Hydromorphological Pressure in Mountain and Semi-mountain Rivers: Response of Macrophyte Communities

Mountain and semi-mountain river sites (n=14) were subject to monitoring in 2016-2017. Sampling sites were selected in order to study the effects of small hydropower plants on the aquatic plant assemblages within local lotic habitats. Aquatic plant diversity and Reference index were applied as metrics to assess the response to physical disturbance. The results of the assessment revealed differences in ecological status upstream and downstream of the hydropower plants, indicating macrophyte communities as a reliable indicator of the hydromorphological degradation.