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COMMENTED LIST OF RARE AND PROTECTED VASCULAR PLANTS OF INLAND WATER BODIES OF ESTONIA
Helle Maemets
Centre for Limnology at Estonian University of Life Sciences, Estonia e-mail: [email protected]
Received: 30.09.2016
This presented overview of rare and protected hydrophytes, emergent plants and hygrophytes of inland water bodies of Estonia includes 60 species. In the commented list are indicated their position in the state protection categories I-III (last version in 2014), and under the Red List of Estonia (last version in 2008); marked are Natura 2000 species of the European Union. Most typical habitats for these rare species are: I. soft-water oligotrophic and semidys-trophic lakes; II. mesotrophic lakes with Najas (Caulinia)flexilis and Potamogeton rutilus; III. alkaline fens and wet meadows; IV brackish or freshwater coastal lagoons; V. undamaged river stretches; VI. open shallow littoral of the largest lakes of Peipsi (Pskovsko-Chudskoe) and of Vortsjarv. Main threats of these habitats are briefly concerned, as well as the problem of conservation value of hybrids, based on the example of Sparganium species.
Key words: hybrids, main habitats, protection categories, Red List, threats.
Introduction
The presented overview of rare aquatic and moisture-demanding plants is restricted to the species of inland water bodies as the author has a 20-year experience in this field. Numerous rare plants of the seashore need a special approach; here are included some species of coastal lagoons. To draw a line between the shore species i.e. to include them or not, is difficult. Therefore, the selection of shore species is more or less subjective, and several representatives of Orchidaceae (all species are under protection in Estonia) were left, despite their occasional occurrence along water. Some species that are considered to be very rare by terrestrial botanists are growing in the vicinity of the lakes, and are commented here as not critically endangered. The location of Estonia on the border of West and East, on the border of marine and continental climate, and the transition between limestone and sandstone bedrock - all these factors cause a large number of species that are on the distribution border here. Therefore, altogether 538 species are on the border of their distribution area (among 1538 native species according to Kukk, 1999), and many of these species are rare. In Estonia, rare plants are protected:
1) under the state protection categories I-III established in 2014; addresses https://www.riigiteata-ja.ee/akt/n8062014020; https://www.riigiteataja. ee/akt/104072014022;
2) under the Estonian Red List; last version since 2008 (http://www.zbi.ee/punane/);
3) under the Natura species of European Union, established in 2000 (www.natura2000.envir.ee/files/ doc/eestiliigid.pdf).
Most of the protected species display a declining distribution because of a decrease in suitable habitats. Not all rare plants belong to protection categories, mainly for two reasons: they have been found lately (e.g. Potamogeton acutifolius Link) and/or their distribution is not sufficiently studied (e.g. Sparganium glomeratum Laest ex Beurl.). Some rare species are invaders or grow in disturbed habitats. In the case of Lemna gibba L., considered as vulnerable, suitable nutrient-rich habitats do not spread widely until now. In the opinion of the author, most of nutrient-demanding aquatic taxa do not need any protection status, considering that anthropogenic eutrophication of water bodies is an unwanted process.
Material and Methods
A. Maemets (1988) published characterisations of habitats for several Potamogeton species in the Flora of Estonia IX in 1984, and an overview of the status of rare aquatic plants of Estonia in 1988. In 2011, H. Maemets compiled a report on the status and protection plans for seven rare hydrophyte species (genera Lobelia, Isoetes, Sparganium, Myrio-phyllum, Najas) for the Estonian Board of Environment; and some graduation papers have been compiled on this topic. Also, the Atlas of the Estonian Flora (2005) and the database of lake macrophytes at the Estonian University of Life Sciences served as the basis for the article. Although the previous distribution atlas was published in 2005, data for many species had been collected far earlier - in the 1970s and 1980s. This shortage of recent data does not count for hydrophytes, as most of the lakes with earlier finds of rare species have been revisited since
2000. Undoubtedly, for several species, the protection categories require revision and for some species, the status in the Red List and the protection category differ too much. We hope that the best time for a change will come when field work (in 20152016) and data analyse for the new Atlas of the Estonian Flora are finished.
