LAUSR

Potamogetonaceae is one of the most diverse aquatic plant families in the world and in Turkey. No research has been done on environmental preferences of Potamogetonaceae species in Turkey. We aimed to understand the relationship between distribution of species and hydrochemistry using canonical correspondence analysis. Distribution and abundance patterns of species along an altitudinal gradient were also investigated. We collected 14 Potamogetonaceae species from 96 wetlands throughout Turkey and measured 10 water chemistry parameters. The most important environmental variables were electrical conductivity (EC), water temperature (Tw), dissolved oxygen (DO), and pH. These variables explained 5.9% of the total variance. Potamogeton coloratus had the lowest Tw and pH and the highest EC optima. Potamogeton gramineus preferred high Tw and pH and the lowest EC. Stuckenia amblyphylla had high DO and low Tw and EC preferences. Potamogeton natans sampled from highlands had the lowest DO optima. Stuckenia pectinata had the highest tolerance for EC and, along with P. crispus, the highest Tw tolerance. Remaining species are widespread with broad altitudinal distributions and average values of environmental parameters. The most vulnerable species are P. coloratus, S. amblyphylla and P. gramineus as they have special habitat preferences and narrow tolerances.