Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The importance of environmental variables for submerged macrophyte community assemblage and coverage in shallow lakes: differences between northern and southern Europe

  • Primary Research Paper
  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Much information is available on community composition and abundance of submerged macrophytes in North temperate lakes, including their response to variation in environmental variables. Less is known about macrophytes in other climate regions. We studied 98 shallow lakes distributed in three different European latitudinal regions. The lakes were selected along mutually independent gradients of macrophyte coverage and total phosphorus and were sampled monthly from May to October for water chemistry and physical variables. We tested for changes in the impact of selected environmental variables on the macrophyte assemblage, coverage and richness in the three regions. Coverage was measured along transects during July/August and June in the northern/central and southern European lakes, respectively. Correspondence Discriminant Analysis was used to detect for differences in macrophyte composition among different regions, and univariate regression trees were used to detect relationships between environmental variables and macrophyte coverage and richness. In the northern lakes, the coverage was mainly related to chlorophyll a followed by pH, and richness was related to Secchi depth and chlorophyll a. In the southern lakes, pH was the key environmental variable for both coverage and richness. North–south differences may be of relevance for determining management strategies related to global climate change.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alahuhta, J., A. Kanninen & K.-M. Vuori, 2012. Response of macrophyte communities and status metrics to natural gradients and land use in boreal lakes. Aquatic Botany 103: 106–114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bachmann, R. W., C. A. Horsburgh, M. V. Hoyer, L. K. Mataraza & D. E. Canfield, 2002. Relations between trophic state indicators and plant biomass in Florida lakes. Hydrobiologia 470: 219–234.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bakker, E. S., E. Van Donk, S. A. J. Declerck, N. R. Helmsing, B. Hidding & B. A. Nolet, 2010. Effect of macrophyte community composition and nutrient enrichment on plant biomass and algal blooms. Basic and Applied Ecology 11: 432–439.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beklioglu, M. & C. O. Tan, 2008. Restoration of a shallow Mediterranean lake by biomanipulation complicated by drought. Archiv für Hydrobiologie 171: 105–118.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beklioglu, M., G. Altinayar & C. O. Tan, 2006. Water level control over submerged macrophyte development in five shallow lakes of Mediterranean Turkey. Archiv für Hydrobiologie 166: 535–556.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boström, C., S. Baden, A.-C. Boeckelmann, K. Dromph, S. Frederiksen, C. Gustavsson, D. Krause-Jensen, T. Möller, S. L. Nielsen, B. Olesen, J. Olsen, L. Pihl & E. Rinde, 2014. Distribution, structure and function of Nordic eelgrass (Zostera marina) ecosystems: implications for coastal management and conservation. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 24: 410–434.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Breiman, L., J. H. Friedman, R. A. Ohlsen & C. J. Stone, 1984. Classification and Regression Trees. Wadsworth International Group, Belmont.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brucet, S., D. Boix, X. D. Quintana, E. Jensen, L. W. Nathansen, C. Trochine, M. Meerhoff, S. Gascon & E. Jeppesen, 2010. Factors influencing zooplankton size structure at contrasting temperatures in shallow lakes: implications for effects of climate change. Limnology and Oceanography 55: 1697–1711.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brucet, S., S. Pedron, T. Mehner, T. L. Lauridsen, C. Argillier, I. J. Winfield, P. Volta, M. Emmrich, T. Hesthaugen, K. Holmgren, L. Benejam, F. Kelly, T. Krause, A. Palm, M. Rask & E. Jeppesen, 2013. Fish diversity in European lakes: geographical factors dominate over anthropogenic pressures. Freshwater Biology 58: 1779–1793.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bucak, T., E. Saraoglu, E. E. Levi, Ü. N. Tavşanoglu, A. İ. Çakıroglu, E. Jeppesen & M. Beklioglu, 2012. The role of water level for macrophyte growth and trophic interactions in eutrophic Mediterranean shallow lakes: a mesocosm experiment with and without fish. Freshwater Biology 57: 1631–1642.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burks, R. L., D. M. Lodge, E. Jeppesen & T. L. Lauridsen, 2002. Diel horizontal migration of zooplankton costs and benefits of inhabiting the littoral. Freshwater Biology 47: 343–365.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Capers, R. S., R. Selsky, G. J. Bugbee & J. C. White, 2009. Species richness of both native and invasive aquatic plants influenced by environmental conditions and human activity. Botany 87: 306–314.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Casagrande, C., C. F. Boudouresque & P. Francour, 2005. Abundance, population structure and production of Hydrobia ventrosa (Gastropoda: Prosobranchia) in a Mediterranean brackish lagoon, Lake Ichkeul, Tunisia. Archiv für Hydrobiologie 164: 411–428.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chessel, D. & J. Thioulouse, 1996. L’analysc discriminante des correspondances. Documentation Themalique ADE-4, Vol. 5, Section 6. Universite Claude Bernard - Lyon 1, Lyon.

