Ecology and management of plants in aquatic ecosystems

doi:10.1017/CBO9780511549984.015

13 - Ecology and management of plants in aquatic ecosystems

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 29 December 2009

Stefan E. B. Weisner and

John A. Strand

Edited by

Martin R. Perrow and

Anthony J. Davy

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Stefan E. B. Weisner: Affiliation:
Department of Limnology, Lund University, Ecology Building, S-223 62 Lund, Sweden
John A. Strand: Affiliation:
Rural Economy and Agricultural Society, Lilla Böslid, S-310 31 Eldsberga, Sweden
Martin R. Perrow: Affiliation:
University of East Anglia
Anthony J. Davy: Affiliation:
University of East Anglia

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Summary

INTRODUCTION

Recently, research on aquatic plants has received considerable attention, both from a basic research point of view (to understand aquatic ecosystem behaviour and plant population dynamics), but also because of the importance of aquatic plants in restoration of shallow lakes, wetland management and nutrient removal from aquatic systems. Furthermore, research on aquatic plants is quite often derived from problems arising when exotic aquatic species invade ecosystems (Madsen et al., 1991), or when human impact makes native species into a nuisance. During the last decade there has been a shift in focus from factors affecting macrophytes, to how macrophytes affect the ecosystem (Carpenter & Lodge, 1986; Sondergaard & Moss, 1998).

Despite a considerable amount of research, we still lack knowledge on the relative importance of mechanisms regulating and structuring aquatic plant populations, and how vegetation affects the ecosystem. Basic knowledge regarding, for example, life-history characteristics, germination requirements or dispersal ecology of different species is also often lacking. It is also still surprisingly common for researchers to ignore or not fully appreciate the influence and importance of aquatic plants in theoretical as well as applied aspects of limnology (e.g. modelling and biomanipulation).

This chapter is an attempt to outline the basic forces structuring the distribution of aquatic vegetation, and to give examples on how knowledge about structuring forces can be used in management.

Definitions

The diverse and systematically heterogeneous group that comprise aquatic plants has challenged definition and classification.

Type: Chapter
Information: Handbook of Ecological Restoration , pp. 242 - 256

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511549984.015 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2002

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