Project Detail

Reproduction biology and autecology of quillworts Isoetes echinospora and I. lacustris in Bohemian Forest lakes and in ex-situ cultures

Name:	Reproduction biology and autecology of quillworts Isoetes echinospora and I. lacustris in Bohemian Forest lakes and in ex-situ cultures
Researchers:	Husák Štěpán (researcher)
Provider:	GA ČR
Realization from:	2004
Realization to:	2006
Summary:	Isoëtes echinospora and I. lacustris (quillworts) are critically endangered submerged ferns growing in the Bohemian Forest Lakes Plešné and Černé in the Czech Republic. As found recently the both species do not reproduce sexually at their natural sites, as opposed to their ex-situ outdoor and in-vitro cultures. Low water temperature, lake acidification, mild eutrophication, reduced water transparency, periphyton, or Al toxicity could be the possible reasons. We intend to perform a long-term non-destructive monitoring of quillwort populations and individuals at natural sites and on permanent study plots in the both lakes using diving technique. In experimental cultivations (in containers placed in situ in the lakes, in laboratory and ex-situoutdoor cultures), to study the relationship between physico-chemical properties of lake water and sediment (temperature, chemistry, pH, conductivity, transparency, Al-ions) and fitness of populations found (demography, growth, reproductive cycle,