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Long-Term Changes in Macrophyte Distribution and Abundance in a Lowland River
Andrej Peternel1,2, Alenka Gaberščik1, Igor Zelnik1
1Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
|February 15, 2022
Summary
Macrophyte communities in the Ižica River changed significantly over time, with ecological status declining in the upper river but improving in the lower river due to land use and protection efforts.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Environmental Science
- Botany
Background:
- Macrophyte communities are crucial indicators of riverine ecosystem health.
- Long-term monitoring of aquatic vegetation is essential for understanding ecological changes.
- The Ižica River, flowing through agricultural land, provides a case study for river health assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze temporal and spatial changes in macrophyte communities in the Ižica River.
- To assess the ecological status of the river using the River Macrophyte Index (RMI).
- To investigate the relationship between environmental parameters and macrophyte community composition.
Main Methods:
- Macrophyte surveys conducted in 1996, 2000, and 2016 along the Ižica River.
- Calculation of the River Macrophyte Index (RMI) to determine ecological status.
- Ecomorphological assessment using the Riparian, Channel and Environmental inventory in 2016.
- Detrended correspondence analysis to evaluate macrophyte community composition changes.
- Statistical analysis to correlate environmental factors with macrophyte distribution.
Main Results:
- A total of 27 macrophyte taxa were identified, with *Potamogeton natans*, *Sagittaria sagittifolia*, and *P. perfoliatus* being most abundant.
- Macrophyte composition showed greater variation among river stretches in 1996 compared to later years.
- Environmental parameters explained 43% of macrophyte variability, with riverbank stability being a key factor (20%).
- RMI indicated a decline in ecological status in the upper Ižica River and improvement in the lower course between 1996 and 2016.
Conclusions:
- Significant temporal shifts in macrophyte species composition highlight changes in the riverine ecosystem.
- Deterioration in the upper river may be linked to increased human population (Ig settlement).
- Improved ecological status in the lower river is likely due to infrastructure upgrades and sustainable agricultural practices within a protected area.
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