Charophyte picture of the year

The German Characeae Working Group hosts annual conferences, where excursions and identification exercises play an important role. During the 2014 conference, the participants discovered large populations of charophytes in Lake Constance. Following severe eutrophication in the 1970s, successful measures were implemented to reduce nutrient loading in the lake. Among the remarkable species found is Chara tomentosa, beautifully captured in this photograph (see below) during diving surveys in the Markelfingen area.

For further details on the dramatic changes in submerged vegetation in Lake Constance, additional information is available here (link to Science Direct).