The aim of this work was to evaluate the potential of aquatic macrophytes as biological indicators of the environmental conditionsof rivers in north-eastern Spain. To this end, twenty five river basins were studied to assess the species composition andabundance of macrophytes, and to examine their relation with different geographic, morphometric, mineralization, and trophicstatus parameters. Of the twenty six macrophyte species found, five appeared to be useful as biological indicators of the environmentalconditions of the rivers. L. minor was a good indicator of high mineralization (i.e., conductivity and Cl-) and high trophicstate (especially, N-NO2 -). C. stagnalis was a good indicator of high P-PO4 3- concentrations. P. crispus, P. polygonifolius,and R. penicillatus seemed to be useful indicators of high N-NO3 - concentration. We conclude that, in our study area, aquaticmacrophytes can indeed be used as biological indicators of the environmental conditions of rivers.