Results and Discussion
COMMENTS ON THE SPECIES LIST. The species in Table 1 are arranged alphabetically: at first in every group of protection categories. Then follow the species having protection status only according to the Red List, and Natura 2000 species are marked too. We can see some inconsistency between the protection categories and Red List, needing correction. Below are characterised the main typical habitats of rare species and threats to their continuing existence. Sufficient information about the typical growth conditions of all species is not available, but in Table 1 have been added some comments about the distribution in Estonia.
I. Soft-water (HCO3- mostly <50 mg l-1) lakes: oligotrophic and semidystrophic (yellowish water), located on sands of the melting waters of the Late Glacial or in old coastal dunes. Besides Lobelia dortmanna L., Isoetes spp., Sparganium angustifolium Michx. and S. gramineum Georgi, also submerged mosses may occur up to a depth of 8-10 m. The main threats are: a) drastic drop in water level; b) erosion of shores (including logging works); c) transport of gravel and sand from quarries to improve the beach; d) pollution by detergents and other chemicals at camping sites; e) trampling in the Lobelia belt. Until the first decades of the 20th century also flax retting caused deterioration many of these lakes, as a result of which they lack character species today. With an increasing trophy level common species invade these lakes, occupying the zone of isoetids; the species of Sparganium and Nuphar undergo introgressive hybridisation. Several lakes of this group are bordered by peat-bogs, and the increasing inflow of humic compounds and expanding peat sediments reduce suitable conditions for the character species. Furthermore, holidaymakers exploit the diminishing sandy stretches and destroy the last stands of rare plants.
II. Lakes with Najas flexilis Rostk. & W.L.E. Schmidt and Potamogeton rutilus Wolfg. have moderate (HCO3- 80-220 mg l-1) or high alkalinity (HCO3->220 mg l-1); they are mesotrophic and shallow. The reasons for the drastic decline of Najas flexilis in Europe are unclear. According to palaeobotanical data, an increase in Picea abies and acidification occurred at the time of its disappearance in Poland (Galka et al., 2012). At the sites in Estonia, the masses of large
robust Chara spp. seem to suppress this small-sized plant. The inflow of nutrients (especially nitrogen?), decreasing water transparency, overgrowing by helo-phytes and nymphaeids and accumulation of mud -all these phenomena could explain this decline. Interestingly, in all Najas-lakes, Potamogeton rutilus has been found or recently is growing there. According to data from Poland (Galka et al., 2012), an accompanying species may be also Potamogeton pusillus L.
III. Alkaline fens and wet meadows (see also Paal, 2007) provide the habitat for many declining species, however, they have undergone significant depletion during the last decades. Dactylorhiza spp., Epipactispalustris (L.) Crantz, Primula farinosa L., Pinguicula vulgaris L., Saxifraga hirculus L. and several species of the small-sized Carex inhabit these areas. Wet meadows have disappeared in recent decades, overgrown by Salix spp. and other bushes and trees. Alkaline fens near the water's edge are overgrown by Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. and other tall helophytes; on some lake shores the expansion of eutrophic quagmire takes place.
IV. On the shores of old coastal lagoons (brackish or freshwater) are growing mighty stands of Cladium mariscus (L.) Pohl; in the western part of Saaremaa Island it is accompanied by Schoenus nigricans L., while Hydrocotyle vulgaris L. occurs in the western part of the islands of Saaremaa and Hiiumaa. Human impact on the status of these water bodies may be of lesser importance in comparison with the neotectonic rise of the Earth's crust (the largest in northwestern Estonia), which causes receding of water and overgrowing by Phragmites and Typha angustifolia L. The typical representatives of the shore mires Cladi-um mariscus and Schoenus ferrugineus L. belong to the species of responsibility, because in Estonia their status is better than in neighbouring countries (Paal & Leibak, 2013). Najas marina ssp. intermedia (Wolfg. ex Gorski) Casper is frequent in some lagoons and bays of West Estonia, Saaremaa and Hiiumaa. Also Potamogetonfiliformis Pers., P. rutilus and P. pusillus may occur in these water bodies.
