Turkish Journal of Zoology Turk J Zool (2016) 40: 64-72 http://journals.tubitak.gov.tr/zoology/ © TÜBİTAK Research Article doi:10.3906/zoo-1401-67 Contribution to the knowledge of fish fauna of Kosovo with a special note on some invasive species 1 1 1 1 2 1, Agim GASHI , Emine SHABANI , Linda GRAPCI KOTORI , Kemajl BISLIMI , Qenan MAXHUNI , Halil IBRAHIMI * 1 Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Pristina “Hasan Prishtina”, Pristina, Kosovo 2 Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, Kosovo Environmental Protection Agency, Pristina, Kosovo Received: 27.01.2014 Accepted/Published Online: 08.07.2015 Final Version: 01.01.2016 Abstract: Despite the long tradition of ichthyofaunal research in the Balkan Peninsula, there are still poorly investigated areas. Kosovo is one of the least investigated countries of the Balkan Peninsula in regard to fish fauna. In this study, we present the results of a fish fauna investigation in Badovc Lake and the Llap River. The fish fauna of Badovc Lake in central Kosovo was investigated at monthly intervals between June 2012 and December 2012. A total of 16 species belonging to 6 families, Cyprinidae, Cobitidae, Percidae, Siluridae, Esocidae, and Centrarhidae, were determined in this research area. The vast majority of species found belong to the family Cyprinidae (11), while all other families are represented by a single species. At 10 selected stations of the Llap River, 12 fish species were found. The family Cyprinidae is represented by 10 species, while 2 other families (Percidae and Salmonidae) are represented by a single species. The first preliminary checklist of fish species found in freshwater ecosystems belonging to the Black Sea basin in Kosovo is given and it contains 27 species. According to the IUCN criteria, 25 of the species found are in the category of Least Concern, and the 2 remaining species are in the category of Vulnerable species (Cyprinus caprio and Alburnoides bipunctatus). This investigation shows that the alien invasive pumpkinseed fish Lepomis gibbosus, which is reported here for the first time from Kosovo, is expanding its distribution area in the Balkan Peninsula. In this context, more detailed investigations are needed in this part of Kosovo in order to determine the diversity and number of fish populations. Key words: Kosovo, fish, Cyprinus caprio, Lepomis gibossus 1. Introduction and Ivanović, 1971; Apostolski, 1973, 1976; Habekovič, Freshwater ecosystems provide crucial goods and services 1978; Ivanović et al., 1983; Habekovič et al., 1986, 1990; to humankind and are thus critical for conservation of Mikavica, 1987; Škrijelj, 1991; Škrijelj and Masović, 2001). biological diversity. However, during the last decades they However, Kosovo was only sporadically included in these have become one of the most polluted environments due to investigations (e.g., Grapci-Kotori et al., 2010; Maxhuni et runoff of soils and farm chemicals from agricultural lands, al., 2010). Freshwater ecosystems in the Republic of Kosovo waste and sewage from urban areas, and discharge from belong to 3 water basins: the Black Sea, the Adriatic Sea, industrial sites (Bailey et al., 2004). This is also true for and the Aegean Sea. Previous ichthyofaunal investigations Kosovo and emphasizes the importance of investigation in Kosovo have been more focused on the rivers belonging of animal diversity in freshwater ecosystems (Dauti et to the Adriatic Sea basin, while the other 2 basins have al., 2007; Ibrahimi et al., 2007, 2012a, 2012b, 2013; Gashi been only cursorily investigated. and Ibrahimi, 2008; Ibrahimi and Gashi, 2008; Oláh et al, Sewage treatment plants do not exist in Kosovo, and 2013). so untreated sewage is dumped into the rivers, creating Historically, in the Balkan Peninsula, many high biological oxygen demand that eliminates some fish ichthyofaunal studies were carried out with the aim of species that require highly oxygenated water. Gravel and identifying qualitative, quantitative, and genetic patterns sand extraction from rivers is a serious problem, especially of fish fauna (e.g., Karaman, 1926, 1928, 1938; Stefanovič, in the southern part of Kosovo. Use of heavy equipment 1948; Taler, 1953; Vuković, 1963, 1977, 1982; Vuković to mine these materials destroys the habitat of fish and * Correspondence: [email protected] 64 GASHI et al. / Turk J Zool invertebrates and fills the river with suspended sediment, research areas, the sampling was done through the classic which is also detrimental to fish and other forms of aquatic method of fishing with a fishing rod. Sampling was done life (Usaid, 2003). There has been no study to evaluate the every month in 4 sampling stations at Badovc Lake and 10 impact of these anthropogenic activities on the reduction stations at the Llap River. In addition, detailed interviews of fish diversity in rivers in Kosovo. with fisherman of the area were conducted in order to This study examined the current state of fish retrieve information about the qualitative and quantitative