American eelgrass
CR

American eelgrass

Vallisneria americana

Unknown

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

Overview

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

Wild Celery faces severe threats from habitat degradation due to water pollution, eutrophication, and sedimentation in freshwater systems. Invasive species competition, dam construction altering water flow patterns, and climate change impacts on water temperature and chemistry have contributed to significant population declines across its range.

Threat summary

Habitat

Shallow freshwater lakes, ponds, slow-moving rivers, and coastal marshes with soft sediments, typically in waters 1-3 meters deep. Requires clear water with adequate light penetration for photosynthesis and prefers areas with gentle currents and stable water levels.

FRESHWATER· majorFRESHWATER· majorFRESHWATER· major

Other threatened species in Hydrocharitaceae

CR

Najas arguta

Unknown
Water-soldierCR

Water-soldier

Stratiotes aloides

Unknown
Slender NaiadCR

Slender Naiad

Najas flexilis

Unknown
Brittle-leaved NaiadCR

Brittle-leaved Naiad

Najas minor

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is American eelgrass classified as Critically Endangered?
American eelgrass 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. Wild Celery faces severe threats from habitat degradation due to water pollution, eutrophication, and sedimentation in freshwater systems. Invasive species competition, dam construction altering water flow patterns, and climate change impacts on water temperature and chemistry have contributed to significant population declines across its range.
Where does American eelgrass live?
American eelgrass occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to American eelgrass?
The main threats to American eelgrass 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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