THE MACROPHYTE FLORA AND VEGETATION OF THE PAUČKO LAKE (MT. KONJUH)

UDK: 581.9:574.5 (497.6) (285) The study presents the first data on biodiversity of macrophyte flora and vegetation of Paučko Lake, which is recognized as an area of great natural, landscape and hydrological value in the Protected Landscape “Konjuh”. Paučko Lake has a small surface and it’s located at 711 m a.s.l. in the catchment area of the Drinjača River. The aquatic and marsh vegetation were studied during spring and summer in 2018 using the traditional Zürich-Montpellier approach. The vegetation of Paučko Lake is comprised of aquatic and marsh associations of the classes Potamogetonetea Klika in Klika et Novák 1941 and Phragmito-Magnocaricetea Klika in Klika et Novák 1941. The following aquatic and marsh plant associations were identified: Myriophyllo-Potametum Soó 1934, Scirpo-Phragmitetum australis W. Koch 1926, Thelypterido palustris-Phragmitetum australis Kuiperex van Donselaar et al. 1961, Schoenoplectetum lacustris Chouard 1924, Typhetum latipholiae Lang. 1973 and Scirpetum silvatici Ht et H-ić prov. (in Ht et al.1974). Rare vulnerable taxa Thelypteris palustris Schott and Menyanthes trifoliata L. were recorded in emerged littoral communities, whose habitats are under successional changes caused by excessive macrophyte overgrowth by competitor species. Restoration measures are necessary to be taken to preserve the habitats of endangered species of the Paučko Lake.