Valutazione della Specific Leaf Area nelle macrofite al fine di una interpretazione funzionale degli ecosistemi acquatici.

The study investigated the relationship between aquatic macrophytes and the most important leaf traits in functional analysis of terrestrial plants. The final aim was the establishment of scientific bases in the ecological interpretation of water ecosystems. Ten leaves of eight macrophyte species (Magnoliophyta) were randomly collected in each of three different populations. Three soft traits (Leaf Dry Weight, Leaf Dry Matter Content and Specific Leaf Area) were subsequently analysed. Nymphaea alba and Trapa natans showed the highest values of LDW and SLA. Species generally exhibited a variability of the functional traits among the three populations, in particular in the LDW values. However this intraspecific variability did not appear to affect functional characterization of species. In conclusion, the study confirmed the usefulness of leaf traits in the functional analysis of aquatic macrophytes.