THE THREATENED AND RARE PLANT SPECIES OF THE LAKE SHKODRA - BUNA DELTA HYDROLOGICAL SYSTEM

1. THE THREATENED AND RARE PLANT SPECIES OF THE LAKE SHKODRA - BUNA DELTA HYDROLOGICAL SYSTEM 1Department of Biology-Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Shkodra �Luigj Gurakuqi�, 2Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tirana, Albania

2. INTRODUCTION Lakes Shkodra and Buna Delta and wetlands surrounding with a surface >30.000ha represent one of the most important centers of biodiversity along the Adriatic Sea and one of the best preserved in the Mediterranean (STUMBERGER et al. 2008). In the Ramsar list of wetlands of global importance, Lake Shkodra and Delta Buna in the list of IBA and IPAs were included, while the Montenegrin part of lake was declared a National Park in 1983. Buna River was declared protected region and also in the European green belt was included.

3. IPAs sites of North Albania

4. INTRODUCTION The wetland ecosystem of Lake Shkodra, Delta Buna belong to Mediterranean evergreen shrubs zone, ilicis Adriatic subzone (Orno-Quercetum ilicis), composed mainly by evergreen and deciduous forests and shrubs known as maquis and garrigue. The wetland is characterized by numerous favorable habitats suitable for development of life: Marine, Estuarine ,Lacustrine, Riverine and Palustrine, sandy shore etc. According to Ramsar Convention System (2009), fifteen principle wetland types were designated; 10 inland and 5 marine wetlands.

5. HABITATS OF LAKE SHKODRA_BUNA DELTA

6. methodology APPLIED The List of the Rare and Threatened flora of Lake Shkodra, Delta Buna and Viluni Lagoon ecosystems is based on personal investigations and collecting plants material during 1998-2009 and on literature sources data (JANCHEN 1920; RUCI 1983; HADZIABLAHOVIC et al. 2001; DESFAYES 2004; KARPATI & KARPATI 1961; KASHTA 2007, KASHTA & RAKAJ 2001, 2003; XHULAJ & SHUKA 2007; RAKAJ 2009). The threatened status of plants were specified according to Red Lists of Albanian Flora (ANONYMOUS 2007), IUCN categories (WALTER & GILLET 1998) and actual situation during our field trip.

7. Methodology APPLIED The wetland indicator status of the plants species according to REED (1988) for first time for region was given using bellow symbols: OBL - Obligate Wetland (>99% in wetland) FACW - Facultative Wetland (>67-99% in wetland) FAC - Facultaive (34-66% in wetland or equally) FACU - Facultative Upland (1-33% in wetland) On the basis of relevant distribution data, all investigated plant species are mapped on 10 x 10 sq. km and shown in a UTM grid system.

8. RESULTS OBTAINED The high ecological diversity explained by different wetland types and habitats have influenced not only to a rich flora, but also has conditioned growing a large number of rare and threatened plant species. More then 30 plant species of Albanian Red List grown in the Lake Shkodra and Delta Buna wetland ecosystems (Table 1). CR A1b 1 CR A1c 1 EN A1b 4 EN A1c 1 VU A1b 17 VU A2b 2 LRnt 2

9. RESULTS OBTAINED Three species belong to ferns and 28 belong to Angiosperms, of them 22 herbaceous and 6 trees and shrubs. Round 15 species belong to hydrophytes and hygrophytes, 6 to phanerophytes (trees and shrubs), 5 geophytes, 3 hemicryptophytes and 3 psamophytes. Three globally and European threatened species: Trapa natans, Marsilea quadrifolia and Caldesia parnassifolia grown on the investigated area. Four species: tree upper species together with Salvinia natans in the Bern Convention as regionally threatened were included.

10. GLOBALY THREATENED SPECIES Figures Trapa natans Caldesia parnassifolia

11. RESULTS OBTAINED Almost extinct in that area would be considered Marsilea quadrifolia, Salvinia natans and Lycium europaeum, since have not been found in the reported areas for many years. Common Oak (Quercus robur) was considered critically risked due to damage and destruction of its habitat as a result of human activity. Three species: Anacamptis pyramidalis, Hyacinthela dalmatica and Leucojum aestivum are proposed to include in the Red List of Albanian plants, because of their very limited distribution area in Albania.

12. Ex and CR Species Figures

13. RESULTS OBTAINED Plants are threatened from damage of their habitats as result of erosion, deforestation, changing of water regime, introduction of invasive species, pollution of their habitats by urban and solid residue etc. The impact of human activity particularly in the last decades has caused the damage and the degradation of several habitats and ecosystems threatening the existence of many plant and animal species.

14. The Red List of plant species of Lake Shkodra and Delta Buna wetland ecosystems

15. The Red List of plant species of Lake Shkodra and Delta Buna wetland ecosystems

16. SPECIES DISTRIBUTION Distribution of Caldesia parnassifolia, Hippuris vulgaris, Nymphoides peltata and Hyacinthella dalmatica (overturned triangle) and Prunus webbii, Petteria ramentacea (circle), and Baldellia ranunculoides , Lycium europaeum , Pancratium maritimum , Desmazeria marina and Ammophila arenaria (triangle) and Zostera noltii (quadrate) in Lake Shkodra - Delta Buna.

17. SPECIES DISTRIBUTION Distribution of Adianthum capillus-veneris (circle) and Hydrocotyle vulgaris, Oenanthe tenuifolia, Gladiolus palustris, Anacamptis palustris,Quercus robur and Laurus nobilis (triangle) and Marsilea quadrifolia (middle triangle) in Lake Shkodra - Delta Buna.

18. Conclusions Distribution of Salvinia natans and Cladium mariscus (circle) and Nuphar lutea, Nymphea alba, Ranunculus lingua, Trapa natans, Butomus umbelatus Sagittaria sagittifolia, and Hydrocharis morsus-ranae, (triangle) in Lake Shkodra - Delta Buna.

19. Conclusions Flora of the wetland ecosystem of Lake Shkodra and Delta Buna is very rich. A list of 31 threatened, rare and endemic plant species, as well their distribution and status according to IUCN categories was given. Three species belong to ferns and 28 belong to Angiosperms. Three globally and European threatened plant species (Trapa natans, Marsilea quadrifolia and Caldesia parnassifolia) grown on the investigated area.

20. Conclusions Two plant species (Anacamptis pyramidalis and Hyacinthela dalmatica) with very limited distribution area were proposed to include in the Red List of Albanian plants. The improvement of legislations and take the concrete actions aiming the conservation in situ of threatened species are significant points to be focused on in future. New insight will be valuable in the area aiming to evaluate in more details the ecological situation of actual list of the rare and threatened plant species.