Transformation and Simplification of Aquatic Vegetation Structure and Reoligotrophication of a Lake During the Last 40 Years
The recovery or reconstruction of aquatic vegetation has recently been reported as a result of water quality improvement after anthropogenic eutrophication. The objectives of this study were: to investigate long-term trends in aquatic vegetation abundance in relation to decreasing water fertility an...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Polish Botanical Society
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://pbsociety.org.pl/journals/index.php/asbp/article/view/8863 |
| _version_ | 1819096141399064576 |
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| author | Michał Brzozowski Aleksandra Pełechata Lech Kaczmarek Mariusz Pełechaty |
| author_facet | Michał Brzozowski Aleksandra Pełechata Lech Kaczmarek Mariusz Pełechaty |
| author_sort | Michał Brzozowski |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The recovery or reconstruction of aquatic vegetation has recently been reported as a result of water quality improvement after anthropogenic eutrophication. The objectives of this study were: to investigate long-term trends in aquatic vegetation abundance in relation to decreasing water fertility and to present new directions in changes of the submerged aquatic vegetation structure, species richness, and biodiversity in Lake Kuźnickie (western Poland) with the perspective of the last 40 years (1978–2018). Lake Kuźnickie is an example of water quality improvement taking place without any additional reclamation measures, except a reduction in nutrient discharge into the lake from its direct catchment. Currently, the study lake represents a mesotrophic status. The Trophy State Index evidenced a decrease in the lake’s fertility compared to previous decades. The water quality improvement manifests in a significant reduction in the total phosphorus concentration. An analysis of the spatial changes in the phytolittoral evidenced a decrease in rush vegetation between 1978 and 2018 by over 2 ha. In the period 1978–2018, the aquatic vegetation structure in Lake Kuźnickie underwent significant reconstruction. Currently, charophytes play a much greater role in the lake compared to the last 40 years, contributing to the maintenance of the lake’s high water quality. Moreover, the endangered charophyte Lychnothamnus barbatus has recovered. Concurrently, however, the biodiversity and species richness of the submerged vegetation has decreased. At present, only four species dominate in the lake, including two charophytes L. barbatus, Nitellopsis obtusa, and two vascular plants Ceratophyllum demersum and Myriophyllum spicatum. Over 40 years, Lake Kuźnickie has changed from a eutrophic lake dominated by vascular plants to a mesotrophic lake with a codominant contribution by charophytes. The lake is characterized by good water quality, optimal for the development of aquatic vegetation, especially charophytes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-21T23:54:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8b33bb2db685410887d3a935728f43d6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2083-9480 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-21T23:54:29Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | Polish Botanical Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae |
| spelling | doaj.art-8b33bb2db685410887d3a935728f43d62022-12-21T18:45:51ZengPolish Botanical SocietyActa Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae2083-94802021-06-0190010.5586/asbp.9057135Transformation and Simplification of Aquatic Vegetation Structure and Reoligotrophication of a Lake During the Last 40 YearsMichał Brzozowski0Aleksandra Pełechata1Lech Kaczmarek2Mariusz Pełechaty3Department of Hydrobiology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in PoznańDepartment of Hydrobiology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in PoznańEcological Station in Jeziory, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in PoznańDepartment of Hydrobiology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in PoznańThe recovery or reconstruction of aquatic vegetation has recently been reported as a result of water quality improvement after anthropogenic eutrophication. The objectives of this study were: to investigate long-term trends in aquatic vegetation abundance in relation to decreasing water fertility and to present new directions in changes of the submerged aquatic vegetation structure, species richness, and biodiversity in Lake Kuźnickie (western Poland) with the perspective of the last 40 years (1978–2018). Lake Kuźnickie is an example of water quality improvement taking place without any additional reclamation measures, except a reduction in nutrient discharge into the lake from its direct catchment. Currently, the study lake represents a mesotrophic status. The Trophy State Index evidenced a decrease in the lake’s fertility compared to previous decades. The water quality improvement manifests in a significant reduction in the total phosphorus concentration. An analysis of the spatial changes in the phytolittoral evidenced a decrease in rush vegetation between 1978 and 2018 by over 2 ha. In the period 1978–2018, the aquatic vegetation structure in Lake Kuźnickie underwent significant reconstruction. Currently, charophytes play a much greater role in the lake compared to the last 40 years, contributing to the maintenance of the lake’s high water quality. Moreover, the endangered charophyte Lychnothamnus barbatus has recovered. Concurrently, however, the biodiversity and species richness of the submerged vegetation has decreased. At present, only four species dominate in the lake, including two charophytes L. barbatus, Nitellopsis obtusa, and two vascular plants Ceratophyllum demersum and Myriophyllum spicatum. Over 40 years, Lake Kuźnickie has changed from a eutrophic lake dominated by vascular plants to a mesotrophic lake with a codominant contribution by charophytes. The lake is characterized by good water quality, optimal for the development of aquatic vegetation, especially charophytes.https://pbsociety.org.pl/journals/index.php/asbp/article/view/8863aquatic vegetationvascular plantscharophyteschara-lakewater fertilitylychnothamnus barbatusnitellopsis obtusa |
| spellingShingle | Michał Brzozowski Aleksandra Pełechata Lech Kaczmarek Mariusz Pełechaty Transformation and Simplification of Aquatic Vegetation Structure and Reoligotrophication of a Lake During the Last 40 Years Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae aquatic vegetation vascular plants charophytes chara-lake water fertility lychnothamnus barbatus nitellopsis obtusa |
| title | Transformation and Simplification of Aquatic Vegetation Structure and Reoligotrophication of a Lake During the Last 40 Years |
| title_full | Transformation and Simplification of Aquatic Vegetation Structure and Reoligotrophication of a Lake During the Last 40 Years |
| title_fullStr | Transformation and Simplification of Aquatic Vegetation Structure and Reoligotrophication of a Lake During the Last 40 Years |
| title_full_unstemmed | Transformation and Simplification of Aquatic Vegetation Structure and Reoligotrophication of a Lake During the Last 40 Years |
| title_short | Transformation and Simplification of Aquatic Vegetation Structure and Reoligotrophication of a Lake During the Last 40 Years |
| title_sort | transformation and simplification of aquatic vegetation structure and reoligotrophication of a lake during the last 40 years |
| topic | aquatic vegetation vascular plants charophytes chara-lake water fertility lychnothamnus barbatus nitellopsis obtusa |
| url | https://pbsociety.org.pl/journals/index.php/asbp/article/view/8863 |
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