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EXCESSIVE GROWTH OF FENNEL PONDWEED (Stuckenia pectinata) IN THE KIZILIRMAK RIVER, CAPPADOCIA, TURKEY

2021    Demir, N.; Balci, E.; Fakioglu, O.; Keskin, E.; Coskun, T.

An excessive growth of submerged vegetation has been observed in some regions of the Kizilirmak river. In this research, conducted below Yamula Dam, monthly changes in submerged macrophytes in the river course around Avanos (Nevsehir) were investigated. Submerged plant samples were taken from four stations and some water quality parameters were measured. The submerged plant which had increased excessively was identified as fennel pondweed, Stuckenia pectinata (L.) Borner. Molecular identification using a partial sequence of the ITS region has found that sampled S. pectinata specimens were not closer to sequences belonging to hybrid samples. Rather, nucleotide sequences of analysed fragment of ITS region have shown that the phytogeographic distribution of the haplotype, lies between eastern and western examples. The mean submerged plant biomass was estimated as 721 +/- 288 g dry weight/m(2) in the research period. The excessive increase of S. pectinata in the Kizilirmak can be attributed to the regulated flow in the river, and its salt tolerance and preference for hard waters. Since it was the single dominant species of submerged macrophyte in the study area, macrophytes indices could not be applied. Mechanical/physical control was recommended for the control of submerged plant biomass in the area.