Ecological study of an oil polluted coastal lake ecosystem in Greece

The aim of this study is to examine the ecological affinities in the lake Koumoundourou, Central Greece. The main finding of the study is that, eventhough the lake is heavily polluted by crude oil, water circulation as well as wind are such that pollutants bioaccumulation is avoided, the oil film on the surface of the lake is forced to outflow in Elefsis bay and concentration of heavy metals in water column and sediment is lower than from other areas without oil pollution. Zoobenthos is rich in large sized pollution resistant species (Nereis spp.) in high numbers while there exist 64 phytoplankton species. The lake is also inhabited by mullets and eels.