WATER QUALITY AT THREE SPECIAL NATURE RESERVES IN VOJVODINA, SERBIA: PRELIMINARY RESEARCH

Abstract

Degradation of water quality caused by an anthropogenic influence is a problem which is present even at some special nature reserves (SNRs) in the Province of Vojvodina, Serbia. The aim of this paper is to present results of preliminary research on water quality on three SNRs. Whereas in the SNR Ludaško jezero (Ludaš Lake) and in the SNR Obedska bara (Obedska Pond) serious euthropic processes are present due to agricultural runoff and untreated wastewater, the SNR Stari Begej – Carska bara (Old Bega River - Imperial Pond) is under the potential influences of fish farms and agriculture. The monitoring conducted in spring/summer period and in autumn in all SNR included water sampling on several locations within each SNR. The analyses included basic water quality parameters, water mineralization and microbiological analyses. Both, water quality and microbiological results have proven highly eutrophic status of the SNR Ludaško jezero and significant difference in salinity in the north and in the south of the lake. The results on the other two investigated SNRs are a bit better indicating moderate eutrophic conditions, except for autumn sampling at SNR Stari Begej-Carska bara when serious deterioration of water quality was determined.

Keywords

• water quality
• special nature reserve
• Ludaško jezero
• Obedska bara
• Stari Begej - Carska bara.