. australis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skadar Lake is the largest shallow lake in southeastern Europe. It is located within a national park, and is included in the Ramsar List of international important wetlands, so its preservation and protection from pollution is very important. The aim of this study was to investigate bioaccumulation of the ecotoxic metals Cd, Pb and Cr from sediments of Skadar Lake in the aquatic macrophyte Trapa natans L. Samples of sediment and plants were collected at nine locations covering all major water inputs to the lake as well as locations where contamination could be expected. The obtained results indicate that sediments from the Skadar Lake are only locally contaminated with Cd (0.03-1.18 mg kg-1), generally contaminated with Cr (15.8-180 mg kg-1), the concentrations of both elements frequently exceeding sediment quality guidelines, while concentrations of Pb were low (2.7-17.4 mg kg-1). The highest bioaccumulation of all metals from sediment to Trapa natans L. was observed in the root, with accumulation efficiency decreasing in the order Cd > Cr > Pb. Translocation from root to stem was also higher for Cd than for Cr and Pb, while the translocation from stem to leaf was comparable for all three metals. From the three investigated metals Cd showed the highest mobility. The results indicate that Trapa natans L. may be a very promising bioindicator of trace metal contamination in Skadar Lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Skadar Lake basin is located in the south-eastern part of the classical Dinaric karst region (northern Mediterranean). This region is well known for its highly developed karst and the presence of all types of karstic features. In addition to the high degree of karstification, the advantage of Skadar Lake's catchment area in terms of water resources is also reflected in the following factors: a large amount of precipitation, scarcity of soil and vegetation cover, favourable geological and geomorphological conditions for karst aquifer discharge, the isolation of the Skadar basin from the influence of the Adriatic Sea and an availability of water for simple abstraction. For the purposes of a more complete determination of the water balance of Skadar Lake, among other undertakings, it has been necessary to determine the groundwater inflow to the lake through numerous sublacustrine springs (vruljas). By using thermal infrared satellite and terrestrial imaging, the locations of the largest sublacustrine springs have been detected and their yield assessed by means of water balance calculation after the application of the KARSTLOP method. The mean annual groundwater inflow to the lake, from the south-western edge only, is 9.86 m/s. The total outflow of water from the lake through the Bojana River is around 304 m/s. The coincidence of several important natural factors leads to the large average specific yield (surface and subsurface) in the Skadar Lake catchment area (54 l/s/km), which makes this region one of the richest areas of freshwater in the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skadar Lake, the largest lake on the Balkan Peninsula, is famous for a wide range of endemic and rare, or even endangered plant and animal species. Different anthropogenic pressures have, however, influenced the fragile equilibria of the lake ecosystem, with metal pollution as one of the primary concerns. Therefore, this study investigated spatial distribution of metal pollutants in the water and sediment phase of Skadar Lake, and anthropogenic and environmental factors affecting this distribution. A sieving analysis showed that sediment in Skadar Lake is mainly distributed in the three smallest fractions (colloid, clay and silt). Eleven metals were analyzed in the lake surface and bottom water, and only six of them were detected: potassium, magnesium, calcium, nickel, aluminum and manganese. They were all present at low concentrations. In contrast, sediments contained elevated levels of some metals with concentrations between 28.1-126.8 mg kg −1 for Ni, 23.6-79.2 mg kg −1 for Cr, 9.2-36.9 mg kg −1 for Cu, 199-878 mg kg −1 for Mn and 9.6-23.1 g kg −1 for Fe. Nickel exceeded consensus-based guidelines for safety towards freshwater dwelling organisms. The organic matter content of the sediment fluctuated between 4.7 and 21.5 %. No correlations were found between metal concentrations, organic matter and sediment particle size fractions, suggesting that the latter are not the main factors controlling metal accumulation in Skadar Lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Karucia sublacustrina a new species of freshwater snails (Hydrobiidae, Gastropoda) is described based on material collected from Skadar Lake (Montenegro, Albania). The new species belongs to monotypic genus Karucia gen. n. The shell morphology and body shape of the new genus resembles Radomaniola Szarowska, 2006 and Grossuana Radoman, 1973, from which it differs in the larger shells with relatively slim and a slightly, but clearly shouldered body whorl. The number of gastropods from Skadar Lake basin tallies now 50 species. The adjusted rate of gastropod endemicity for Skadar Lake basin is estimated to be 38%. By compiling faunal and taxonomic data we also aim to provide information of relevance as to conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skadar Lake is the biggest and most important aquatic catchment in Montenegro. The main inflows to the lake (from Montenegro) are the Moraca and Crnojevica rivers flowing through industrial and urban settlements, which may ultimately result in pollution of the lake water. The objective of this study was to provide more detailed information on the ecochemical