17C3
Water bodies with Mare’s-tail (Hippuris vulgaris)
Relationships with habitat classifications. EUNIS: C3.249 Mare’s-tail beds; PAL. CLASS.: 53.149 Mare’s-tail beds.
Conservation status. None.
Category. Critically endangered [CR – C2 E3 F3 G3 H2 J L1].
General characteristics. This habitat type encompasses macrophytic communities with Mare’s-tail (Hippuris vulgaris). This is a perennial species whose stems are 30–35 cm high and stand above the water surface. The plant is a helophyte. The submerged part of the stems reach 70–80 cm depending upon the depth of the water body. The species forms small populations in plant communities on the banks of stagnant or slow-running water bodies – lakes, swamps, water reservoirs, rivers and streams. In the past Hippuris vulgaris used to make monospecific communities covering small areas. Since there are no certain data about the existence of this habitat it can be considered extinct in Bulgaria. The only locality of H. vulgaris is registered in a hydro-technical construction – watering canal near Shabla lake.
The habitats of Mare’s-tail are light, shallow water bodies. The banks and the bottom of the water bodies are clayey, sometimes sandy. The water is transparent, cold to moderately warm, rich in nutrients. The species composition of the communities is poor and several macrophytes are present – helophytes and submerged pleistophytes, such as Alisma lanceolatum, Berula erecta, Lemna trisulca, Myriophyllum spicatum, Phragmites australis, Sparganium erectum, etc. The communities of Mare’s-tail belong to the association Hippuridetum vulgaris of the alliance Oenanthion aquaticae in class Phragmitetea australis.
Characteristic taxa.
- Vascular plants: Alisma lanceolatum, Berula erecta, Ceratophyllum demersum, Hippuris vulgaris, Lemna minor, L. trisulca, Myriophyllum spicatum, M. verticillatum, Najas marina, Nymphoides peltata, Phragmites australis, Potamogeton crispus, P. pectinatus, Salvinia natans, Sparganium erectum, Trapa natans.
Distribution in Bulgaria. In the past the communities of Hippuris vulgaris occurred in many places along the Black Sea coast and in Dragoman swamp. The only locality confirmed today is in the watering canal of the Shabla pump station, 5 km to the North of Shabla town. It is possible that communities of this species occur also in the watering canals around Ezeretsko swamp. Possibly, some of the localities have disappeared as a result of the draining activities in the last few decades.
Conservation importance. Apart from Hippuris vulgaris – a critically endangered species in the Bulgarian flora – the following rare and endangered macrophytes occur in this habitat: Nuphar lutea, Nymphaea alba, Nymphoides peltata, Salvinia natans, Stratiotes aloides, Trapa natans, Wolffia arrhiza.
Threats. Hydro-ameliorative activities: draining of water bodies, redirection of riverbeds, construction of hydro-technical facilities and extraction of inert materials.
Conservation measures taken. The locality near Shabla town is within the borders of Shablensko Ezero (lake) Protected Site and in a site from the European Ecological Network NATURA 2000.
Conservation measures needed. Inventory of the localities of Hippuris vulgaris and their inclusion in protected areas or in sites from the European Ecological Network NATURA 2000; monitoring and restoration of habitats where the species used to occur in the past.
References. Jordanov & Andreev 1979; Kochev 1984; Kochev & Jordanov 1981.
Authors: Vladimir Valchev, Valeri Georgiev
