Journal
HYDROBIOLOGIA
Volume 745, Issue 1, Pages 241-262Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s10750-014-2111-2
Keywords
Aquatic plants; River typology; Reference condition; Undisturbed conditions; Water Framework Directive
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Funding
- Ministry of Science and Higher Education [NN305 2260 33, N304 099 31/3546, N R14 0015 04]
- National Science Centre [DEC-2012/04/S/NZ8/00195]
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The aim of the study was to identify the vegetation pattern in the different types of watercourses basing on survey in reference conditions in a wide geographical gradient, including mountain, upland and lowland rivers. We tested relationship between composition of macrophytes to environmental variables including: altitude, slope, catchment area, geology of valley, land use, hydromorphological features, water physical and chemical measurements. Analysis based on 109 pristine river sites located throughout major types of rivers in Central Europe. Qualitative and quantitative plant surveys were carried out between 2005 and 2013. Based on TWINSPAN classification and DCA analysis, six macrophyte types were distinguished. The lowland sites were divided into the following three types: humic rivers and two types of siliceous rivers depending on the catchment area, including medium-large and small rivers. The mountain and upland rivers were divided into three geological types: siliceous, calcareous and gravel. We found that the variation of macrophyte communities was determined by several habitat factors (mainly altitude, flow type, riverbed granulometry, conductivity and alkalinity), whereas the spatial factor was rather limited; further, the plant diversity was not reflected accurately by the European ecoregion approach.
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