Threatened Aquatic Plants of the Southern Tigris-Euphrates Basin: Status, Threats, and Conservation Priorities
The Tigris-Euphrates basin hosts a diverse assemblage of native aquatic plants vital to the region’s ecological and cultural heritage. However, decades of hydrological alterations, pollution, salinity intrusion, habitat destruction, and climate change have caused significant declines in aquatic plan...
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| author | Murtada Naser Amaal Yasser Jonas Schoelynck Franz Essl |
| author_facet | Murtada Naser Amaal Yasser Jonas Schoelynck Franz Essl |
| author_sort | Murtada Naser |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Tigris-Euphrates basin hosts a diverse assemblage of native aquatic plants vital to the region’s ecological and cultural heritage. However, decades of hydrological alterations, pollution, salinity intrusion, habitat destruction, and climate change have caused significant declines in aquatic plant species diversity. This review compiles historical and contemporary information on key native aquatic plant species, assesses their current conservation status, identifies major threats, and provides recommendations for their protection. Sensitive submerged and floating species, including <i>Vallisneria spiralis</i>, <i>Najas marina</i>, and <i>Potamogeton</i> spp., have been particularly affected, with many now being rare or locally extinct. Although restoration efforts in the Mesopotamian Marshes have partially restored some wetlands, aquatic plant conservation remains largely overlooked. We propose targeted recovery plans, integration of aquatic plants into wetland management, enhancement of water quality measures, and increased cross-border hydrological cooperation. Protecting native aquatic flora is essential for maintaining the ecological integrity and resilience of the Tigris-Euphrates basin. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cc4e50e41ca14d9c9d1affdd1f446141 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj-art-cc4e50e41ca14d9c9d1affdd1f4461412025-08-20T03:50:20ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-06-011413191410.3390/plants14131914Threatened Aquatic Plants of the Southern Tigris-Euphrates Basin: Status, Threats, and Conservation PrioritiesMurtada Naser0Amaal Yasser1Jonas Schoelynck2Franz Essl3School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan, QLD 4111, AustraliaSchool of Environment and Science, Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan, QLD 4111, AustraliaDepartment of Biology, ECOSPHERE Research Group, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1C, 2610 Wilrijk, BelgiumDivision of BioInvasions, Global Change and Macroecology, Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna, Rennweg 14, 1030 Vienna, AustriaThe Tigris-Euphrates basin hosts a diverse assemblage of native aquatic plants vital to the region’s ecological and cultural heritage. However, decades of hydrological alterations, pollution, salinity intrusion, habitat destruction, and climate change have caused significant declines in aquatic plant species diversity. This review compiles historical and contemporary information on key native aquatic plant species, assesses their current conservation status, identifies major threats, and provides recommendations for their protection. Sensitive submerged and floating species, including <i>Vallisneria spiralis</i>, <i>Najas marina</i>, and <i>Potamogeton</i> spp., have been particularly affected, with many now being rare or locally extinct. Although restoration efforts in the Mesopotamian Marshes have partially restored some wetlands, aquatic plant conservation remains largely overlooked. We propose targeted recovery plans, integration of aquatic plants into wetland management, enhancement of water quality measures, and increased cross-border hydrological cooperation. Protecting native aquatic flora is essential for maintaining the ecological integrity and resilience of the Tigris-Euphrates basin.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/13/1914aquatic plantsbiodiversityconservationMesopotamian Marshesnative speciesTigris-Euphrates basin |
| spellingShingle | Murtada Naser Amaal Yasser Jonas Schoelynck Franz Essl Threatened Aquatic Plants of the Southern Tigris-Euphrates Basin: Status, Threats, and Conservation Priorities Plants aquatic plants biodiversity conservation Mesopotamian Marshes native species Tigris-Euphrates basin |
| title | Threatened Aquatic Plants of the Southern Tigris-Euphrates Basin: Status, Threats, and Conservation Priorities |
| title_full | Threatened Aquatic Plants of the Southern Tigris-Euphrates Basin: Status, Threats, and Conservation Priorities |
| title_fullStr | Threatened Aquatic Plants of the Southern Tigris-Euphrates Basin: Status, Threats, and Conservation Priorities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Threatened Aquatic Plants of the Southern Tigris-Euphrates Basin: Status, Threats, and Conservation Priorities |
| title_short | Threatened Aquatic Plants of the Southern Tigris-Euphrates Basin: Status, Threats, and Conservation Priorities |
| title_sort | threatened aquatic plants of the southern tigris euphrates basin status threats and conservation priorities |
| topic | aquatic plants biodiversity conservation Mesopotamian Marshes native species Tigris-Euphrates basin |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/13/1914 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT murtadanaser threatenedaquaticplantsofthesoutherntigriseuphratesbasinstatusthreatsandconservationpriorities AT amaalyasser threatenedaquaticplantsofthesoutherntigriseuphratesbasinstatusthreatsandconservationpriorities AT jonasschoelynck threatenedaquaticplantsofthesoutherntigriseuphratesbasinstatusthreatsandconservationpriorities AT franzessl threatenedaquaticplantsofthesoutherntigriseuphratesbasinstatusthreatsandconservationpriorities |