Latvia is situated in a transitional area between northern
coniferous forests and moderate zone broad leaf forests, between
oceanic climate and continental. So the territory of Latvia contains
many plant and animal distribution boundaries and relatively high
species richness.
In freshwater today are found 2680 algae species, 40 fish and 3 Cyclostomatia
species, the species of insects are represented by 188 Trichoptera,
48 - Ephemeroptera, 54 - Odonata, 28 - Plecoptera,
160 - Chironomidae species. About 144 species of mites are
found. There are 87 Cladocera and 47 Copepoda species (Crustaceans).
Worms are represented by 72 Oligochaeta, 15 Hirundinea,
14 Turbellaria, and 337 Rotatoria species. The
malacofauna contains 97 species of mollusks. Besides, 5 species of Spongia,
3 of Coelenterata and 315 of Infusoria (Ciliata) are
registered.
On the basis of 174 river investigations a Latvian Catalogue of
indicator species of freshwater saprobity has developed (Cimdins P.
et al. 1995). It contains 211 phytoplankton, 257 zooplankton, 116
microbenthos (Ciliata), 239 macrobenthos and 58 macrophyte
species as bioindicators typical for the rivers of Latvia.
The biodiversity of species in lakes are studied mainly in
connection with trophic state of lakes. The largest diversity of
species is established in the mesotrophic lakes, but rare and
potentially protective ones - in oligodystrophic lakes and also
dystrophic and dyseutrophic bog lakes, which are important for total
biodiversity characteristic for fresh water of Latvia.
Lists of species (algaes, zooplankton, zoobentos) in
preparation
LEGISLATION AND POLICY
The protection of freshwater species is connected with protection
of their habitats and catchment's area.
The preservation of biodiversity of freshwaters is determined by international
laws:
- Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC
- Fish Directive 78/659/EEC
- Ramsar Convention, 1971
- Rio de Janeiro Convention, 1992
- Bern Convention, 1979
National laws:
- The Law on Conservation of Species and Habitats, 2000
- On the General Protection and Use of Specially Protected
Nature Territories, 1997
- National Programme on Biological Diversity, 2000
- National Environment Protection Policy Plans, 1995
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