  • Crawley, M. J., 2002. Statistical computing. An introduction to data analysis using S-Plus. Wiley, Chichester.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crow, G. E., 1993. Species-diversity in aquatic angiosperms – latitudinal patterns. Aquatic Botany 44: 229–258.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Meester, L., S. Declerck, J. Janse, P. J. T. M. Van Puijenbroek, R. Portielje, E. Lammens, E. Jeppesen, T. Lauridsen, K. Schwenk, K. Muylaert, K. Van der Gucht, W. Vyverman, G. Zwart, E. Van Hannen, J. M. Conde-Porcuna, J. Vandekerkhove & L. Brendonck, 2006. Chapter 8: Biodiversity in European Shallow Lakes: A Multilevel – Multifactorial Field Study. Ecological Studies. Springer Verlag, New York: 149–167.

    Google Scholar 

  • De’ath, G., 2007. Boosted trees for ecological modeling and prediction. Ecology 88: 243–251.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • De’ath, G. & K. E. Fabricius, 2000. Classification and regression trees: a powerful yet simple technique for ecological data analysis. Ecology 81: 3178–3192.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Declerck, S., J. Vandekerkhove, L. Johansson, K. Muylaert, J. M. Conde-Porcuna, K. Van Der Gucht, C. Perez-Martínez, T. L. Lauridsen, K. Schwenk, G. Zwart, W. Rommens, J. López-Ramos, E. Jeppesen, W. Vyverman, L. Brendonck & L. De Meester, 2005. Multigroup biodiversity in shallow lakes along gradients of phosphorus and water plant cover. Ecology 86: 1905–1915.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Declerck, S., M. Vanderstukken, A. Pals, K. Muylaert & L. de Meester, 2007. Plankton biodiversity along a gradient of productivity and its mediation by macrophytes. Ecology 88: 2199–2210.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Declerck, S. A. J., E. S. Bakker, B. van Lith, A. Kersbergen & E. van Donk, 2011. Effects of nutrient additions and macrophyte composition on invertebrate community assembly and diversity in experimental ponds. Basic and Applied Ecology 12: 466–475.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diehl, S. & R. Kornijów, 1998. Influence of submerged macrophytes on trophic interactions among fish and macroinvertebrates. In Jeppesen, E., Ma. Søndergaard, Mo. Søndergaard & K. Christoffersen. The Structuring Role of Submerged Macrophytes in Lakes. Ecological Studies 131. Springer Verlag, New York: 24–46.

  • García, L. V., T. Maranón, A. Moreno & L. Clemente, 1993. Above ground biomass and species richness in a Mediterranean salt marsh. Journal of Vegetation Science 4: 417–424.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Griffith, D., 2006. Pattern and process in the ecological biogeography of European freshwater fish. Journal of Animal Ecology 75: 734–751.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heino, J. & H. Toivonen, 2008. Aquatic plant diversity at high latitudes: patterns of richness and rarity in Finnish freshwater macrophytes. Boreal Environment Research 13: 1–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hillebrand, H., 2004. On the generality of the latitudinal diversity gradient. The American Naturalist 163: 192–211.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hrivnák, R., H. Ot’ahel’ová, J. Kochjarová & P. Pal’ove-Balang, 2013. Effect of environmental conditions on species composition of macrophytes – study from two distinct biogeographical regions of Central Europe. Knowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems 411: 09.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • James, C., J. Fisher, V. Russell, S. Collings & B. Moss, 2005. Nitrate availability and hydrophyte species richness in shallow lakes. Freshwater Biology 50: 1049–1063.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jeppesen, E., T. L. Lauridsen, T. Kairesalo & M. R. Perrow, 1998. Impact of submerged macrophytes on fish-zooplankton interactions in lakes. In Jeppesen, E., Ma. Søndergaard, Mo. Søndergaard & K. Christoffersen. The Structuring Role of Submerged Macrophytes in Lakes. Ecological Studies 131. Springer Verlag, New York: 91–114.

