Composition and characteristics

of macrophytic communities in

small streams in Ireland

Lynda Weekes

Ronan Matson

Mary Kelly-Quinn

Background information:

PhD Project started in 2013.

Aims:

• Development of an Irish aquatic vegetation classification

system

• Development of monitoring protocol for Irish Rivers to

support biodiversity reporting requirements and

conservation planning.

© Liam Lysaght

>2,000 relevés from following sources:

• Environmental Protection Agency

• National Parks & Wildlife Service

• National Biodiversity Data Centre

• Inland Fisheries Ireland

• Northern Ireland Environment Agency

• Academic post-graduate projects:Matson R. 2006Caffrey, J. 1990

Subset of 106 relevés:

Criteria:

• Strahler order: 1 or 2

• Channel width: <3m

• Good water quality

• Unmodified

• Relevés with common environmental variables

Aim of this study: To describe the composition and characteristics of macrophyticcommunities in small streams

River Macrophytes:

Vascular plantsBryophytes:

Mosses

Liverworts

Macroalgae

(seen with the naked eye)

© Lynda Weekes

© Lynda Weekes

© Lynda Weekes

© Lynda Weekes

Preliminary analyses:Statistical programme used: PC-ORD

Analyses carried out:

• Hierarchical Cluster Analysis

• Multi-Response Permutation Procedures (MRPP) to validate groupings

• Nonmetric Multidimensional Scaling (NMS) on clusters

• Principle Componant Analysis (PCA) on environmental factors

• Indicator species analysis

• Monte Carlo test to validate indicator species

Main significant environmental drivers:

• Water pHMost influential factors in this study

• Flow rate

• Substrate

• Calcareous/non calcareous bedrock

• Shade

• Altitude (least influential)

Information Remaining (%)100 75 50 25 0

Api nodGly speFon antPel epiVerr speCall speSpi spePot speSpa ereBra rivChi polRhy ripVer becCla speCon conTha speOen croIri pseHyg speEle speMar emaFon squLem spePho speRor nasVau speBra pluRac speFis speRan flaHyo armSca undPel speSph speJung speBer erePha aruMen aquLem minBry speDicr spePhi fonMyo scoRan batrCalg speCalt palEqu palCin fonHil speLep ripPla rosVer xlacBat speJun bulBli acu

Lowland, Light, fine, slow, alkaline, calcareous

Mountainous, rock, fast, acid, non calcareous

Lowland, fine/cobble, moderate, alkaline, calcareous

Rock/boulders, fast, acid, non calcareous

Light, boulders, fast, calcareous

Lowland, waters edge, calcareous

Gravel, edge

Light, alkaline, calcareousBryophyte dominated

6 indicator spp.

8 indicator spp.

2 indicator spp.

7 indicator spp.

8 indicator spp.

2 indicator spp.

3 indicator spp.

1 indicator spp.

Community description: Group 1

© Orache Wikicommons

© James Lynsey Wikicommons© Lynda Weekes

© Lynda Weekes

Sparganium erectumApium nodiflorum

Glyceria fluitans

Fontinalisantipyretica

Community description: Group 2

© Hermann Schachner Wikicommons

© Lynda Weekes

© Zell Wikicommons

© Tigerente Wikicommons

© Herm

ann SchachnerWikicommons

Iris pseudacorus

Conocephalum conicum

Chilopscyphus polyanthus

Rhyncostegium riprioides Brachythecium rivulare

Community description: Group 4

©www.cisfbr.org.uk© Hermann Schachner Wikicommons

© Hermann Schachner Wikicommons

© Hermann Schachner Wikicommons

© Ronan Matson

Racomitrium aciculare

Jungermannia atrovirens

Hyocomium armoricum

Scapania undulata

Information Remaining (%)100 75 50 25 0

Api nodGly speFon antPel epiVerr speCall speSpi spePot speSpa ereBra rivChi polRhy ripVer becCla speCon conTha speOen croIri pseHyg speEle speMar emaFon squLem spePho speRor nasVau speBra pluRac speFis speRan flaHyo armSca undPel speSph speJung speBer erePha aruMen aquLem minBry speDicr spePhi fonMyo scoRan batrCalg speCalt palEqu palCin fonHil speLep ripPla rosVer xlacBat speJun bulBli acu

Lowland, Light, fine, slow, alkaline, calcareous

Mountainous, rock, fast, acid, non calcareous

Lowland, fine/cobble, moderate, alkaline, calcareous

Rock/boulders, fast, acid, non calcareous

Light, boulders, fast, calcareous

Lowland, waters edge, calcareous

Gravel, edge

Light, alkaline, calcareousBryophyte dominated

Api nod

Bat spe

Ber ereBli acu

Bra plu

Bra riv

Bry spe

Calg spe

Call spe

Calt pal

Chi pol

Cin fon

Cla spe Con con

Dicr spe

Ele spe

Equ pal

Fis spe

Fon ant

Fon squ

Gly spe

Hil spe

Hyg spe

Hyo arm

Iri pse

Jun bul

Jung spe

Lem spe

Lem min

Lep rip

Mar ema

Men aqu

Myo scoOen cro

Pel epi

Pel spe

Pha aru

Phi fon

Pho spe

Pla ros

Pot spe

Rac spe

Ran fla

Ran batr

Ror nas

Rhy rip

Sca und

Spa ere

Sph spe

Spi spe

Tha spe

Vau spe

Ver bec

Ver xlac

Verr spe

NMS1

Axis 1

Axi

s 2

11

1 5

2 6

3 7

4 8 Lowland, slow, calcareous

Mountainous, fast, non calcareous

Lowland, calcareous

Rock/boulders, fast, non calcareous

Gravel, edge

Calcareous, bryophyte dominated

Phytosociological classification a challenge for bryophyte dominated communities:

- Few studies to date on bryophyte-dominated river communities.

- Generally phytosociological classifications are based on vascular plants (rarely present in smaller fast flowing streams)

Limitations of present data in relation to:

- Plot size – Generally large and most likely encompassing several communities (e.g. bank, pool, riffle)

- Field recording approach differences depending on survey focus

- Challenges ahead

Conclusion:

• Distinct small stream communities were identified

• Significant environmental factors and indicator species were identified

• A number of indicator species - similar to those found for headwaters by Dr. Ronan Matson in his PhD (2006).

Thank you to:

• Those who kindly shared their river vegetation data

• For statistical advice and guidance:

Heather LallyEdel Hannigan

© Ronan Matson