Study of Pollution of the Plitvice Lakes by Water and Sediment Analyses |
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Authors: | Nada Horvatinčić José Luis Briansó Bogomil Obelić Jadranka Barešić Ines Krajcar Bronić |
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Institution: | (1) Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;(2) Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 008193 Bellaterra, Spain |
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Abstract: | The process of eutrophication in form of intense plant growth has been observed in some lakes and water streams at the Plitvice
Lakes National Park in central Croatia. Here we investigate whether this phenomenon is a consequence of anthropogenic pollution
or due to naturally produced organic matter in the lakes. We applied chemical analysis of water at two springs and four lakes
(nutrients, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), trace elements) and measurements of surface lake sediments (mineral and organic
fraction analyses, trace elements) in four different lakes/five sites. The chemical composition of water does not indicate
recent anthropogenic pollution of water because the concentrations of most trace elements are below detection limits. The
concentrations of DOC and nutrients are slightly higher in the area of increased eutrophication-plant growth. Also the content
of organic matter in the sediment is at the highest level in areas with highest C/N ratio indicating that the organic fraction of this sediment is mainly of terrestrial origin. There is no significant difference
among the trace element concentration in the upper segment of all cores, deposited approximately during last 50 years when
higher anthropogenic influence is expected due to development and touristic activity, and the lower part of the cores, corresponding
to the period approximately 100–200 years before present. The content of trace elements and organic matter in sediments decreases
from the uppermost lake downstream. According to our results there is no indication of recent anthropogenic pollution in water
and sediment. Higher concentrations of DOC in water as well as phosphorus and some other elements in the lake sediment can
be a consequence of input of natural organic matter to the lake water. |
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Keywords: | Plitvice Lakes lake sediment trace elements water pollution eutrophication |
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