Shetland Pondweed
CR

Shetland Pondweed

Potamogeton rutilus

UnknownNTEUNTEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potamogeton_rutilus

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Shetland Pondweed faces severe threats from habitat degradation and loss due to water pollution, eutrophication, and human disturbance of its aquatic environments. The species' extremely limited distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized threats, while climate change and altered water chemistry further compromise its survival prospects.

Threat summary

Habitat

Shallow freshwater lochs, ponds, and slow-moving streams in northern Scotland, particularly in nutrient-poor to moderately nutrient-rich waters. The species typically grows in clear, alkaline waters at depths of 0.5-3 meters, often associated with other aquatic vegetation.

Other threatened species in Potamogetonaceae

Fries' PondweedCR

Fries' Pondweed

Potamogeton friesii

Unknown
Opposite-leaved PondweedEN

Opposite-leaved Pondweed

Groenlandia densa

Unknown
Potamogeton angustifoliusCR

Potamogeton angustifolius

Unknown
Horned PoolmatVU

Horned Poolmat

Zannichellia palustris

Unknown

Threatened in Denmark

Calidris ferrugineaVU

Calidris ferruginea

Declining
VU

Olive Skipper

Pyrgus serratulae

Unknown
SandoldenborreCR

Sandoldenborre

Hoplia graminicola

Unknown
Scarce BlackneckCR

Scarce Blackneck

Lygephila craccae

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Shetland Pondweed classified as Critically Endangered?
Shetland Pondweed is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Shetland Pondweed faces severe threats from habitat degradation and loss due to water pollution, eutrophication, and human disturbance of its aquatic environments. The species' extremely limited distribution makes it particularly vulnerable to localized threats, while climate change and altered water chemistry further compromise its survival prospects.
Where does Shetland Pondweed live?
Shetland Pondweed occurs in Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, and Kazakhstan (plus 10 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Shetland Pondweed?
The main threats to Shetland Pondweed are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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