V. In the rivers two protected species are growing: Berula erecta (Huds.) Coville and Stuckenia x fennica (Hagstr.) Holub [S. filiformis x S. vaginata] (Potamogeton x meinshausenii Juz.). Berula can be found in different catchment basins, but mainly in western and northern Estonia, in small rivers on the alkaline bedrock, also at high trophy level. The stands of Berula are viable but spread mainly vegetatively (Trei, 2001). S. x fennica is found in fast-flowing stretches of rivers of eastern Estonia; always only vegetative plants are present. Threats to their continuing existence may arise from damming up by beavers, or from pollution or major modification of the river by man.
Table. The list of endangered and protected vascular plants of water bodies in Estonia
Species Protection category Status in Red List Natura 2000 Comments
Isoetes echinospora Durieu I Regionally Extinct Last confident find in 2001
Littorella uniflora L. I Vulnerable In water bodies of the western coast of Saaremaa Island
Najas flexilis Rostk. & W.L.E. Schmidt (Caulinia flexilis Willd.) I Regionally Extinct X Last confident find in 2012
Isoetes lacustris L. II Endangered In 2011 found in 15 soft-water lakes
Lycopodiella inundata (L.) Holub II Endangered X In fens, rarely in mires bordering the lakes
Alisma gramineum Lej. II Vulnerable Mainly in Lake Peipsi
Berula erecta (Huds.) Coville II Near Threatened Mainly in rivers of western and northern Estonia
Bidens radiata Thuill. II Vulnerable Mainly on the shore of L. Peipsi
Ceratophyllum submersum L. II Endangered In last time several new finds
Cyperus fuscus L. II Near Threatened Mainly on the shore of L. Peipsi
Elatine hydropiper L. II Vulnerable The largest population in L. Peipsi
Gentiana pneumonanthe L. II Vulnerable Mainly in fens of basin of L. Peipsi
Hydrocotyle vulgaris L. II Endangered In the northwest part of islands of Saaremaa and Hiiumaa
Lobelia dortmanna L. II Vulnerable In eight soft-water lakes; needs I category due to direct damage by recreation activities
Myriophyllum alterniflorum DC II Vulnerable In seven soft-water lakes; some large populations. Transient?
Najas marina L. ssp. intermedia (Wolfg. ex Gorski) Casper II Vulnerable Mainly in coastal water bodies of western Estonia
Potamogeton trichoides Cham. & Schltdl. II Near Threatened Transient, in lately cleaned canals and ponds of L. Peipsi
Rhynchospora fusca (L.) W.T. Aiton II Endangered Mainly in northwest Estonia, rarely on shore of lakes
Saxífraga hirculus L. II Endangered X In alkaline fens; rarely in mires bordering the lakes
Schoenus nigricans L. II Vulnerable In northwest Estonia; in fens and on shore of coastal lagoons
Scirpus radicans Schkuhr II Near Threatened In eastern Estonia, mainly on the shore of L. Peipsi
Sparganium angustifolium Michx. II Endangered Small populations in 10 soft-water lakes; only five pure (?) populations
Sparganium gramineum Georgi II Endangered In soft-water lakes; only one pure population; hybrids in 10 lakes
Cladium mariscus (L.) Pohl III Near Threatened Abundant in fens and coastal lagoons in western Estonia
Epipactispalustris (L.) Crantz III - Frequent in fens; at lakes too
Myrica gale L. III Near Threatened Common in mires and lakeshores of western Estonia, occurs also in northeast Estonia
Nuphar pumila (Timm) DC. III Vulnerable More often in southeast Estonia; hybrids with N. lutea frequent
Nymphaea alba L. III Near Threatened Mostly hybrids, few pure populations
Nymphaea candida C. Presl & J. Presl III Near Threatened Hybrids very frequent
Potamogeton filiformis Pers. III - Mainly in coastal lakes, in L. Vortsjarv and in L. Peipsi
Potamogeton pusillus L. III Near Threatened Mainly in coastal lakes and in L. Peipsi
Betula humilis Schrank Vulnerable In fens, rarely at alkaline lakes. Species of responsibility
Callitriche cophocarpa Sendt. Near Threatened Distribution under-estimated
Callitriche hermaphroditica L. Near Threatened Distribution data insufficient
The end of the Table
Species Protection category Status in Red List Natura 2000 Comments
Callitriche palustris L. Near Threatened Distribution data insufficient
Callitriche stagnalis Scop. Near Threatened Distribution under-estimated
Catabrosa aquatica (L.) P. Beauv. Near Threatened Scattered distribution
Eleocharis mamillata H. Lindb. Near Threatened At the water's edge of small lakes, probably underestimated
Galium trifidum L. Critically Endangered In last time new finds in quagmires of the lakes
Glyceria lithuanica (Gorski) Gorski Vulnerable In eastern Estonia, scattered finds
Hottonia palustris L. Near Threatened In small watercourses and standing water bodies
Inula britannica L. Near Threatened On the shore of the lakes of Peipsi and Vortsjarv
Juncus bulbosus L. Near Threatened Mainly in western Estonia; in shallow water and on wet shore
Lemna gibba L. Vulnerable No need for protection, nutrient-demanding
Limosella aquatica L. Vulnerable Rarely, on muddy sand, at fluctuating water level
Pedicularis palustris ssp. palustris Hupel Near Threatened Supposedly in mires with neutral reaction of soil; suffers at overgrowing?
