Differences in hyporheic water exchange in habitats of different aquatic Ranunculus species – case study in Poland

Abstract

Hyporheic water exchange driven by groundwater-surface water interactions constitutes habitat conditions for aquatic biota. In our study we conducted field-research-based analysis of hyporheic water exchange to reveal whether the hyporheic water exchange differentiates particular Ranunculus sp. habitats. We measured the density of stream filtration and vertical gradients of water residing in the hyporheic zone. We revealed that R. peltatus and R. penicillatus persist in habitats of considerably higher hyporheic water exchange draining flux (respectively 0.0852 m3/d/m2 and 0.0952 m3/d/m2) than R. circinatus, R. fluitans and a hybrid of R. circinatus x R. fluitans (respectively 0.0568 m3/d/m2; 0.0222 m3/d/m2 and 0.0717 m3/d/m2). Presented results can be used as an indicator of aquatic habitats suitability in the case of protection and management of ecosystems settled by Ranunculus sp.