  • Jeppesen, E., M. Søndergaard, M. Meerhoff, T. L. Lauridsen & J. P. Jensen, 2007. Shallow lake restoration by nutrient loading reduction – some recent findings and challenges ahead. Hydrobiologia 584: 239–252.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jeppesen, E., M. Meerhoff, K. Holmgren, I. González-Bergonzoni, F. Teixeira-de Mello, S. A. J. Declerck, L. De Meester, M. Søndergaard, T. L. Lauridsen, R. Bjerring, J. M. Conde-Porcuna, N. Mazzeo, C. Iglesias, M. Reizenstein, H. J. Malmquist, Z. W. Liu, D. Balayla & X. Lazzaro, 2010. Impacts of climate warming on lake fish community structure and potential ecosystem effects. Hydrobiologia 646: 73–90.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jespersen, A.-M. & K. Christoffersen, 1987. Measurements of chlorophyll a from phytoplankton using ethanol as extraction solvent. Archiv für Hydrobiologie 109: 445–454.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kanninen, A., S. Hellsten & H. Hämäläinen, 2013. Comparing stressor-specific indices and general measures of taxonomic composition for assessing the status of boreal lacustrine macrophyte communities. Ecological Indicators 27: 29–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kolada, A., 2010. The use of aquatic vegetation in the lake assessment: testing the sensitivity of macrophyte metrics to anthropogenic pressures and water quality. Hydrobiologia 656: 133–147.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Koroleff, F., 1970. Determination of total phosphorus in natural waters by mean of persulphate oxidation. Interlab Report no. 3 Cons. int. Explor. Mer.

