SUBMERGED VASCULAR PLANTS AND WATER CHEMISTRY IN THE COASTAL MARSH ALBUFERA DE MALLORCA (BALEARIC-ISLANDS)

Ten species of aquatic macrophytes have been analyzed for seven enviro nmental variables by means of a significance test. A synthetic view ha s been obtained through a cluster analysis for species and a principal component analysis for 17 variables which form the multidimensional s pace where we project the species habitats. Myriophyllum spicatum L., Najas marina L., Potamogeton crispus L., Potamogeton pectinatus L. and Zannichellia pedunculata Reichenb. are widely distributed in the Albu fera. Ceratophyllum submersum L. and Ruppia maritima L. var. brevirost ris Ag. are considered stenoic. The tolerance of Ceratophyllum submers um to salts is significantly low and that of Ruppia cirrhosa (Petagna) Grande and Ruppia maritima var. brevirostris significantly high. Cera tophyllum submersum has a significantly negative distribution with reg ard to chlorophyll a and phosphate concentrations. Ceratophyllum demer sum L. and C. submersum primarily occur in nitrate-rich waters whereas Ruppia cirrhosa primarily occurs in low nitrate waters.