Biodiversity & Conservation

Temperature range preferences - 10 -30 °C (see additional information).

Water clarity preferences - Very high clarity / Very low turbidity
High clarity / Low turbidity

Limiting Nutrients - Nitrogen (nitrates)
Phosphorus (phosphates)
Manganese

Other preferences - See additional information.

Distribution
Ruppia communities, as IMS.Rup were reported as uncommon in the MNCR (Connor et al., 1997a). However, the MNCR may have under recorded its occurrence, since more records are given, as NVC SM2, by Rodwell (2000).

Habitat preferences

• Wave sheltered soft sediments with weak tidal streams.
• Ruppia spp. occur at depths between 0-4.5m depending on turbidity and the tendency for the substratum to be re-suspended, i.e. only occurring at shallow depths (<1.5m) on fine, clay sediments but 2.0m or more on sand or shell substratum.
• Ruppia spp. require high levels of light when compared to eelgrass, and therefore, require clear water, e.g. turbidities <25-55 ppm suspended sediment were recommended for wetland management of Ruppia beds while Ruppia spp. have been reported in waters with 17.5-42.5 ppm suspended sediment.
• Ruppia spp. survive water temperatures of 0 -38 °C but grow exponentially between 10-30°C.
• Ruppia spp. tolerate the widest range of salinities of any aquatic angiosperm and Ruppia maritima can occur in waters of 0.6 to 390g /l dissolved solids but grows best in culture between 4.7 -22.6 psu.
• Ruppia spp. occur in water of pH 6.0 -10.4 but may have an affinity for waters of pH 7.7 -9.4.