The relative importance of natural and anthropogenic effects on community composition of aquatic macrophytes in Mediterranean ponds

摘要: To detect when changes in response to stressors are occurring, biomonitoring programs require an understanding of shifts biota that occur anthropogenic and natural effects. Aquatic plants expected reflect the environmental conditions ponds and, according European Water Framework Directive, macrophytes should be considered ecological status assessments inland surface waters. We assessed relative importance impacts on submerged, emergent floating-leaved 44 Duero river basin (North Iberian Plateau). Constrained canonical ordinations included 15 taxa submerged 24 species macrophytes. Although proportion variation explained by all selected variables was relatively low (37%), we found community composition reflected influence (habitat biotic variables) However, were not influenced variables. Variance partitioning showed degradation category best predictor both macrophyte composition. more affected chemical variables, whereas land-use The results this study support use communities as effective indicators Mediterranean ponds.