properties of the lake system by measurements of metal concentration and the role of sediment-water interaction in controlling their distribution. The factors that impact metal concentrations in sediments of the shore waters are allochthonous (natural and civilization-related) and autochthonous influences (settlement mechanism and sorption processes), as well as transformation of elements in settled sediments. Sediments and water samples were taken from 15 sites and analyzed for iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb). The results indicate similarities in metal distribution mechanisms found with extracted sediment phases, and also suggest that the overall aquatic ecosystem of the lake is still in a relatively pristine state. Distribution of examined metals in appropriate phases shows very low presence of anthropogenic fraction, while the fifth phase, which is eco-chemically of the least importance, is most abundant. After comparison with US EPA (2002) (United States Environmental Protection Agency): „A guidance manual to support the assessment of contaminated sediments in freshwater ecosystems", it was confirmed that concentrations of metals found do not endanger life in Skadar Lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skadar Lake is the biggest, and the most important, aquatic catchment in Montenegro. The main inflows to the lake (from Montenegro) are the Moraca and Crnojevica Rivers. These rivers flow through industrial and urban settlements, which may ultimately result in pollution of lake water. The objective of this study was to provide more detailed information on the eco-chemical properties of the lake system through measurement of metal concentrations and the role of sediment - water in controlling their mobility and speciation. Sediments and water samples were taken from 15 sites and analysed for iron, copper, zinc, cadmium and lead. The results indicate certain difference of chemistry between waters from examined sites, and similarities of metal distributions between extracted phases of sediment, as well as between sediment and water. The results suggest that the overall aquatic ecosystem of the lake is still in a relatively pristine state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metals in sediments are present in different chemical forms, which mostly affect their ability to transfer in water and plants i.e. their bioavailability. The mobile part of metals is potentially toxic, thus for the evaluation of the bioavailability it is often enough to determine the metal content in the available and potentially available fraction of sediment. The aim of this study was to compare some methods of determination of mobile forms of heavy metals and to determine their share related to the “pseudo-total” metal content in the sediment from Skadar Lake, Montenegro. Mobile forms of Cu, Co, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, Sr and V were determined using: 0.1M NH4Cl (buffered to pH 9), 0.1M CaCl2 (pH 6), 0.1M CH3COONa (pH 9), 0.1M H2C2O4 (pH 2) and 0.1M EDTA (pH 6),. The largest amounts of Co (42.2 wt.%), Cr (11.4%) , Mn (59.9%), Ni (13.5%), Zn (41.0%) and V (42.2%) were extracted with oxalic acid and Cu (44.7 wt.%), Pb (49.3%), and Sr (61.2%) with EDTA. With NH4Cl, CaCl2 and CH3COONa small amounts of metals were extracted (except Sr), generally below 1%. Based on these results we can conclude that the metals in the sediments of Lake Skadar are found in a negligible amount in easily mobile, acid soluble and carbonate-related phase.

Skadar Lake is a crypto-depression, a shallow lake, near to the Adriatic coast; the largest in the Balkan Peninsula and in southeastern Europe. The Lake is a very complex aquatic ecosystem in which anthropogenic activities have a long history in terms of the impact on wildlife and the overexploitation of natural resources. Such consequences related to heavy metals represent a global problem. Heavy metal pollution can cause severe ecological consequences in aquatic ecosystems. These pollutants accumulate in the aquatic biota from water, sediment and through the food chain, the impact can magnify. Aquatic macrophytes are good indicators of the health of a water body. This research was carried out to evaluate heavy metals concentration in water, sediment and in the aquatic macrophyte Trapa natans (water chestnut), with BCF (bio-concentration factor), BSAF (biota sediment accumulation factor) and TA (translocation ability), in order to determine the water quality of this specific part of the aquatic ecosystem of Skadar Lake near to the settlement of Vranjina, a fishing village. The determination of heavy metals was carried out by ICP-OES. (Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry). Statistical analysis was established by R statistical computing software, version 3.5.3. The metal concentration in the water decreases in the following sequential order: As > Pb > Zn > Cu = Al = Cr > Cd = Hg. Meanwhile in the sediment, the descending sequence is as follows: Cr > Zn > Cu > Pb > As > Cd > Hg. The ability of plants to absorb and accumulate metals from the aqueous growth medium was assessed using a bio-concentration factor. The BCF in the stem, leaf and fruit has high values, mainly, of Al, Cr, Cu and Zn, while for the biota sediment accumulation factor, the highest values were recorded for the following elements: Hg, Cd, Cu and Zn. Analysis of the translocation ability of TA shows the dominance of four metals: Pb, Cd, Hg and As. A significant positive Kendall's correlation coefficient between sediment and stem (R = 0.73, p < 0.05), stem and leaf (R = 0.87, p < 0.05) and leaf and fruit (R = 1, p < 0.05) was established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]