engleski

Macrophyte vegetation of artificial water bodies in Croatia

During vegetation seasons 2016 and 2017 macrophyte vegetation of 36 (21 in Dinaric and 15 in Pannonian ecoregion) artificial water bodies – reservoirs and accumulations was studied in order to get insight into macrophyte diversity and to develop assessment method for water quality using macrophytes according to EU Water Frame Directive. The vegetation was surveyed using transects positioned perpendicular to the bank and stretched to the depth limit of macrophyte occurrence. Extended, nine-degree, Braun-Blanquet scale was used for estimation of species cover-abundance. Physico-chemical and hydromorphological parameters were also included in analyses. In total, 110 species were recorded with very uneven distribution. High water level fluctuations are the most limiting factor for macrophyte occurrence, followed by water turbidity and some chemical parameters. For estimation of ecological classes of water quality, reference index was developed based on system of indicator species (indicators of good status and referent species, indifferent species and indicators of degradation). It was shown that reference index is significantly correlated with environmental parameters and therefore can be used as measure of water quality. In general, artificial water bodies in Dinaric ecoregion have higher macrophyte diversity and higher water quality i.e. ecological status in comparison to those in Pannonian ecoregion.

artificial lakes, macrophytes, status assesment

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