Xhulaj S., Bushati M. & Miho A. (2008): Overview on phytoplankton of Albanian lagoons. Proceedings of the III Congress of Ecologists of the Republic of Macedonia with International Participation, 06-09.10.2007, Struga. Special issues of Macedonian Ecological Society, Vol. 8, Skopje.
Data on the phytoplankton of the most important lagoons of Albanian coast: Butrinti (Ionian coast), Narta, Karavasta and Patoku (Adriatic coast) have been reported here. Monthly data in Butrinti shows that diatoms and dinoflagellates were the most abundant. The phytoplankton had a seasonal pattern with an evident peak in autumn and a smaller one in winter (January 06). The diatoms were the most abundant, represented mainly by Cyclotella choctawhatcheeana and Pseudo-nitzschia seriata, the last one known as toxic. The phytoplankton growth was relatively low in Patoku and Karavasta, lower than all the studied lagoons. Intense growth was observed in Narta, with blooming state in April. Bacillariophyceae, Dinophyceae and Cryptophyceae represented the most abundant part of the phytoplankton in all Adriatic lagoons; in Butrinti phytoplankton was represented mainly by Bacillariophyceae and Dinophyceae. Filamentous Cyanopyceae were present only occasionally, especially in Narta. Pseudo-nitzschia seriata (diatom) and Prorocentrum minimum (dinoflagellates) were the most abundant toxic species in the phytoplankton. The data on phytoplankton would inform better about the productivity, the stress conditions and the risk from the potentially toxic algae, as well. A permanent and reliable monitoring system, including phytoplankton, would be helpful to Albanian government and other interested institutions to understand the health of lagoon ecosystem for better integrated management, fulfilling also the required standards in the international scale.