Peplis portula L. Vulnerable Distribution data insufficient
Petasites spurius (Retz.) Rchb. Near Threatened In the dunes of the seacoast in southwest Estonia and at L. Peipsi
Pinguicula vulgaris L. Vulnerable In alkaline fens, suffers at overgrowing
Potamogeton acutifolius Link Endangered Found in 2002 in L. Peipsi, distribution data insufficient
Potamogeton alpinus Balb. Near Threatened In small lakes with sandy littoral; in undisturbed rivers
Potamogeton berchtoldii Fieber Near Threatened Different growth forms; distribution data probably mixed with P. pusillus
Potamogeton rutilus Wolfg. Endangered Mainly in coastal lakes and in southeast Estonia
Primula farinosa L. Near Threatened In alkaline fens and wet meadows; suffers at overgrowing
Ranunculus peltatus Schrank ssp. peltatus Near Threatened In coastal water bodies
Rorippa amphibia Near Threatened Common at water edge of lakes of Peipsi and Vortsjarv
Sparganium glomeratum Laest. ex Beurl. Endangered Distribution data insufficient
Stuckenia x fennica (Hagstr.) Holub Near Threatened In fast-flowing rivers of eastern Estonia
Utricularia australis R.Br. Vulnerable Often only vegetative plants - frequency underestimated?
Veronica catenata Pennell Near Threatened Distribution data insufficient
VI. The formerly open shores of the largest lakes of Peipsi (Lake Pskovsko-Chudskoe) and Vortsjarv have been largely overgrown during the last decades; the increasing trophy level of these lakes seems to be the main reason for it. Most of the protected species occur in Lake Peipsi, namely in areas where the shallow slope is free of a wide reed belt but is not covered with concrete and stones used in harbours. Recently, this situation has been characteristic of dredged boat canals or/and smaller swimming places. In
such sandy areas, Alisma gramineum Lej., Cype-rus fuscus L. , Potamogeton trichoides Cham. & Schltdl., P. rutilus and P. filiformis (occurs also in L. Vortsjarv) are growing. In the shallow sandy southern part, Elatine hydropiper L. and Scirpus radicans Schkuhr. are more frequent, and the occurrence of Bidens radiata Thuill. increases on the decomposing litter of the denuded zone in low-water years. Among other rare species, there occur Ceratophyllum submersum L., Potamogeton acutifolius Link, Limosella aquatica L. and Ra-
nunculus reptans L. (occurs also in L. Vortsjarv and in some small lakes). Obviously, Subularia aquatica L. and Isoetes echinospora Durieu have become extinct in recent decades.