composition in the artificial Badovc Lake and the Llap composition of the fish fauna of Badovc Lake and the Llap River, which belong to the Black Sea water basin. This is River. the first attempt to document the current composition of The selection of 4 sampling stations in Badovc Lake fish species in these freshwater ecosystems in Kosovo; such was done based on the habitat structure, water depth data are extremely important, because they lay ground and velocity, size and structure of the substratum, and, for future studies of qualitative and quantitative trends above all, information gained from fishermen about the of fish fauna in this part of the Balkan Peninsula. At the most suitable zones for fish sampling (Figure 1). The first same time, this study highlights the importance of the station (B1) is located at the western edge of the lake close introduced fish species found during this investigation. to the dam; the second and third stations (B2 and B3) Although it is often difficult to determine the impact of are located at the middle section of the lake; the fourth nonnative species on the autochthonous ichthyofauna, station (B4) is located at the eastern edge of the lake near generally the impact is negative (expressed in change in the river’s discharge into the lake. The selection of 10 existing food chains, competition for places of spawning, sampling stations in the Llap River (Figure 2) was done emergence of new parasites, etc.). In addition, the first by taking into consideration its entire longitudinal profile, preliminary checklist of fish species from freshwater from the upper reach area down to the river’s discharge ecosystems that belong to the Black Sea water basin in into the Sitnica River. These sampling stations were Kosovo is given here, with their statuses as per the IUCN identified based on the habitat structure, physical water Red List of Threatened Species. The IUCN Red List of characteristics, and substrate composition, in addition Threatened Species is a comprehensive tool for evaluating to the information gained from fishermen of that zone. the conservation status of plants and animals, guiding thus The first 3 stations (L1, L2, and L3) of the Llap River are the conservation efforts of both governmental institutions located at the upstream section of the river at the villages and the nongovernmental sector. of Murgull, Zhiti, and Pollate, respectively. Four stations of the Llap River (L4, L5, L6, and L7) are located at the 2. Materials and methods midstream segment of the river, in the villages Kërpimeh, A detailed study was conducted in Badovc Lake during Bajqinë, Podujevë, and Lupç, respectively. The last 3 June–December 2012. Investigations in the Llap River stations (L8, L9, and L10) are located at the downstream were carried out during July–November 2012. In both segment of the river in the villages Barilevë, Milloshevë, Figure 1. Four sampling stations in Badovc Lake (B1, B2, B3, and B4). 65 GASHI et al. / Turk J Zool Figure 2. Ten sampling stations in the Llap River (L1, L2, L3, L4, L5, L6, L7, L8, L9, and L10). and Lumi i Madh, respectively. Station L10 is located at and is the main tributary of the Sitnica River, notable for the discharge area of the Llap River into the Sitnica River. being the most polluted river in Kosovo (MESP, 2010). Badovc Lake (Albanian: Liqeni i Badovcit) (Figure 1) Many fish samples were identified onsite. However, for is an artificial lake located in central Kosovo. It is located verification of their identification, several specimens from southeast of the capital city of Pristina in the Gollak each fish species were preserved in 10% buffered formalin Mountains and on the Kosovo Plain. Around 150,000 and later transferred to 70% ethanol in the laboratory. In inhabitants of Pristina and adjacent areas receive drinking the laboratory, all preserved specimens were identified water from this system. Badovc Lake is fed by 2 rivers: the and verified according to Kottelat and Freyhof (2007), Mramor River and the Sushica River. This artificial lake Simonović (2001), Rakaj (1995), and Vuković (1971). All was built during the 1960s. It has a surface area of 127 km2 fish species were identified to species level. and an accumulating volume of 26.4 m3 when the lake is Menhinick’s diversity index was used to estimate at its maximal absorbing level. The water treatment facility species richness (Whittaker, 1977) and Sorensen’s index of Badovc Lake was made operational in 1966 with an of similarity was used to evaluate similarity between optimal capacity of 360 L/s (MESP, 2010). In the summer, sampling stations (Krebs, 1989). the lake is used for aquatic activities such as swimming, fishing, and sailing. The Llap River (Figure 2) is a river in 3. Results the northeastern part of Kosovo. It originates from the During this investigation, 16 fish species belonging to 6 Kopaonik Mountains in the village Bollosica, close to the families were found in 4 sampling stations at Badovc Lake state border between Kosovo and Serbia.