Regeneration of Submerged Macrophyte Populations in a Disturbed Lake Ontario Coastal Marsh

doi:10.1016/S0380-1330(99)70748-3

Journal of Great Lakes Research

Volume 25, Issue 2, 1999, Pages 395-400

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0380-1330(99)70748-3 Get rights and content

Abstract

Previous studies in disturbed Great Lakes coastal marshes have determined that seed banks for submerged macrophytes tend to be depauperate if not absent. This was thought to be a major factor that would prevent the regeneration of macrophyte populations under improved conditions, so the transfer of seed or adult plants from healthy wetlands within the same region has been recommended as a restoration strategy. Cootes Paradise is a large, disturbed coastal marsh with a poor seed bank for submerged plants. In this report a large increase in submerged macrophyte population densities following the reduction of carp (Cyprinus carpio) densities from approximately 700 kg/ha in 1996 to 50 kg/ha in 1997 is documented. Much of this regeneration occurred in areas devoid of aquatic vegetation in 1996. It was determined that these plants developed from vegetative structures buried in the sediment. It is recommended that detailed surveys of both seed and vegetative propagule banks be undertaken before assessing the likelihood of the recovery of submerged macrophyte communities in disturbed coastal marshes.

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¹: Current address: Department of Botany, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1.

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NoteRegeneration of Submerged Macrophyte Populations in a Disturbed Lake Ontario Coastal Marsh

Abstract

Aquatic Botany

Some aquatic vegetation changes following fish removal

J. Wildl. Mgmt.

A conceptual ecological model to aid restoration of Cootes Paradise Marsh, a degraded coastal wetland of Lake Ontario Canada

Wetland Ecology and Mgmt.

Seasonal, interannual and spatial variability in the concentration of total suspended solids in a degraded coastal wetland of Lake Ontario

J. Great Lakes Res.

Long-term response of the biotic community to fluctuating water levels and changes in water quality in Cootes Paradise Marsh, a degraded coastal wetland of Lake Ontario

Wetland Ecology and Mgmt.

The destruction of aquatic vegetation by carp

Hydrobiologia

Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada

The Vascular Plant Flora of the Regional Municipality of Hamilton-Wentworth

Hamilton-Wentworth Natural Areas Inventory

Note
Regeneration of Submerged Macrophyte Populations in a Disturbed Lake Ontario Coastal Marsh