Influence of Multiple Anthropogenic Pressures on the Water Quality Assessment Based on Benthic Diatoms of the Ibar River Basin (Kosovo and Metohija, Serbia)

Abstract

Kosovo and Metohija province has a long tradition of mining activities that have caused an undesirable impact on the environment. We showed that the Ibar river is under multiple stressors by the industrial (mining-related) and urban discharges. The concentration level of heavy metals in water has elevated (Cd<Cu<Zn) and ranged between <15 µg·dm^-3 for Cd, <151 µg·dm^-3 for Cu and <1649 µg·dm^-3 for Zn. Diatom communities mainly responded to high levels of metal by the presence of specific metal tolerant species, while nutrient-rich environments were characterized by the presence of nutrient-tolerant taxa. A good fit was observed in this study between the frequency of teratologies and the presence of metals as contaminants. A significantly higher presence of teratological valves has been noticed at sites contaminated by metals.