Abstract:
Spatial distribution of plant communities in the human-modified aquatic ecosystem
within the Dnieper–Bug Estuary is marked by discrete-continuous patterns. Continuity is
caused by hydrological interconnection between the subsystems, and discreteness — by
habitat diversity. For higher aquatic plants, the continuity aspect consists in overgrowth of
emergent plants all-round the shoreline in both subsystems. The discreteness aspect is
noticed in presence of floating-leaf plants’ and submerged plants’ belts in the natural
subsystem only (the lake) and their absence in the artificial one (the sand quarry). For algal
communities, continuity is observed in predominance of the same divisions in both
subsystems. Discreteness manifests itself in higher taxonomic and floristic diversity of
algae in the natural subsystem, than in the artificial one. The process of hydrological
interaction between phytoplankton and epiphytic algae is another important mechanism
sustaining continuity of algal communities.