QUESTIONS. An unsolved question is the status of hybrids in conservancy. In 2000-2012, the author studied all 67 lakes of Estonia where Sparganium an-gustifolium or/and S. gramineum, or vegetative plants of a narrow-leaved Sparganium were found earlier. The most frequent were the populations where participated Sparganium emersum Rehmann - in about half of the lakes. According to morphological characteristics, there was found only one pure population of S. gramineum and several very small pure populations of S. angustifolium (typically in lakes with Isoetes). Most intriguing was the co-existence of only two protected species besides specimens displaying intermediate features. In some cases morphological determinations of species and their hybrids were not in accordance with the results of genetic analyses, revealing also, that involved was a species which did not occur at the time of sampling (pers. comm. L. Triest). In populations where a common species (e.g. Sparganium emersum) is more successful and gradually suppresses the rare species, very probably introgression takes place. But mixed populations of two rare species are not well-understandable by this explanation. They suggest freedom of recombination, depending mainly on the presence of the parental species. The restricted world distribution of S. gramine-um (scattered occurrence in Eurasia) and only one pure population in Estonia suggest that also mixed
populations may be valuable for conservation. Considering the fastness of species extinction Allendorf et al. (2001) propose to protect also complete admixtures containing the genes of disappearing species to avoid a complete loss of these species. Very probably, it is our future - in the time of more and more powerful genetics and disturbed ecosystems.
Acknowledgements
I am deeply indebted to Professor Ludwig Triest for the conduction of genetic analyses at the Vrije Universiteit in Brus-sel, and to the excellent specialist of the Estonian flora, Toomas Kukk, for checking the species list and for giving good advice.
This work was supported by the materials of Herbarium of the University of Life Sciences (TAA).
References
Allendorf F.W., Leary R.F., Spruell P., Wenburg J.K. 2001. The problems with hybrids: setting conservation guidelines. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 16 (11): 613-622.
Galka M., Tobolski K., Kolaczek P. 2012. The Holocene decline in slender naiad (Najas flexilis (Willd.) Rostk. & W.L.E. Schmidt) in NE Poland in the light of new pal-aeobotanical data. Acta Palaeobotanika 52 (1): 127-138.
Kukk T. 1999. Eesti taimestik. Tartu-Tallinn: Teaduste Aka-deemia Kiijastus. 464 p. [In Estonian].
Maemets A. 1988. Haruldaste ja ohustatud veetaimede olukord Eesti jarvedes. In: L. Laasimer (ed.): Taimeriigi kaitsest Eesti NSV-s. Tallinn: «Valgus». P. 65-77. [In Estonian]
Paal J. 2007. Loodusdirektiivi elupaigatuupide kasiraamat. Tallinn: Auratrukk. 308 p. [In Estonian].
Paal J., Leibak E. 2013. Eesti soode seisund ja kaitstus. Tartu: AS Regio. 158 p. [In Estonian].
Trei T. 2001. Jogede suurtaimestik. In: A. Jarvekulg (ed.): Eesti joed. Tartu: Tartu Ulikooli Kiijastus. 750 p. [In Estonian].
КОММЕНТИРОВАННЫЙ СПИСОК РЕДКИХ И ОХРАНЯЕМЫХ СОСУДИСТЫХ РАСТЕНИЙ ВНУТРЕННИХ ВОДОЕМОВ ЭСТОНИИ
Х. Мяэметс
Центр лимнологии Эстонского университета естественных наук, Эстония
e-mail: [email protected]
Данная статья представляет собой обзор редких и охраняемых гидрофитов, гелофитов и гигрофитов внутренних водоемов Эстонии, включающий 60 видов. В списке показаны их положение согласно категориям I—III государственной охраны (последняя версия 2014 г.) и Красной книги Эстонии (последняя версия в 2008 г.); показаны виды, представленные в работе Natura 2000. Наиболее типичные местообитания для этих редких видов: I. семидистрофные и олиготрофные (мягководные) озера; II. мезотрофные озера с Najas (Caulinia) flexilis и Potamogeton rutilus; III. топи и влажные луга na щелочном грунте; IV. солоноватоводные или пресноводные прибрежные лагуны; V. ненарушенные участки рек; VI. открытые мелководные литорали самых крупных озер Пейпси (Псковско-Чудское) и Выртсъярв. Кратко затрагиваются основные угрозы для этих местообитаний, а также проблема сохранения гибридов на основании примера видов рода Sparganium.
Ключевые слова: гибриды, категории охраны, Красная книга, основные местообитания, угроза исчезновения.
