The Composition and Abundance of the Macroinvertebrate Fauna in the Leqinat Lake, National Park Bjeshkët e Nemuna, Kosovo

Abstract

During August and September 2018 we collected the macroinvertebrate fauna in the Leqinat Lake, Kosovo. The Leqinat lake (great lake) is a mountain lake found in National Park "Bjeshkët e Nemuna" in western Kosovo, shared between Kosovo and Montenegro. Macrozoobenthos specimens were collected with D-frame net of 30 x 20 cm (600 cm2) diameter. Samples were taken from all available habitats represented with more than 5% of total habitat area on the sampling stretch (multi-habitat sampling procedure). Sampling in riffle section of the lake was done by identifying the riffle segments, disturbing the substratum with the feet while holding the net downstream with the mouth facing upstream. The macrozoobenthos structure during this investigation includes: 2 classes (Bivalvia and Gastropoda), 2 subclasses (Hirudinea and Oligochaeta), 6 orders (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera, Diptera, Coleoptera and Odonata), 15 families, 6 genera and 86 specimens. The larger number of families and individuals belongs to the Odonata order (4 family and 47 specimens) followed Tirchoptera (2 family and 10 specimens), Plecoptera (2 family and 6 specimens), Bivalvia (2 family with 5 specimens) Diptera (1 family with 12 specimens), Ephemeroptera and Hirudinea (1 family with 3 specimens) and Oligochaeta (1 family with only specimens). This investigation is a contribution in knowing the macroinvertebrate fauna and their ecological patterns in alpine lakes in Kosovo.

Keywords

• macroinvertebrate
• composition
• abundance
• leqinat lake
• national park “bjeshkët e nemuna”