A. A. Belov

Ozero Karun i prokliatie Mnemiopsisa [Lake Qarun and the Mnemiopsis curse]

The article examines the human impact on the ecosystem of lake Qarun (lake Moeris) during the Middle Kingdom, Hellenistic period and over the past 150 years. The increase in population of the Fayum Oasis at the beginning of the 20th century and the expansion of arable land together with climatic factors are the major reasons for the global changes of the lake’s ecosystem. The salinity of the lake, nutrients and contaminants inflow sharply increased. The eutrophication of the lake led to the appearance of numerous invasive species, a decline in biodiversity and to a drop in fish catches. Negative changes in the ecosystem of lake Qarun are considered as a study case of a world trend.

Keywords:
Fayum Oasis, lake Qarun, lake Moeris, paleoecology, fishing in Ancient Egypt, invasive species.

Original language — Russian.

DOI: 10.24412/2686-9276-2021-00001.

Referring: Belov А. А. Lake Qarun and the Mnemiopsis curse [in Russian] // Egypt and neighbouring countries 1 (2021): 7–15. DOI: 10.24412/2686-9276-2021-00001.

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