The ecological water regime in lake water bodies refers to the water levels that enable the fulfillment of the ecosystem’s multiple functions. Therefore, assessing the ecological water regime necessitates the consideration of hydrological, economic, social, and ecological factors. The present research is focused on the assessment of the ecological water level of four Mediterranean natural lake ecosystems, considering their morphological and biological features. Initially, suggestions on the ecological water regime of the studied lakes were made based on an analysis of the lakes’ morphometry. Further, the ecological and biological requirements of the present fish fauna and aquatic macrophytic vegetation were considered. For the latter, mapping was conducted by extensive sampling according to international standards, in order to assess macrophyte composition, abundance, and chorology, as well as species sensitivity to water level fluctuations. The above guided the proposals on the optimal water level regime that should be met by each lake regarding the macrophytic and fish communities’ sustainability, also taking into account the unique hydromorphological features of each lake. The differences in the outcoming results revealed that hydromorphological and biological approaches should be combined for assessing lakes’ ecological water regimes.

中文翻译：

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评估生态水位：以四个地中海湖泊为例

湖泊水体生态水情是指能够实现生态系统多种功能的水位。因此，评估生态水情需要综合考虑水文、经济、社会和生态因素。目前的研究重点是评估四个地中海天然湖泊生态系统的生态水位，考虑它们的形态和生物学特征。最初，基于对湖泊形态测量的分析，对所研究湖泊的生态水情提出了建议。此外，还考虑了现有鱼类群和水生大型植物的生态和生物需求。对于后者，根据国际标准通过广泛抽样进行测绘，以评估大型植物的组成、丰度和生态，以及物种对水位波动的敏感性。以上指导了关于每个湖泊应满足的关于大型植物群落和鱼类群落可持续性的最佳水位制度的建议，还考虑了每个湖泊独特的水文形态特征。结果的差异表明，应结合水形态学和生物学方法来评估湖泊的生态水情。还考虑到每个湖泊独特的水文形态特征。结果的差异表明，应结合水形态学和生物学方法来评估湖泊的生态水情。还考虑到每个湖泊独特的水文形态特征。结果的差异表明，应结合水形态学和生物学方法来评估湖泊的生态水情。