In this master’s thesis, we examined the impact of river restoration on the macrophyte community of the Stržen River, located within the intermittent Lake Cerknica. Along the entire course of the Stržen, we recorded the presence, abundance, and distribution of macrophytes, which serve as important indicators of the ecological status of river ecosystems. At each section, including the restored reaches Beli breg and Ključi, measurements of physical and chemical water parameters were conducted. A total of 52 macrophyte taxa were recorded, 17 of which are listed on the Red List of threatened ferns and flowering plants. The most common species observed in the Stržen were Nuphar lutea, Polygonum amphibium, Rorippa amphibia, and Schoenoplectus lacustris. Based on the River Macrophyte Index (RMI), the ecological status of most river sections was assessed as good. According to the adapted RCE method (Riparian, Channel and Environmental Inventory), which evaluates the ecomorphological condition of rivers, most sections reached the second quality class. The results of the CCA analysis showed that physical and chemical parameters did not have a decisive effect on the distribution of macrophytes; the only statistically significant factor was the number of RCE points. Restoration improved the hydrological and morphological characteristics of the river channel and increased habitat diversity; however, macrophyte communities have not yet fully stabilized. The key factors shaping their distribution are seasonal hydrological dynamics and the ecomorphological characteristics of the river environment.
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