Charophytes Locality in the Ga’aton River, Lower Galilee, Israel

Abstract

First study of new locality the Ga’aton River, the Lower Galilee, with charophyte algae, in semi-arid to temperate region of Israel has been implemented for revealing of algal diversity and ecological assessment of the water object environment by bio-indication methods. Altogether twenty species from five taxonomic Divisions of algae and cyanobacteria including one of them macro-algae Chara grovesii B.P. Pal were revealed in the Ga’aton River. This is the first species record for Israel and Mediterranean region. Chara was found in growth in the middle part of studied stream. Bio-indication and chemical variables characterize the charophyte sites environment as fresh, low alkaline, and low to middle organic pollution with mainly eutrophic state. Saprobity index S is fluctuated in small range (1.83-1.93) and reflect low to middle organic pollution, Class III of Water Quality. The river environment can be characterize as natural to anthropogenically impacted from the river basin with Aquatic Ecosystem State Index WESI about 0.50-0.57 and tendency of self-purification down the river. The Ga’aton River can be recommended for regularly monitoring of chemical and biological variables in purpose the watershed management and protection.