Introduction.- The Physical and Geographical Characteristics of the Lake Skadar Basin.- Hydrogeology of the Skadar Lake Basin.- The obscure history of the Skadar Lake and its biota – a perspective for future research.- Climate change in the Lake Skadar/Shkodra region.- Satellite remote sensing of Lake Skadar/Shkodra.- The Water and Sediment Chemistry of Lake Skadar.- Metal Pollution: Evidences from Plants, Aquatic Invertebrates and Fish from Lake Skadar.- The Phytoplankton and Trophic State of Lake Skadar/Shkodra.- Charophytes (Charales) of Lake Skadar/Shkodra: Ecology and Distribution.- The Diversity of the Flora and Vegetation of Lake Skadar/Shkodra.- The Zooplankton of Lake Skadar/Shkodra: Species Diversity and Abundance.- The Diversity of the Zoobenthos Communities of the Lake Skadar/Shkodra Basin.- The Diversity and Conservation Status of the Molluscs of Lake Skadar/Shkodra.- The Diversity of Water Mite Assemblages (Acari: Parasitengona: Hydrachnidia) of Lake Skadar/Shkodra and Its Catchment Area.- Parasites of Lake Skadar.- The Diversity and Endemism of Aquatic Subterranean Fauna of the Lake Skadar/Shkodra Basin.- The Ichthyofauna of Lake Skadar/Shkodra: Diversity, Economic Significance, Condition, and Conservation Status.- Diversity and Conservation Status of Batrachofauna and Herpetofauna in the Lake Skadar Region.- Ornithological Features of Skadar Lake.- Integrated Lake Basin Management for Lake Skadar/Shkodra.- Cultural-Historic Heritage of the Lake Skadar Basin.- Conclusions: Recent Advances and the Future Prospects of the Lake Skadar/Shkodra Environment.
This book reviews the unique ecosystem of the Lake Skadar/Shkodra and its basin, and discusses the latest advances made in this region to face the impact of climate change. Divided into 23 chapters, the book gathers leading expertise from various scientific and engineering communities and provides readers with extensive discussions of core issues, including the water and sediment chemistry of Lake Skadar/Shkodra and the metal pollution that is evident in plants, aquatic invertebrates and fish. Readers will discover how a sustainable science-based management approach can be applied to the Lake Skadar/Shkodra region, and will learn about the environment prospects for the region. This book is intended as an essential tool for all scientists interested in the Lake Skadar/Shkodra environment – in particular those investigating the interactions between land and water, between limnology and biota, and between natural and cultural resources.