  • Kosten, S., E. Jeppesen, V. L. Huszar, N. Mazzeo, E. H. Van Nes, E. T. Peeters & M. Scheffer, 2011. Ambiguous climate impacts on competition between submerged macrophytes and phytoplankton in shallow lakes. Freshwater Biology 56: 1540–1553.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Larcher, W., 1995. Physiological Plant Ecology. Springer, Berlin.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Lauridsen, T. L., P. Hald-Møller & H. Sandsten, 2003. The restoration of a shallow lake by introducing Potamogeton spp.: the impact of waterfowl grazing. Lakes & Reservoirs: Research and Management 8: 177–187.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Legendre, P. & L. Legendre, 1998. Numerical Ecology. Elsevier, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lenoir, J., J.-C. Gégout, A. Guisan, P. Vittoz, T. Wohlgemuth, N. E. Zimmermann, S. Dullinger, H. Pauli, W. Willner, J. A. Grytnes, R. Virtanen & J.-C. Svenning, 2010. Cross scale analysis of the region effect on vascular plant species diversity in southern and northern European mountain ranges. PLoS ONE 5: e15734.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meerhoff, M., J. M. Clemente, F. Teixeira-de Mello, C. Iglesias, A. R. Pedersen & E. Jeppesen, 2007. Can warm climate-related structure of littoral predator assemblies weaken the clear water state in shallow lakes? Global Change Biology 13: 1888–1897.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meerhoff, M., F. Teixeira-de Mello, C. Kruk, C. Alonso, I. González-Bergonzoni, J. Pablo Pacheco, G. Lacerot, M. Arim, M. Beklioğlu, S. Brucet, G. Goyenola, C. Iglesias, N. Mazzeo, S. Kosten & E. Jeppesen, 2012. Environmental warming in shallow lakes: a review of potential changes in community structure as evidenced from space-for-time substitution approaches. Advances in Ecological Research 46: 259–350.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moss, B., 1990. Engineering and biological approaches to the restoration from eutrophication of shallow lakes in which aquatic plant communities are important components. Hydrobiologia 200(201): 367–377.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moss, B., D. Stephen, D. M. Balayla, E. Becares, S. E. Collings, C. Fernandez-Alaez, M. Fernandez-Alaez, C. Ferriol, P. Garcia, J. Goma, M. Gyllström, L. A. Hansson, J. Hietala, T. Kairesalo, M. R. Miracle, S. Romo, J. Rueda, V. Russell, A. Stahl-Delbanco, M. Svensson, K. Vakkilainen, M. Valentin, W. J. Van de Bund, E. Van Donk, E. Vicente & E. G. Villena, 2004. Continental-scale patterns of nutrient and fish effects on shallow lakes: synthesis of a pan-European mesocosm experiment. Freshwater Biology 49: 1633–1649.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, J. & J. R. Riley, 1972. A modified single solution method for the determination of phosphate in natural waters. Analytical Chemistry Acta 27: 21–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Penning, W. E., M. Mjelde, B. Dudley, S. Hellsten, J. Hanganu, A. Kolada, M. Van den Berg, S. Poikane, G. Phillips, N. Willby & F. Ecke, 2008. Classifying aquatic macrophytes as indicators of eutrophication in European lakes. Aquatic Ecology 42: 237–251.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Perriere, G., J. R. Lobry & J. Thioulouse, 1996. Correspondence discriminant analysis: a multivariate method for comparing classes of protein and nucleic acid sequences. CABIOS 12: 519–524.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Quintana, X. D., D. Boix, A. Badosa, S. Brucet, J. Compte, S. Gascón, R. López-Flores, J. Sala & R. Moreno-Amich, 2006. Community structure in temporary and permanent shallow lentic ecosystems: size-based vs. taxon-based approaches. Limnetica 25: 303–320.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robin, J., A. Wezel, G. Bornette, F. Arthaud, S. Angélibert, V. Rosset & B. Oertli, 2014. Biodiversity in eutrophicated shallow lakes: determination of tipping points and tools for monitoring. Hydrobiologia 723: 63–75.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rodríguez, C. F., E. Bécares, M. Fernández-Aláez & C. Fernández-Aláez, 2005. Loss of diversity and degradation of wetlands as a result of introducing exotic crayfish. Biological Invasions 7: 75–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rørslett, B., 1991. Principal determinants of aquatic macrophyte richness in northern European lakes. Aquatic Botany 39: 173–193.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sagrario, M. A. G., E. Jeppesen, J. Goma, M. Søndergaard, J. P. Jensen, T. L. Lauridsen & F. Landkildehus, 2005. Does high nitrogen loading prevent clear-water conditions in shallow lakes at moderately high phosphorus concentrations? Freshwater Biology 50: 27–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sand-Jensen, K. & J. Borum, 1991. Interactions among phytoplankton, periphyton and macrophytes in freshwaters and estuaries. Aquatic Botany 41: 137–175.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sand-Jensen, K., T. Riis, O. Vestergaard & S. E. Larsen, 2000. Macrophyte decline in Danish lakes and streams over past 100 years. Journal of Ecology 88: 1030–1040.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sass, L. L., M. A. Bozek, J. A. Hauxwell, K. Wagner & S. Wright, 2010. Response of aquatic macrophytes to human land use pertubations in the watersheds of Wisconsin lakes, USA. Aquatic Botany 93: 1–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scheffer, M., M. R. Redelijkheid & F. Noppert, 1992. Distribution and dynamics of submerged vegetation in a chain of shallow lakes. Aquatic Botany 42: 199–216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scheffer, M., S. H. Hosper, M. L. Meijer, B. Moss & E. Jeppesen, 1993. Alternative equilibria in shallow lakes. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 8: 275–279.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Søndergaard, M., L. S. Johansson, T. L. Lauridsen, T. B. Jørgensen, L. Liboriussen & E. Jeppesen, 2010. Submerged macrophytes as indicators of ecological quality of lakes. Freshwater Biology 55: 893–908.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steinhardt, T. & U. Selig, 2007. Spatial distribution patterns and relationship between recent vegetation and diaspore bank of a brackish coastal lagoon on the southern Baltic Sea. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 74: 205–214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stumm, W. & J. J. Morgan, 1981. Aquatic Chemistry – An Introduction Emphasizing Chemical Equilibria in Natural Waters. Wiley, New York: 171–227.

