Nutrient-Food Chain Modeling for Lake Prespa

Abstract

This research presents an approach to modeling nutrient/food-chain interactions in a stratified lake, which gives a general picture of the eutrophication level for lake Prespa and shows general trends of the trophic state of this aquatic ecosystem. Man made eutrophication, in absence of control measures, provides much faster than the natural phenomenon and is the major reason for pollution of lake Prespa. The model presented provides informations on temporal resolution of eutrophication effects that is extremely useful to water quality managers. This study also provides a means to identify nutrient and light limitation, which is a critical step in controlling eutrophication. The specific nature of the lake has been taken account and embodied in the model. The adequacy of the simulation is assessed by experimental measurements in the lake. The results taken are encouraging.