Flora, vegetazione e indicatori macrofitici dei laghi vulcanici d’italia.

Ecological studies identify macrophytes as good indicators of chemical (Seddon, 1972) and environmental conditions (Lacoul & Freedman, 2006) of water bodies. According to the Water Framework Directive (WFD), macrophytes represent one of the fundamental elements determining the quality of European aquifers. hus, the analysis of presence and distribution of macrophytes is necessary to study, classify and preserve water basins. In order to develop conservation indices, the WFD, in line with the ecosystem approach (Odum, 1959), requires to collect data at many levels including phytoplankton, macrophytes, benthonic communities and ichtyofauna. he aim of the present study is to develop macrophytic indices to determine the quality of Italian volcanic-lake system. Preliminary results, concerning 8 lakes in the centre and southern Italy, conirm the role of macrophytes as good indicators of lakes’ conservation status in the Mediterranean region. Furthermore data analyses highlight the fact that only two lakes are in good conservation condition while most of the basins is subjected to diferent environmental stresses.