Ecological conditions of the Waterchestnut (Trapa natans L.) in the Danube Delta (Romania)

The diversity of water body types in the Danube Delta offers appropriate ecological niches for the colonisation of frequently large stands of the waterchestnut (Trapa natans). Their phytocoenoses were observed in slowly running and standing waters from clear, sediment-poor, to turbid and sediment-rich waters on muddy ground.

Trapa natans occurs in standing, and slowly running, waters and is well adapted to fluctuation of water level changes. The water dynamics is responsible for the composition of accompanying species of the phytocoenoses. The particular zonation, demonstrated by a cross section shows the adaption to the structure and the water flow of certain water bodies. Comparing older and newer research data, a decline of the populations of waterchestnuts became visible.