Distribution of Charophytes along the Swedish coast in relation to salinity and eutrophication

In Sweden, 14 out of 34 charophyte species are regularly found in the Balti c Sea. Nitella flexilis, N. opaca, N. wahlbergiana, Chara braunii, Chara gl obularis and C. delicatula occur mainly in freshwater, but occasionally in brackish water. Chara aspera and C. tomentosa occur in the Baltic and calci um-rich inland water. Cham connivens, C. baltica, C. horrida, C. canescens, Tolypella nidifica and Lamprothamnium papulosum are restricted to brackish water. Compared to older herbaria material, more recent charophyte records exist f or the northernmost part of the coast probably due to higher intensity of i nvestigation, in the southernmost part of the coast, however, charophytes d isappeared from most of their former localities probably due to eutrophicat ion. The importance of charophytes as bioindicators is discussed.