Aquatic Macrophytes as Indicators of Ecological Status: Advances and Challenges 25 Years After WFD Adoption.

Aquatic macrophytes are vital components of aquatic ecosystems, playing key roles in nutrient cycling, energy flow, habitat provision, and water quality maintenance. Their sensitivity to environmental changes makes them indispensable indicators of ecosystem health. Since the adoption of the Water Framework Directive (WFD) 25 years ago, macrophytes have been recognized as a core Biological Quality Element for assessing the ecological status of water bodies across Europe. Advances in research have refined macrophyte-based indices, enhancing their application in diverse water bodies such as rivers, lakes, and transitional waters. However, challenges remain, including the need for standardization across regions, integration with other biological indicators, and addressing emerging pressures such as climate change and chemical pollution. Recent technological developments, such as molecular tools and remote sensing, offer exciting opportunities to improve monitoring and management strategies. This research area continues to evolve, underscoring the importance of macrophytes in sustainable water resource management.

Despite significant progress in using aquatic macrophytes as indicators of ecological status under the Water Framework Directive (WFD), critical gaps and challenges persist. Variability in methodologies and indices across Europe limits comparability and consistency in assessments, while underrepresentation of certain water body types (e.g., small streams and coastal lagoons) creates knowledge gaps. Furthermore, emerging pressures such as climate change, chemical pollution, and hydrological alterations complicate macrophyte responses, demanding more sophisticated approaches. Integrating macrophyte-based metrics with other biological quality elements and incorporating novel tools like remote sensing and DNA metabarcoding remain underexplored. This Research Topic addresses these challenges by fostering interdisciplinary research that advances macrophyte-based assessment methodologies, promotes harmonization across regions, and explores their responses to multiple stressors. Contributions highlighting innovative technologies, cross-taxa integration, and adaptive strategies for managing climate impacts are particularly encouraged. By bridging these gaps, the collection seeks to enhance the reliability of macrophyte indicators and their application in achieving sustainable water management goals under the WFD and beyond.

The Research Topic will focus on the role of aquatic macrophytes as indicators of ecological status and their application in water management, particularly under the framework of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Contributions are welcome, but not limited to the following themes:

• Advances in macrophyte-based indices and methodologies for assessing ecological status in rivers, lakes, transitional, and coastal waters.
• Responses of macrophyte communities to environmental pressures such as eutrophication, hydrological alterations, chemical pollution, and habitat fragmentation.
• The effects of climate change on macrophyte distribution, diversity, and phenology and their use as early-warning indicators.
• Application of novel tools, including remote sensing, DNA metabarcoding, and trait-based approaches, in macrophyte research.
• Strategies for integrating macrophyte indicators with other Biological Quality Elements to improve holistic assessments.
• Case studies on regional adaptations, harmonization of protocols, and management applications to support the WFD and broader ecological goals.
• Enhanced invasiveness of invasive alien plants due to climate changes.

This scope aims to foster innovation and collaboration in macrophyte research to address current and emerging challenges. Although the primary focus of this Research Topic is on the application of aquatic macrophytes in ecological assessments under the Water Framework Directive (WFD), contributions from regions beyond Europe are also welcome to provide broader perspectives, comparative analyses, and insights into global best practices.

We would like to acknowledge Miloš Ilić has acted as coordinator and has contributed to the preparation of the proposal for this Research Topic.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Aquatic macrophytes, Ecological indicators, Water Framework Directive (WFD), Ecological status assessment, Environmental pressures, Eutrophication, Climate change impacts, Remote sensing, Biodiversity monitoring, Water resource management

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.