Distribution of Charophytes along the Swedish Coastin Relation to Salinity and Eutrophication

Abstract

In Sweden, 14 out of 34 charophyte species are regularly found in the Baltic Sea. Nitella flexilis, N. opaca, N. wahlbergiana, Chara braunii, Chara globularis and C. delicatula occur mainly in freshwater, but occasionally in brackish water. Chara aspera and C. tomentosa occur in the Baltic and calcium-rich inland water. Chara connivens, C. baltica, C. horrida, C. canescens, Tolypella nidifica and Lamprothamnium papulosum are restricted to brackish water. Compared to older herbaria material, more recent charophyte records exist for the northernmost part of the coast probably due to higher intensity of investigation. In the southernmost part of the coast, however, charophytes disappeared from most of their former localities probably due to eutrophication. The importance of charophytes as bioindicators is discussed.