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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2009

M. Onaindia ,
I. Amezaga ,
C. Garbisu  and
B. García-Bikuña
M. Onaindia
Affiliation:
Dept. Plant Biology and Ecology, University of the Basque Country, P. O. Box 644, E-48080 Bilbao, Spain
I. Amezaga
Affiliation:
Dept. Plant Biology and Ecology, University of the Basque Country, P. O. Box 644, E-48080 Bilbao, Spain
C. Garbisu
Affiliation:
Neiker, Basque Institute of Agricultural Research and Development, E-48160 Derio, Spain
B. García-Bikuña
Affiliation:
Anbiotek, S.L., Lehendakari Agirre n° 29, E-48014 Bilbao, Spain
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Abstract

The aim of this work was to evaluate the potential of aquatic macrophytes as biological indicators of the environmental conditionsof rivers in north-eastern Spain. To this end, twenty five river basins were studied to assess the species composition andabundance of macrophytes, and to examine their relation with different geographic, morphometric, mineralization, and trophicstatus parameters. Of the twenty six macrophyte species found, five appeared to be useful as biological indicators of the environmentalconditions of the rivers. L. minor was a good indicator of high mineralization (i.e., conductivity and Cl-) and high trophicstate (especially, N-NO2 -). C. stagnalis was a good indicator of high P-PO4 3- concentrations. P. crispus, P. polygonifolius,and R. penicillatus seemed to be useful indicators of high N-NO3 - concentration. We conclude that, in our study area, aquaticmacrophytes can indeed be used as biological indicators of the environmental conditions of rivers.

Keywords

aquatic plantgeomorphologyhigh trophic statemineralizationriverwater quality
Type
Research Article
Information
Annales de Limnologie - International Journal of Limnology , Volume 41 , Issue 3 , September 2005 , pp. 175 - 182
Copyright
© Université Paul Sabatier, 2005

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