LAUSR

Abstract Small waterbodies and oxbow lakes play an important role as hotspots of biodiversity and landscape diversity, supplying a range of ecosystem services. However, they are at risk of disappearing. Thus, there is a need for the threats to their existence to be recognised. In this study we aimed to determine whether land uses within small and larger areas around these waterbodies, combined with selected two abiotic factors (pH, conductivity), affect the “characteristic combination of macrophytes”, which is the main indicator of status conservation of such waterbodies. We surveyed 113 Polish oxbow lakes within the floodplains of 16 rivers. Based on ordination analysis (NMDS db-RDA) we found significant differences in the conservation status of macrophyte assemblages between waterbodies with arable land close by and those with woody and shrub vegetation; also affecting the conservation status of the aquatic plant assemblages were meadows, forests, and water pH. For larger environs the conservation status of the aquatic plant assemblages was affected by land use types (urban, mines and excavations, meadows, forests) and by water pH. Our findings prove that conservation programs of oxbow lakes, ponds and small waterbodies should be based on protection and preservation of their immediate and larger surroundings, as well.