Ecological analysis of higher aquatic and semi-aquatic plants of Lake Alakol

¹ al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, 050040, Kazakhstan
² Institute of of Aquatic Ecology, HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, Budapest, H-113, Hungary

^* Corresponding author: Zarina.Inelova@kaznu.edu.kz

Abstract

From an ecological perspective, the study of biological diversity is a key element for maintaining the sustainability of ecosystems and for developing and implementing effective conservation and natural resource management strategies. Lake Alakol, a slightly saline, endorheic lake in Kazakhstan, is a unique natural object with rich biodiversity. According to research results, diversity indices such as Simpson (0.99), Shannon (3.48), Margalef (0.78), have similar values, which indicates a sufficient variety of macrophytes. Four ecological groups were identified, with a significant number being hygrophytes (Hg) - 30 species and hygromesophytes (HgM) - 26 species. The hydrophytic index of Lake Alakol was 0.7, which indicates the sustainability of the aquatic flora and a high proportion of true aquatic plants. Among the life forms, perennials (75 species) and annuals (16 species) predominate, which is explained by the morphological and anatomical characteristics of aquatic plants and determines their adaptation to the aquatic environment. Thus, ecological study of macrophytes of Lake Alakol can offer important data for devising successful management and conservation strategies for water basins and their surrounding environment.