Charophytes of Gornje Podunavlje ponds: Revitalization process aspect

Abstract

Unique marshland area in the Danube floodplain -Special Nature Reserve Gornje Podunavlje is considered to be one of the last aquatic flora and fauna refuges in the region. The revitalization projects in SNP Gornje Podunavlje started in 2011. They were conducted in order to protect biodiversity and to provide the natural ecosystem. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the present diversity and distribution of the charophytes in five ponds of SNR Gornje Podunavlje, depending on phases of the revitalization process within the ponds. The researched area includes the following ponds: Semenjača, Šarkanj, Široki rit, Sakajtaš and Ribolov. The Široki rit pond was under the process of revitalization during the field surveys, Semenjača and Šarkanj have already been revitalized, and Ribolov and Sakajtaš were not exposed to the revitalization processes at all. The field surveys were conducted monthly, from May to September 2016. Water quality parameters were measured in situ and in laboratory. Ponds differed considerably when it comes to water chemistry; Semenjača and Šarkanj were associated with highest nutrient concentrations, while Široki rit was characterized by highest conductivity and water hardness. The highest diversity was found in Široki rit pond, which was still in process of revitalization when the field survey was conducted. Charophytes were not detected within previously revitalized ponds (Semenjača and Šarkanj). Eight species of charophytes were detected:

Algae in Shallow and Small Water Bodies of Serbia: A Frame for Species and Habitat Protection

“…Channels as habitats in which records of charophytes were made are not reconfirmed in recent studies, and due to the strong and continued processes of habitat degradation during the twentieth century, diversity once detected here is probably lost [88]. Extraordinary and unique charophyte diversity adorns this area, particularly the Monoštorski Marsh, where up to 8 species could be recorded in one locality-Široki rit pond [93]. In the Štrbac area, also situated in the Monoštorski Marsh, a remarkable finding of Chara baueri was recently recorded [90].…”

“…The only record made out of this protected area is the record of Chara canescens in channel Vrbas-Bezdan, near Mali Stapar [97], but this record is challenged by later authors [88,92] and will not be considered in this review. SSWB in SNR "Gornje Podunavlje" are very rich in charophyte diversity [88, 90, A literature overview reveals even 21 localities where charophytes were detected, among which ponds are the habitats where most of the charophyte records were made and where the highest diversity was recorded [88,90,93]. Ruts are very specific ephemeral habitats of stoneworts in SNR "Gornje Podunavlje", pointing to still active oospores in soil diaspore banks, even where the original wetland habitats are modified.…”

“…Professor Košanin, who continued charophyte studies in Serbia after Pančić, and published Pančić's records later at the beginning of XX century [115,128], noted that Pančić's collection was well preserved at the time. Recently intensified studies on charophytes by Vesić and Trbojević [88,[90][91][92][93] reflected in many more deposited specimens in the wet collection, but particularly in the herbarium sheets, which is also important from the aspect of potential genetic studies on collected specimens.…”

“…Charophytes diversity and their presence overview across the regions of Vojvodina. Data based on literature sources[87][88][89][90][91][92][93], IUCN categorisation of detected species according to Blaženčić[87]. In bold-species present only in Vojvodina…”

Conservation Value and Habitat Diversity of Fluvial Lakes and Gravel Pits in River-Floodplain Systems

“…J. Groves & Bull.-Webst., Nitella mucronate (A. Braun) Miq. and Tolypella prolifera (Ziz ex A. Braun) Leonhardi [62,63], but no vegetation data are available.…”