ADAPTATION DEGREES OF HIGHER AQUATIC VEGETATION TO GLOBAL WARMING CONDITIONS

Higher aquatic plants are essential to aquatic ecosystems, playing a pivotal role in the production of organic matter and oxygen, as well as the stabilization of aquatic and wetland environments. These plants exhibit remarkable adaptive mechanisms, including structural, physiological, and reproductive changes, enabling them to thrive under extreme environmental conditions. The Absheron Peninsula, with its arid climate, fluctuating precipitation, and significant anthropogenic pressures, serves as a critical study area for understanding these adaptations. Key mechanisms include dimorphism, allowing plants to transition between aquatic and terrestrial forms, and specialized gas exchange systems that compensate for reduced sunlight in water. However, anthropogenic activities, particularly eutrophication caused by excessive nutrient input, present significant challenges. This leads to water blooming, oxygen depletion, and biodiversity loss, further destabilizing ecosystems. This study highlights the resilience of higher aquatic vegetation and underscores the urgent need for conservation measures to mitigate eutrophication and maintain ecological balance in aquatic ecosystems.