Aquatic macrophytes as biological indicators of environmental conditions of rivers in north-eastern Spain

Abstract

The aim of this work was to evaluate the potential of aquatic macrophytes as biological indicators of the environmental conditions of rivers in north-eastern Spain. To this end, twenty five river basins were studied to assess the species composition and abundance of macrophytes, and to examine their relation with different geographic, morphometric, mineralization, and trophic status parameters. Of the twenty six macrophyte species found, five appeared to be useful as biological indicators of the environmental conditions of the rivers. L. minor was a good indicator of high mineralization (i.e., conductivity and Cl -) and high trophic state (especially, N-NO 2 -). C. stagnalis was a good indicator of high P-PO 4 3-concentrations. P. crispus, P. polygonifolius, and R. penicillatus seemed to be useful indicators of high N-NO 3 -concentration. We conclude that, in our study area, aquatic macrophytes can indeed be used as biological indicators of the environmental conditions of rivers.

Drivers of macrophyte development in rivers in an agricultural area: indicative species reactions

“…Our survey confirmed the negative correlation between the distribution of Lemna trisulca and pH. Interestingly, Lemna minor is considered as a good indicator of higher conductivity [5], and our findings substantiated this claim through the positive correlation between the distribution of Lemna minor and conductivity. In this way, our findings of the relationships between distribution and water chemistry provide insight into the physiology of macrophytes.…”

“…Several other analyses have confirmed the importance of alkalinity and pH as well as conductivity in explaining the environmental pattern of macrophyte distribution [5,8,11].…”

“…Macrophytes in particular are recognized as sensitive indicators of eutrophication because they react to various forms of nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations in the water [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. Several studies have revealed relationships between macrophyte distribution and acidification [2,8,9] salinization [10], alkalinity [2,8], conductivity [2,5,11], heavy metal pollution [12] and hydromorphological degradation [3,13].…”

The impact of environmental factors on the distribution pattern of aquatic plants along the Danube River corridor (Slovakia)

“…The relationships between morphological, hydrological, physical, and water quality patterns of riverine systems and the aquatic macrophytes distribution have widely been investigated, although, mainly at the regional level (Baattrup-Pedersen & Riis, 1999;Hrivna´k, Ot'ahel'ova´, & Jarolı´mek, 2006;Kohler & Schneider, 2003;Kohler, Vollrath, & Beisl, 1971; Onaindia, de Bikun˜a, & Benito, 1996;Riis & SandJensen, 2002;Sabbatini, Murphy, & Irigoyen, 1998;Thie´baut & Mu¨ller, 1999). Aquatic macrophytes, which play an important role in fluvial corridors, are becoming a matter of particular concern for the scientific and economic sphere in relation to the current requirement of the Water Framework Directive to use aquatic macrophytes as biological elements for the assessment of the ecological status of rivers (Meilinger, Schneider, & Melzer, 2005;Onaindia, Amezaga, Garbisu, & Garcı´a-Bikun˜a, 2005;Schaumburg et al, 2004;WFD, 2000). At present, river corridors with associated floodplain water bodies are a focus of biodiversity studies in the European landscape (Janauer, 2004).…”

Development of artificial neural network models predicting macroinvertebrate taxa in the river Axios (Northern Greece)

“…Consequently, the need for protection and restoration of the ecological quality of freshwater systems becomes urgent. Knowledge on the relationship between environmental factors and freshwater organisms is vital for conservation management and restoration of rivers (Onaindia et al 2005). Because restoration efforts entail drastic social and economical consequences, the decisions should be taken with enough forethought.…”