Preliminary Data On Benthic MacroInvertebrate Fauna Composition Of

Preliminary Data On Benthic Macro-Invertebrate Fauna Composition Of Vjosa River, Albania During 2011 Anila Paparisto 1, Erjola Keçi 1, Bledar Pepa 1, Dorina Topoviti 1, Odeta Laknori 1, Etleva Hamzaraj 1, Eltjon Halimi 1 1 Faculty of Natural Sciences, Tirana University, Albania E-mail: anila_paparisto@yahoo. com

Background Methods Results Conclusions AIM OF THE STUDY • IDENTIFICATION AND PRESENTATION OF BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATE FAUNA COMPOSITION OF VJOSA RIVER, DURING 2011.

Background Methods Results Conclusions OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY 1. Presentation of the main groups of aquatic insects and other macroinvertebrates in Vjosa River. 2. Determination of the individuals collected in each sampling station. 3. Quantitative assessment of aquatic insects population and other macroinvertebrates in different parts of the river, based on the longitudinal typology division of the river. 4. Order and family variations in different parts of the river.

Background Methods VJOSA RIVER • Its source is in Greece, Pindus Mountains, near the village of Vovousa and enters in Albania near Carshova. It continues northwest through Permeti, Kelcyra, Tepelena, Memaliaj, Selenica and Novosela. It flows into the Adriatic sea, northwest of Vlora. • 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 • An important role on the river stream is also playing the snowfall. Results Conclusions

Background Methods Results Conclusions SAMPLING METHODOLOGY Ø Sampling period- 2011 Ø One day expeditions - once a month Ø Samples from 6 stations - the stations are defined based on the zonal division of the river longitude and on the geographical connections to the urban areas through Vjosa valley. Ø Station 1 - Merzhan Ø Station 2 - Çarçovë Ø Station 3 - Petran Ø Station 4 - Përmet Ø Station 5 – Dragot Ø Station 6 - Lekël

Background Methods Results Conclusions SAMPLING METHODOLOGY § Benthic invertebrates are taken from the river bottom (40 – 60 cm) by using the kick-net. - The Kick – net is composed by the removable wooden handle and the nylon bag, which is 60 cm in depth. The nylon net is constructed of 0. 5 mm mesh. § The samples were collected randomly in each station from areas of differing current speed. § All benthic macro invertebrates are kept in 95% ETOH and stored in the laboratory for the identification of the species. § Samples from different stations are stored analyzed separately.

Background Methods Moments of work … Results Conclusions

Background Methods Results Conclusions Identified benthic invertebrates in Vjosa River q During our study were collected a total number of 3952 individuals. q All individuals belonging to Arthropods (class Insecta and Gastropoda). q. Class Insecta is represented by 7 orders and 43 families, and class Gastropoda is represented by 2 orders with one family each. q Most individuals 44. 15 % (1745 individuals) belonged to the fifth station (Merzhan) and then come the first station (Dragot) with 20. 21 % (799 individuals). q. In the fourth station (Përmet) we found 616 individuals (15. 59%), in cond the station 271 individuals (6. 86 %). q 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

Background Methods Results Conclusions Identified benthic invertebrates in Vjosa River Table 1: Percentage of individuals found in each station Station Number of individuals Percentage (%) Station I II IV V VI 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

Background Methods Identified benthic invertebrates in Vjosa River 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 2; graph 1). Results Conclusions Table 2: Number of individuals of each order during spring and autumn 2011 ORDER Ephemeroptera Plecoptera Trichoptera Diptera Odonata Heteroptera Coleoptera Neritidae Lymnaeidae Spring Autumn 482 741 62 199 561 1497 29 257 5 33 0 1 2 122 0 4 1 1 Graph 1: Number of individuals of each order during spring and autumn 2011

Background Methods Results Conclusions Differences of benthic invertebrates density in sampling stations • From the comparison of 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 zoo benthos because they are poikilothermic, which means that their temperature changes in response to the temperature changes in their environment.

Background Methods Results Conclusions Differences of benthic invertebrates density in sampling stations 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. 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 Graph 2: Variation of families number for each station for orders: Tricoptera, Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera

Background Methods Results Conclusions 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. • 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.