Species composition and morpho-ecological groups of aquatic macrophytes in foothill lakes on the eastern slope of the Southern Urals (Chelyabinsk region, Russia)

The aquatic macrophyte richness in nine lakes situated in the Chelyabinsk region (Russia) was analyzed. These lakes represent the foothill group, located on the eastern slope of the Southern Urals range. A total of 89 species belonging to 49 genera and 35 families were recorded. The species list includes 40 submerged rooted hydrophytes, 23 hygro-helophytes, 13 helophytes, 6 rooted hydrophytes with floating leaves, 4 free submerged hydrophytes and 3 free floating hydrophytes.