Beyond taxonomic diversity patterns - investigating how α and β components of macrophyte functional diversity respond to environmental gradients in lotic ecosystems of Greece.

In addition to quantifying the taxonomic diversity of aquatic communities, understanding the patterns of alpha functional diversity (α-diversity) and exploring changes in functional dissimilarity (β-diversity) can improve our understanding on how ecosystems respond to environmental changes. In this study, we quantified functional alpha (α) and beta (β) diversity of macrophytic assemblages from river sites in Greece and then, examined relationships with water quality parameters and hydromorphological factors. We assigned 6 traits (Ellenberg nutrients indicator, Ellenberg light indicator, growth form, leaf size, leaf type, fruit size) to a total of 36 hydrophyte species and calculated three indices of functional diversity (functional richness, functional dispersion and functional evenness).

The native flora of Mountain Panachaikon (Peloponnese, Greece): new records and diversity.

Background: This study presents the native flora of Mountain Panachaikon (N.W. Peloponnese, Greece), after extensive field work (from ~700 to 1900 m) and critical literature review.