Published in Scientific Papers. Series A. Agronomy, Vol. LXIX, Issue 1
Written by Emilia RADU, Constantin-Ciprian BÎRSAN, Ioan PĂCEȘILĂ
Macrophytes are recognized as ecosystem engineers that strongly influence freshwater and wetland ecosystems by shaping habitat structure, regulating nutrient cycling, and supporting key ecosystem services. Through their structural and functional diversity, macrophyte communities sustain high biodiversity, stabilize sediments, and enhance the resilience of aquatic food webs. Macrophytes play a central role in water quality regulation by retaining excess nutrients, reducing turbidity, and supporting biogeochemical processes that mitigate pollution. At the interface between aquatic ecosystems and agricultural landscapes, they contribute to sustainable agriculture by buffering nutrient runoff, improving water availability, and offering potential for nature-based solutions such as phytoremediation and nutrient recovery. Despite these benefits, macrophyte communities are increasingly threatened by eutrophication, habitat alteration, invasive species, and climate change. This paper emphasizes the need to integrate macrophyte conservation and management into water and agricultural policies to enhance biodiversity, maintain water quality, and support long-term agricultural sustainability.
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{simplepopup popup="false" name="Citation97"}RADU E., BIRSAN C.C., PACESILA I. 2026, MACROPHYTES AS ECOSYSTEM ENGINEERS: IMPLICATIONS FOR BIODIVERSITY, WATER QUALITY, AND AGRICULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY. Scientific Papers. Series A. Agronomy, Vol. LXIX, Issue 1, ISSN 2285-5785, 795-803. {/simplepopup}