Investigation on macrophyte development in Litani River (Lebanon) subjected to human disturbances

Although several rivers in Lebanon have been studied for hydrological, chemical, faunistic and epithilic parameters, little attention has been paid so far to the macrophytes. The present study assesses aquatic plants growth in Litani River in the Bekaa region (Lebanon). Investigations of this river showed that Litani, in different sites, was affected by anthropic disturbances. Eleven sampling campaigns were carried out from April 2005 to April 2006 at four stations on Litani River from its source to the Qaraoun Lake. In the first place, the abiotic characteristics were measured. The inventory of the species belonging to the macrophyte communities were drawn up, and the spatio-temporal variations in their patterns of distribution were analysed and compared. The successive species and the rates of cover of macrophyte population depend on seasonal climatic changes and anthropic disturbances. An exotic species, potentially invasive was detected on the Litani.Ismaïl Hanadi, Abou-Hamdan Hussein, Koubayssi Ahmad, Fayolle Stéphanie, Khalaf Gaby, Cazaubon Arlette, Haury Jacques. Investigation on macrophyte development in Litani River (Lebanon) subjected to human disturbances. In: Ecologia mediterranea, tome 35,2009. pp. 31-39