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Open AccessArticle
The Genetic Diversity of the Macrophyte Ceratophyllum demersum in Backwaters Reflects Differences in the Hydrological Connectivity and Water Flow Rate of Habitats
by
Attila I. Engloner
Attila I. Engloner 1,2,*,
Kitti Németh
Kitti Németh 1,2 and
Judit Bereczki
Judit Bereczki 3
1
HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, Karolina út 29, H-1113 Budapest, Hungary
2
National Laboratory for Water Science and Water Security, HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, Karolina út 29, H-1113 Budapest, Hungary
3
Molecular Taxonomy Laboratory, Hungarian National Museum Public Collection Centre, Hungarian Natural History Museum, H-1083 Budapest, Hungary
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Plants 2024, 13(16), 2220; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13162220 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 3 July 2024
/
Revised: 30 July 2024
/
Accepted: 7 August 2024
/
Published: 10 August 2024
Abstract
Abstract: Macrophytes often live in fluvial backwaters that have a variety of hydrological connections to a main river. Since the ability of these plants to adapt to changing environments may depend on the genetic diversity of the populations, it is important to know whether it can be influenced by habitat characteristics. We examined the microsatellite polymorphism of the submerged macrophyte Ceratophyllum demersum from various backwaters and showed that the genetic diversity of this plant clearly reflects habitat hydrological differences. The greatest genetic variability was found in a canal system where constant water flow maintained a direct connection between the habitats and the river. In contrast, an isolated backwater on the protected side of the river had the lowest plant genetic diversity. Oxbows permanently connected to the branch system with static or flowing water, and former river branches temporarily connected to the main bed contained populations with moderately high or low genetic variability. The results demonstrate that habitat fragmentation can be a result not only of the loss of direct water contact, but also of the lack of flowing water. Adverse hydrological changes can reduce the genetic diversity of populations and thus the ability of this macrophyte to adapt to changing environments.
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MDPI and ACS Style
Engloner, A.I.; Németh, K.; Bereczki, J.
The Genetic Diversity of the Macrophyte Ceratophyllum demersum in Backwaters Reflects Differences in the Hydrological Connectivity and Water Flow Rate of Habitats. Plants 2024, 13, 2220.
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13162220
AMA Style
Engloner AI, Németh K, Bereczki J.
The Genetic Diversity of the Macrophyte Ceratophyllum demersum in Backwaters Reflects Differences in the Hydrological Connectivity and Water Flow Rate of Habitats. Plants. 2024; 13(16):2220.
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13162220
Chicago/Turabian Style
Engloner, Attila I., Kitti Németh, and Judit Bereczki.
2024. "The Genetic Diversity of the Macrophyte Ceratophyllum demersum in Backwaters Reflects Differences in the Hydrological Connectivity and Water Flow Rate of Habitats" Plants 13, no. 16: 2220.
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13162220
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