MACROPHYTE DISTRIBUTION AND ECOLOGICAL STATUS OF THE TURIEC RIVER (SLOVAKIA): CHANGES AFTER SEVEN YEARS

Abstract — Characteristics of diversity, abundance, distribution, and ecological status of aquatic macrophytes were observed in 2000 and 2007 on a circa 4.5 km long section of the Turiec River using Kohler´s method. In comparison to 2000, the total number of macrophytes in 2007 increased markedly (from 25 to 35), although only the numbers of amphiphytes and helophytes were changed substantially. The number of hydrophytes increased from 11 to 12; an invasive, Elodea canadenis, was the only new species. The relative plant mass of hydrophytes represents the bulk of all recorded species (95 and 80 % in 2000 and 2007, respectively), and it was changed for most hydrophytes. The most significant changes were detected for Myriophyllum spicatum (decrease), filamentous algae (decrease), and Potamogeton crispus (increase). In 2007, the mean mass total (MMT) sum of hydrophytes decreased from 16.46 to 14.5. On the other hand, the MMT sum of amphiphytes and helophytes doubled in value (7.4 and 14.1 in 2000 and 2007, respectively). Within hydrophytes, Batrachium species (including B. aquatile and B. trichophyllum), Myriophyllum spicatum, and Potamogeton crispus were ubiquitous (distribution ratio d> 0.5) in 2000, whereas in 2007 only Batrachium species and Potamogeton crispus were ubiquitous. At all times, Batrachium species were the most frequent species in the study area, and their abundance was relatively high (MMT> 2.5). A poor ecological status (MMP = 0.378 and MMP = 0.333 in 2000 and 2007, respectively) of the surveyed river section was found in both years, but a slight decline of quality as determined on the basis of aquatic plants was observed after 7 years

Environmental drivers of macrophyte species richness in artificial and natural aquatic water bodies – comparative approach from two central European regions

Species richness of macrophytes of artificial and natural water bodies covering rivers, streams, canals and habitats with standing water was studied in two Central European biogeographical regions, Pannonian and Carpathian, represented by two model areas (the Borská nížina Lowland and the Turčianska Kotlina Basin). We found that: (i) the total number of macrophytes was higher in artificial water bodies compared to natural aquatic habitats in both regions and differences were statistically significant (P<0.05); and (ii) species richness of macrophytes is relatively low in both regions; slightly higher mean number was found in the Pannonian region (3.53) compared with the Carpathian region (3.06). Effects of environmental characteristics on species richness studied by generalized linear model (GLM) showed that explained variances of GLM were similar in both regions. The main drivers of the diversity pattern were those connected with the hydrology of water bodies, such as substrate characteristics and turbidity, less frequent were chemical characteristics, such as water conductivity and N-contents, whereas landscape characteristics manifested the smallest impact.Macrophyte richness of artificial and natural water bodies covering rivers, streams, canals and habitats with standing water was studied in Pannonian and Carpathian regions (Central Europe). Total number of macrophytes was significantly (P<0.05) higher in artificial water bodies compared to natural aquatic habitats in both regions. Hydrological variables followed by chemical and landscape factors were identified by generalised linear model (GLM) as the underlying sources of variation in macrophyte species richness