A multidisciplinary approach in the study of the genetic diversity of freshwater macrophyte communities

Abstract

Macrophytes are key elements of freshwater ecosystems and play a crucial role in trophic webs, biological processes and connected ecosystem services. Conservation of macrophytes' functional diversity should be a priority in the quality management of freshwater ecosystems since it reflects on ecosystem resilience, climate change adaptation, invasive species sensitivity and anthropogenic impacts. Remote sensing techniques, genetics, and phylogenetics approaches have provided innovative tools for mapping plant traits and functions, thus overcoming functional diversity monitoring limitations. However, a sound and common basis linking plant functional characteristics to spectral and phylogenetic features have not yet been established. In such a framework, the project "macroDIVERSITY" aims to merge the spectral, phylogenetic, and functional diversity of macrophytes to preserve their evolutionary potential and better understand aquatic ecosystem functioning. In light of these objectives, my PhD work has focused on molecular analyses related to the project macroDIVERSITY and other case studies focused on deepening the knowledge of the macrophyte communities' diversity in central-northern Italy. Specifically, the investigations focused on relating the genetic and phylogenetic diversity results with the spectro-functional diversity data to decipher the processes shaping the evolution of macrophyte communities, with particular reference to two focal species, Phragmites australis and Nuphar lutea, dominating the wetlands under investigation.