Preliminary Data on Benthic Macro-Invertebrate Fauna Composition of Vjosa River During 2011, Albania Anila Paparisto, Dorina Topoviti, Bledar Pepa, , Erjola Keçi, Odeta Laknori, Etleva Hamzaraj Eltjon Halimi Faculty of Natural Sciences, Tirana University, Albania
[email protected]
Abstract Monitoring of water bodies following instructions of Water Frame Directive (WFD) indicate that, an importable element for determining water quality are benthic macro-invertebrates. Our study was focused on Vjosa River during 2011. The purpose of this study is to asses the composition of benthic macro-invertebrate fauna for Vjosa River. Its source is in Greece, Pindus Mountains, near the village of Vovousa and enters Albania near Çarshovë. It continues northwest through Përmet, Këlcyrë, Tepelenë, Memaliaj, Selenicë and Novoselë. It flows into the Adriatic Sea, northwest of Vlorë. Its total length is about 272 kilometers, of which the first 80 kilometers are in Greece, and the remaining 192 kilometers (119 mi) are in Albania. During 2011, are collected: 4 samples from each of 6 stations along the river (1. The custom of three bridges; 2. Çarçovë; 3. Petran; 4. Përmet; 5. Dragot; 6. Lekël), All the benthic macro-invertebrate fauna collected belong to 2 classes (Insecta, Mollusca), 7 insect orders (Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera, Plecoptera, Diptera, Odonata, Heteroptera, Coloptera), and 42 insect families (Heptagenidae, Baetidae, Amelidae, Oligoneuridae, Ephemerellidae, Siphlonuridae, Isonychidae, Caenidae, Potamidae, Perlidae, Perlodidae, Taeniopterigidae, Chloroperlidae, Petroperlidae, Leucridae, Nemuridae, Hydropsychidae, Philopotamidae, Glossosomatidae, Hydroptiliodae, Brachycentridae, Rhyacophilidae, Beraidae, Policentropidae, Tabanidae, Tipulidae, Athericidae, Blepharicedae, Chironomidae, Simulidae, Empididae, Thaumelidae, Culicidae, Psychomylidae, Gomphidae, Libelluidae, Corduliidae, Aphelocheirus, Helodidae, Hydrochidae, Elmidae, Limnebiidae) and two mollusk families (Neritidae and Lymnaeidae). Keywords: Macro-invertebrates, benthic insects, Vjosa River,
Introduction Insects as part of macro-invertebrate fauna of rivers can be used as biological indicators for the valuation of the biodiversity. These organisms are sensible to every single change in the environment and are related to the factor that causes such modification, suggesting so the trend of the environment, (Bode, et al., 1995). The evaluation of the taxa composition of macro-invertebrates of rivers can be used to decide their ecological and biological status. Due to the fact that they can be found in all aquatic habitats and samples can be collected and classified easily, benthic macro-invertebrates are classified as good bio-indicators of the water quality, (Paparisto A. 2001), (Paparisto, et al., 2008), (Paparisto, et al., 2009), (Paparisto, et al., 2010), (Halimi, et al., 2011). Some river’s organisms have a high variety, or they can be under the threat of water quality conditions. When the conditions in river, change from the impact of the pollutants, then the number of species and their distribution change (Bode, et al., 1997), (Downing and Ringler. 1984). This paper presents the results of the monitoring of benthic macro-invertebrate fauna composition of Vjosa River, during 2011.
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Methods and materials Sampling plots were taken to be representative of the upper part of Vjosa River, whereas within a station samples were taken randomly. The Vjosa River stations (figure 1) and their respective codes are as following: station 1: Merzhan; station 2: Çarçovë; station 3: Petran; station 4: Përmet; station 5: Dragot; station 6: Lekël (Figure 1).( PANO. 1984) Four samples were collected during the year for each station. The sampling method used in this study is the method proposed by (Campaioli, et al., 1994), (Pollard, J.E. 1981) (Dowing & Ringler, 1984), (Rundle, et al., 2002), (Bode, et al., 1997), (Bailey, et al., 2001).
