engleski

Macrophyte vegetation of rivers in Croatia

The aim of this study was to gain insight in diversity and distribution of river macrophytes in Croatia, to develop typology of macrophyte vegetation and to apply these data in establishing of macrophyte based index for the ecological quality assessment of rivers. In the period 2009-2014 over 300 sampling spots randomly scattered through all biogeographical regions of Croatia were surveyed. This included almost all Croatian rivers and replicates along the watercourses. Abundances of macrophytes (flowering plants, bryophytes and charophytes) were assessed using Kohler scale. The chemical and physical parameters of water, as well as geomorphology and bank vegetation were also surveyed following standard protocol. Different correlation and ordination procedures were employed to identify main ecological gradients and to define vegetation units. Several types of macrophyte vegetation were recognized: (i) moss communities, (ii) communities with Berula erecta and other herbids, (iii) communities with submerged and flotant macrophytes, (iv) communities with narrow leaved submerged macrophytes, (v) communities of broad leaved Potamogeton species and (vi) communities with Callitriche species. Each vegetation type was associated with river types, water quality and biogeographical regions. Changes of each vegetation type due to river degradation were also described and used for establishing of macrophyte-based index for the ecological quality assessment of rivers.

freshwaters ; macrophytes ; phytogeography ; ecological quality ; bioindication

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