Rediscovery of Chara canescens Loiseleur in Serbia

Abstract

Chara canescens is the only charophyte performing parthenogenetic reproduction. Although most recently found populations consist solely of parthenogenetically reproducing females, bisexual populations exist as well, making the species a unique example of the sympatric occurrence of both reproductive modes. In Serbia, C. canescens was found only once for certain, near Prokuplje in 2005. The purpose of the present study is to report a reliable new finding of C. canescens in Serbia, in a stable parthenogenetic female population. Sampling was conducted on 7 July 2018 from the Plava Banja pond near the city of Kikinda. Results of water analyses revealed high concentrations of almost all measured parameters, but especially high levels of salinity and alkalinity markers. Very high concentrations of sulphates and chlorides in the Plava Banja pond pointed to extreme ion anomalies. On the basis of the concentration of nutrients in it, the Plava Banja pond can be characterised as a eutrophic water body. Chara specimens collected from this pond were identified as C. canescens, and only females in the reproductive phase were detected. The environmental features of this habitat are typical in relation to preferences of the given species for light and salinity (ion concentration). This record is of great importance because C. canescens has been declared to be probably extinct in the wild in Serbia.

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

“…8.2) is partially bordered by the Tamiš River in the south, and all along the western border by the Tisa River, this area is generally arid, especially the northern part, and characterized by unique saline SSWB of both natural and artificial origin. All charophyte records in this region (Table 8.2), except the recent findings of C. canescens [92], are old and have not been confirmed by Vesić [88] in the latest systematic survey of this region. Recordings were made in only four localities near Ečka, Čenta, Kikinda, and Zrenjanin, and prevalently in various types of ponds [87].…”

“…8.2), the following review will focus on Special Nature Reserve (SNR) "Gornje Podunavlje", as charophyte studies mainly took place in this protected area particularly. 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].…”

New records and noteworthy data of plants, algae and fungi in SE Europe and adjacent regions, 3

“…Only female plants were found, which is typical for this species since most of the populations in Europe do not contain any male shoots, but only parthenogenetic females (Schaible et al 2011). Trbojević et al (2019) also found only female plants.…”

“…However, in 2018 it was rediscovered in an excavation pond made in the process of clay digging in Plava banja near Kikinda. The pond is eutrophic and with extreme ion concentrations, used as a source of drinking water for cattle (Trbojević et al 2019). The finding in the Kilapoš waterhole is hence the second record for Serbia.…”

“…Chara canescens is a halophyte species which grows in brackish waters, preferably shallow. It can tolerate high light conditions and extreme ion anomalies (Blindow & Schubert 2003;Schubert et al 2016;Calero & Rodrigo 2018;Trbojević et al 2019). Epipactis purpurata is distributed in Europe from Great Britain and Denmark in the north to Italy and Greece in the south and from Spain in the west to Romania in the east.…”