Figure 1: The location of the sampling stations The macro invertebrates were taken from the bottom of the river, in deepness 40-60 cm, with a kick-net. This net was put vertically in the river’s bed, while in a one meter distance, we dag with feet for 30 seconds. In the laboratory the samples were poured into a large watch glass. Approximately one teaspoon of materials was removed from the sample and processed in a white enamel pan. Macro invertebrates were removed randomly from the detritus and gravel and placed in a smaller watch glass for identification under a dissecting microscope. The collected organisms were identified to family, (Tachet, et al., 1980), (Wallace, B. 2003) ( Bouchard, R. W., 2004).
Results and conclusions During our study were collected a total number of 3952 individuals. All individuals belonging to Arthropods (class Insecta and Gastropoda), class Insecta is represented by 7 orders and 43 families, and class Gastropoda is represented by 2 orders with one family each (table 1). Most individuals 44.15 % (1745 individuals) belonged to the fifth station (Merzhan) and then come the first station (Dragot) with 20.21 % (799 individuals). These results maybe due to the fact that these stations are located away from urban area and so the water of the river manage to improve itself. The situations in the fourth, second and third stations are different, as these sampling stations are placed in urban area. So, in the fourth station (Përmet) we found 616 individuals (15.59%), in the second station (Çarçovë) 306 individuals (7.74 %), in the third station 271 individuals (6.86 %). The situation of station 2 maybe due to it’s sandy bottom composition, from BALWOIS 2012 - Ohrid, Republic of Macedonia - 28 May, 2 June 2012
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literature is moreover, known that zoo-benthos individuals and species are clearly more numerous in rocky bottoms than in sandy bottoms like the second station. The station with the lowest number of individuals is station 6 (Lekël) with 215 individuals (5.44%), this because this station is located near the place where untreated water of Gjirokastra region join Vjosa River (table 2). Table 2: Percentage of individuals found in each station Station I Station II Station III
Station IV
Station V
Station VI
Number of individuals Percentage (%)
799
306
271
616
1745
215
20.22
7.74
6.86
15.59
44.15
5.44
The first station has a greater numbers of families, 29, then comes the second and the fourth station with 22 families, followed by the third and the sixth station with 21 families and finally the fifth station with 16 families (table 1). From 9 orders found in the Vjosa river we noticed that order Trichoptera has the biggest number of individuals during spring (561) and even autumn (1497), followed by order Ephemeroptera with 482 individuals during spring and 741 ones in autumn (table 3; graph 1). The orders with the lowest number of individuals on both seasons are Heteroptera, Neritidae, Lymnaeidae (table 3; graph 1). Table 3: Number of individuals of each order during spring and autumn 2011 ORDER Ephemeroptera Plecoptera Trichoptera Diptera Odonata Heteroptera Coleoptera Neritidae Lymnaeidae
Spring 482 62 561 29 5 0 2 0 1
Autumn 741 199 1497 257 33 1 122 4 1
Graph 1: Number of individuals of each order during spring and autumn 2011 1497
1600 1400
Individuals
1200
Spring Autumn
1000
741
800
561
482
600 400
257
199 62
200
5 33
29
122 2
0 1
0 4
1 1
id ae Ly m na ei da e
N
er it
te ra eo p
er ol C
er op t
er
a
at a et H
O
ip t D
do n
a
a er
a
ho pt
er
Tr ic
op t
Pl ec
Ep he m
er
op
te ra
0
Orders
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If we compare data collected from the samples taken during spring with those obtained during autumn, we can say that the population of benthic macro-invertebrates is bigger in size in autumn than in spring (during summer 2011 we collected 1147 individuals belonging to 7 orders, while during autumn we collected 2852 individual belonging to 9 orders). A possible explanation for these results may be the fact that the structure of zoo-benthos communities is influenced by flow conditions, water quality, the bottom structure, temperature and light conditions and the occurrence of aquatic vegetation. The temperature of the river water is one of the most important factors regulating the growth of zoobenthos because they are poikilothermic, which means that their temperature changes in response to the temperature changes in their environment. If we analyze data collected for 3 insect orders (Tricoptera, Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera) with high sensibility to pollution (Graph. 2), we can see decrees of number of the families found at all samples from station 2, this due to the fact that station 2 is the only station with a sandy bottom structure. Graph 2: Variation of families number for each station for orders: Tricoptera, Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera 12
Number of the families
10 8 Trichoptera Ephemeroptera
6
Plecoptera 4 2 0 Station 1
Station 2
Station 3
Station 4
Station 5
Station 6
The number of families for those three orders is biggest on the first station and is decrees rapidly on the other stations. This situation in stations 2, 3, 5 and 6 is due to the fact that they are found near by urban areas and are under the pressure of human activities. As we can see from graph.2 at station 4 we see an increase on the families number this due to the fact that this station is far way from urban areas.
