Differences in Potamogeton praelongus Morphology and Habitats in Europe

Zuzana Kozelková,Lenka Šafářová,Zygmunt Dajdok,Zina Tomášová,Romana Prausová

doi:10.5586/asbp.901

Abstract

AbstractOne of the most southern European occurrences ofPotamogeton praelongusis in the Czech Republic (CR), with only one native population in the Orlice River floodplain in Eastern Bohemia, the only surviving site from 10 Czech localities known 45 years ago. This species is critically endangered in the CR and needs to be actively protected with a rescue program. The number ofP. praelongussites increases along a latitudinal gradient, from Central to North Europe (CR, Poland, Sweden, and Norway), and correlates with improving conditions (water transparency and nutrient content in water) for this species along this gradient. Although differences in site conditions between Central and North Europe were caused by changes in landscape geomorphology and vegetation during the glacial and postglacial eras, presently, anthropogenic impact is primarily observed.The Czech sites forP. praelongushave distinctly lower water depth and transparency, and conversely, higher conductivity, temperature, and shade levels than the Nordic ones. These extreme conditions in most biotopes of this light-demanding and mesotrophic species in the CR result in lower fitness and different morphological parameters in the Czech populations. These changes lead to decreased competitive ability against filamentous algae and more competitive aquatic plant species and increase the impact of animals.The Nordic nonintensively managed landscape provides numerous large, deep lakes, which are optimal for this aquatic species. In the CR,P. praelonguscan currently only survive in rivers and their oxbows, but these are heavily influenced by intensive landscape management and fishing. Comparison of the populations and their site conditions in the CR and other European countries showed that all Czech native and artificially established sites are exposed to eutrophication and its consequences, which are the most important factors affecting the survival ofP. praelongus.

Highlights

Long-stalked pondweed (Potamogeton praelongus) is a submerged perennial aquatic plant with a long perennial rhizome (Kaplan, 2010). e shoot length varies depending on water depth and transparency (Prausová, Kozelková, Tomášová, & Brodský, 2017); the seeds have a physiological dormancy and germinate a er stratification (Prausová et al, 2013)
According to the species composition and site conditions, the last two groups can be merged into one group, having the highest trophy of the whole set. e first two axes of the principal component analysis (PCA) explained 75% of all variability of the data (Figure 2)
Species that occurred in all three clusters included Potamogeton praelongus, P. natans, P. perfoliatus, Nuphar lutea, Elodea canadensis, and Stuckenia pectinata

Summary

Introduction

Long-stalked pondweed (Potamogeton praelongus) is a submerged perennial aquatic plant with a long perennial rhizome (Kaplan, 2010). e shoot length varies depending on water depth and transparency (Prausová, Kozelková, Tomášová, & Brodský, 2017); the seeds have a physiological dormancy and germinate a er stratification (Prausová et al, 2013). Long-stalked pondweed (Potamogeton praelongus) is a submerged perennial aquatic plant with a long perennial rhizome (Kaplan, 2010). E species mainly grows in the boreal climatic zone, rarely extending beyond the polar circle. In Asia, it is found between the fi y-second parallel and the polar circle. Tomášová et al / Potamogeton praelongus Morphology and Habitats in Europe (Hultén, 1964). Some isolated localities exist in central Mexico (Hultén, 1964). In Europe, the species prefers slightly alkaline water in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Chudskoe Lake (Peipsi) on the Estonia-Russia border. It occurs in the Netherlands, northwestern Germany, the Spanish Pyrenees, and Slovenia. More than 100 sites have been recorded in Poland (Gąsiorowski & Kupryjanowicz, 2009)

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