بومشناسی آبزیان (Dec 2023)
Phytosociology of aquatic macrophytes in Maroon and Kheyrabad rivers, two subtropical rivers in Behbahan, Khuzestan
Abstract
Proper management and optimum utilization of river ecosystems need to understand the main components of these ecosystems, especially the aquatic plants and their communities. For this purpose, aquatic plant vegetation of Maroon and Kheyrabad Rivers was studied in Khuzestan province along the longitudinal and transverse transects in 12 different sites of the studied rivers. Plant communities were distinguished according to the life forms of dominant species and their habitat conditions were recorded. The results showed 36 aquatic species of 17 plant families, of which 20 species were common elements of Irano-Turanian, Caspian, and Khalij-Ommanian elements. Families of Cyperaceae, Poaceae, and Potamogetonaceae had the most species numbers among identified families, respectively. The amphibious, emergent, and submerged plants were also the dominant life forms of riverine aquatics, respectively. According to the dominant life forms of studied aquatic plants and their environmental condition, six aquatic plant communities were identified, including two communities of Amphibious plants (Popolus euphratica and Tamarix passerinoides), three communities of emergent plants (Phragmites australis, Thypha domengensis, and Holoshcoenus littoralis) and one community of submerged plants (potammogeton nodosus). Amphibious communities are established on sandy soils, emergent communities on fine and relatively deep sediments with medium to slow water velocity, and submerged communities on fine and relatively deep sediments with very calm currents and also in support of emergent plants.