Conclusions During our study were collected a total number of 3952 individuals. Most individuals 44.15 % (1745 individuals) belonged to the fifth station (Merzhan) and then come the first station (Dragot) with 20.21 % (799 individuals). These results maybe due to the fact that these stations are located away from urban area. The situations in the fourth, second and third stations are different, as these sampling stations are placed in urban area (the fourth station (Përmet) we found 616 individuals (15.59%), in the second station (Çarçovë) 306 individuals (7.74 %), in the third station 271 individuals (6.86 %)). During summer 2011 we collected 1147 individuals belonging to 7 orders, while during autumn we collected 2852 individual belonging to 9 orders. A possible explanation for these results may be that the temperature of the river water is one of the most important factors regulating the
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growth of zoo-benthos because they are poikilothermic, which means that their temperature changes in response to the temperature changes in their environment. Based on the number of families for the orders Tricoptera, Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera the first station has the biggest number of families follow by station 4 both placed on nonurban areas, for the stations 2, 3, 5 and 6 that are placed on urban areas this number decrees.
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TAXA
APRIL I
II
MAY
III
IV
V
VI
2 5 2
8 5
8 12 6
4 1
1
2
6
I
II
III
IV
4 13 5 43
2 4 6 56
4 3 3 32
4 19 23 65
Sampling stations SEPTEMBER I V VI I II III V V
OCTOBER V I
I
II
III
33 137
21 37
26 15
IV
V
VI
Phyla: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Ephemeroptera Fam. Heptagenidae Fam. Baetidae Fam. Amelidae Fam. Oligoneuridae Fam. Ephemerilidae Fam. Siphlonuridae Fam. Isonychidae Fam. Caenidae Fam. Potamidae Order: Plecoptera Fam. Perlidae Fam. Perlodidae Fam. Taeniopterygidae Fam. Chloroperlidae Fam. Peltoperlidae Fam. Leucridae Fam. Nemuridae Order Trichoptera Fam. Hydropsychidae Fam. Philopotamidae Fam. Leptoceridae Fam. Glossosomatidae Fam. Hydroptilidae Fam. Brachycentridae Fam. Rhyacophilidae Fam. Beraidae Fam. Policentropidae Order Diptera Fam. Tabanidae Fam. Tipulidae
2 19
3 1
13 6 5
1 1
1 82
2
4 9
3 20
1
2
3
9 64
80 178
3 3
3
3
12
11
9
4
31
36
13
8
10
5
3
20
3
6
17
2
24
18 6 3 4
1
8
2 17
2
1 1
5
1
1
1
1
5
1
2
12
2
1
2
8
1
43
20
11
16
1 1
160
12
48
1
18
20
30
120
12
66
25
2
2 4
1
2 5
2 8
18
21
1 1 20 2
6 1 17
93
36
46
205
631
26
1 1
4 2
1 2
2 74
8 7 1 2
1
1
1
3
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7
8
1
1
2
3
4
3
5
2
2
1
2 1
6
Fam. Athericidae Fam. Blephariceridae Fam. Chironomidae Fam. Simulidae Fam. Empididae Fam. Thaumelidae Fam. Culicidae Fam . Psychomyiidae Order Odonata Fam. Gomphidae Fam. Libelluidae Fam. Corduliidae Order Heteroptera Fam. Aphelocheirus Order Coleoptera Fam. Helodidae Fam. Hydrochidae Fam Elmidae Fam. Limnebiidae Phyla: Molusca Class :Gastropoda Superfam. Neritoidae Fam. Neritidae Superfam. Lymnaeoidae Fam. Lymnaeidae
1
5 4
1 1
1
1
4
1
1
2
1
3
33 1
7 2
1
11 24
1 2 1
4
1 80 24 1 1 2
2 1 1
6
6 2 2
4
2
1
1
2
1
1 22 1 2 1 3
9
16
92
1
4 1
Table 1: Data collected in Vjosa River during April, May, September and October, 2011
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macro invertebres des
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