Principal determinants of aquatic macrophyte richness in northern European lakes

Rørslett, Bjørn

doi:10.1016/0304-3770(91)90031-y

Cited by 219 publications

(186 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Field studies show that macrophyte richness is related to several lake variables, including lake area, altitude, shoreline complexity, connectivity, trophic state, conductivity and water and sediment quality (Rorslett, 1991;Murphy, 2002;Makela et al, 2004;Declerck et al, 2005;Scheffer et al, 2006;Geurts et al, 2008). This makes macrophyte species richness generally hard to predict (Edvardsen & Okland, 2006).…”

Section: Macrophyte Biodiversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is for example virtually unknown whether the composition of macrophyte vegetation is limited by propagule availability or local conditions, which may affect colonisation, establishment and growth. Analyses of patterns of macrophyte diversity among lakes for examining the role of the regional species pool, by including a distance parameter, revealed that local in-lake conditions are more strongly related to local macrophyte diversity than the distance to a propagule source (Rorslett, 1991;Vermonden et al, 2010). However, experimental or mechanistic tests of the role of the species pool and propagule pressure in determining macrophyte diversity are still lacking.…”

Section: Macrophyte Biodiversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Herbivores that graze on the dominant plant species and create moderate sediment disturbance create recruitment opportunities for subordinate plants, thereby improving macrophyte diversity (Sandsten & Klaassen, 2008;Hidding et al, 2010b). Similarly, water level fluctuations can enhance macrophyte diversity (Rorslett, 1991): drawdowns particularly have been shown to improve richness of submerged macrophytes (Van Geest et al, 2005).…”

Section: Macrophyte Biodiversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Restoring macrophyte diversity in shallow temperate lakes: biotic versus abiotic constraints

et al. 2012

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Although many lake restoration projects have led to decreased nutrient loads and increased water transparency, the establishment or expansion of macrophytes does not immediately follow the improved abiotic conditions and it is often unclear whether vegetation with high macrophyte diversity will return. We provide an overview of the potential bottlenecks for restoration of submerged macrophyte vegetation with a high biodiversity and focus on the biotic factors, including the availability of propagules, herbivory, plant competition and the role of remnant populations. We found that the potential for restoration in many lakes is large when clear water conditions are met, even though the macrophyte community composition of the early 1900s, the start of humaninduced large-scale eutrophication in Northwestern Europe, could not be restored. However, emerging charophytes and species rich vegetation are often lost due to competition with eutrophic species. Disturbances such as herbivory can limit dominance by eutrophic species and improve macrophyte diversity. We conclude that it is imperative to study the role of propagule availability more closely as well as the biotic interactions including herbivory and plant competition. After abiotic conditions are met, these will further determine macrophyte diversity and define what exactly can be restored and what not.

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Section: Macrophyte Biodiversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Macrophyte Biodiversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Macrophyte Biodiversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Restoring macrophyte diversity in shallow temperate lakes: biotic versus abiotic constraints

et al. 2012

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“…He also obtained positive relationship between the lake area and helophytes in small and middle sized lake surfaces. A few studies have indicated that this relationship probably originates from habitat heterogeneity -as larger lakes encompass more microhabitats more species are able to find a suitable habitat with increasing area (Rorslett 1991;Jones et al 2003;Heegaard 2004;Capers et al 2010). …”

Section: Exposure To Wind and Wavesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors affecting the distribution patterns of aquatic macrophytes

Pandit

Ganai

2014

Limnological Review

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Aquatic macrophytes constitute important components of many freshwater ecosystems. The manifold role of aquatic macrophytes in freshwater habitats is closely linked to their distribution, which in turn depends on a myriad of factors. Foremost, among these are light, water temperature, water quality changes and nutrient enrichment, sediment composition and fluctuations in water levels. Light and temperature are of paramount importance in determining the distribution (with depth, season and latitude), thereby influencing productivity and species composition as well. Sediment compositions markedly affect the growth rates of macrophytes which in turn have a profound influence on the distribution of aquatic macrophytes. Water quality changes and nutrient enrichment can cause considerable variations in the species richness, composition, and density of aquatic vegetation. The reduction in water levels could bring drastic changes in the species composition and distribution of macrophytes. Factors associated with competition, herbivory, land use and land cover changes etc. also play an important role in shaping macrophyte distribution and community structure. In this review we examine both biotic and abiotic factors that influence the structural attributes like species composition, distribution, abundance and diversity of aquatic macrophytes.

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“…Macrophytes as a group of organisms that occur in the littoral zone on the borderline between water and land are particularly sensitive to changes in the water level (Keto et al 2006, Zieliński et al 2011, but this relationship is not clear. For example Rørslett (1991) reported that small changes in the water level (about 1-3 m) contribute to an increase in the biodiversity of lakes. On the other hand Zohary and Ostrovsky (2011) showed that lakes with a variable water level have lower species richness, a larger number of alien species and fewer rare species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of hydromorphological modifications of the littoral zone in lakes on macrophytes

Jusik

Macioł

2014

Oceanological and Hydrobiological Studies

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The study aimed at determining the influence of hydromorphological modifications of the littoral zone in lakes on the occurrence and quantitative diversity of macrophytes. The field research was carried out at the peak of the growing season (June -September) between 2006 and 2009. Altogether, 457 transects were studied, located in 5 lakes. Studies on the hydromorphology were performed with the method of Lake Habitat Survey (LHS), and on macrophytes − with the method of transects. The studied sites were divided into 3 groups of different intensity of morphological transformations. The identified groups constituted the starting point for the analysis of influence exerted by transformations on macrophytes. The obtained results indicate that hydromorphological modifications * Corresponding author: szyjus.up@gmail.com of lakes are an important ecological factor affecting the occurrence and quantitative diversity of macrophytes. The transformations recorded in the studied reservoirs resulted mostly from recreational exploitation. They were responsible for mechanical elimination of dominant species, which led to an increased number of taxa, synanthropization and an average level of hemeroby as well as a decrease in the total vegetation cover. Helophytes were the most negatively affected group by the transformations, which reduce their contribution in the vegetation cover, whereas macroscopic filamentous algae and elodeids were positively affected.

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Principal determinants of aquatic macrophyte richness in northern European lakes

Cited by 219 publications

References 32 publications

Restoring macrophyte diversity in shallow temperate lakes: biotic versus abiotic constraints

Restoring macrophyte diversity in shallow temperate lakes: biotic versus abiotic constraints

Factors affecting the distribution patterns of aquatic macrophytes

The influence of hydromorphological modifications of the littoral zone in lakes on macrophytes

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