    Google Scholar 

  • Teixeira-de Mello, F., M. Meerhoff, Z. Pekcan-Hekim & E. Jeppesen, 2009. Substantial differences in littoral fish community structure and dynamics in subtropical and temperate shallow lakes. Freshwater Biology 54: 1202–1215.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tóth, L. G., S. Poikane, W. E. Penning, G. Free, H. Mäemets, A. Kolada & J. Hanganu, 2008. First step in the Central. Baltic intercalibration exercise on lake macrophytes: where do we start? Aquatic Ecology 42: 265–275.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van den Berg, M., M. Scheffer, E. Van Nes & H. Coops, 1999. Dynamics and stability of Chara sp. and Potamogeton pectinatus in a shallow lake changing in eutrophication level. Hydrobiologia 408(409): 335–342.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vestergaard, O. & K. Sand-Jensen, 2000a. Aquatic macrophyte richness in Danish lakes in relation to alkalinity, transparency and lake area. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 57: 2022–2031.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vestergaard, O. & K. Sand-Jensen, 2000b. Alkalinity and trophic state regulate aquatic plant distribution in Danish lakes. Aquatic Botany 67: 85–107.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wollheim, W. M. & J. R. Lovvorn, 1996. Effects of macrophyte growth forms on invertebrate communities in saline lakes of the Wyoming High Plains. Hydrobiologia 323: 83–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We thank Jon Svendsen, Kim Pedersen, Lissa Skov Hansen, Karina Jensen, Jane Stougaard-Pedersen, Birte Laustsen, Stig Bech Nielsen, Jochen Vanderkerkhove, J. M. Medina-Sanchez, F. Bullejos, P. Sanches-Castillo and J. A. Delgado for field and laboratory assistance. We thank Anne Mette Poulsen and Tinna Christensen for valuable editorial assistance and lake owners and local authorities for lake access. The survey was carried out within the framework of the EU project BIOMAN (Biodiversity and Human Impact in European Shallow Lakes, EVK2-CT-1999-00046). TLL, EJ and SB were supported by the EU project REFRESH (Adaptive strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change on European freshwater ecosystems, Env. 2009.2.1.2.1), TLL and EJ also by CLEAR (a Villum Kann Rasmussen Foundation, Centre of Excellence project), EJ by CIRCE and CRES, and SB by the Marie Curie Intra European Fellowship no. 330249 (CLIMBING).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Vejlsøvej 25, 8600, Silkeborg, Denmark

    Torben L. Lauridsen, Erik Jeppesen & Sandra Brucet

  2. Arctic Research Centre, C.F. Møllers Allé 8, Bldg. 1110, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark

    Torben L. Lauridsen, Erik Jeppesen & Sandra Brucet

  3. Department of Aquatic Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), Postbus 50, 6700 AB, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Steven A. J. Declerck

  4. Laboratory of Aquatic Ecology, Evolution and Conservation, KU Leuven, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Steven A. J. Declerck, Luc De Meester & Wouter Rommens

  5. Institute of Water Research, University of Granada, Ramón y Cajal 4, 18071, Granada, Spain

    Jose M. Conde-Porcuna

  6. Sino-Danish Centre for Education and Research (SDC), Beijing, People’s Republic of China

    Torben L. Lauridsen & Erik Jeppesen

  7. Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Vic, Vic, Spain

    Sandra Brucet

  8. Institute for Environment and Sustainability, European Commission Joint Research Centre, Ispra, Italy

    Sandra Brucet

Authors
  1. Torben L. Lauridsen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Erik Jeppesen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Steven A. J. Declerck
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Luc De Meester
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jose M. Conde-Porcuna
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Wouter Rommens
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Sandra Brucet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Torben L. Lauridsen.

Additional information

Handling editor: Zhengwen Liu

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lauridsen, T.L., Jeppesen, E., Declerck, S.A.J. et al. The importance of environmental variables for submerged macrophyte community assemblage and coverage in shallow lakes: differences between northern and southern Europe. Hydrobiologia 744, 49–61 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-014-2055-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-014-2055-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation