| dc.description.abstract | Macrophytes are of significant importance to aquatic ecosystems, generating
primary production in nearshore environments and providing physical structure and
habitat for organisms in the littoral zone of lakes. Macrophyte cutting is a common
practice near human settlements, used to dampen the negative perceived effects they have
on human activities. As such, understanding the impacts of vegetation cutting on both the
lower and higher trophic levels can provide insight into impacts on the whole lake
ecosystem. Impacts of macrophyte cutting on the whole-lake ecosystem were assessed at
Lake 191 of the IISD-ELA, where 2 years of pre-experimental monitoring (1994 - 1995)
were followed by 3 years of macrophyte cutting (1996-1998). After cutting occurred,
macrophytes were allowed to re-establish and post-experimental monitoring occurred
from 1999 until up to 2003. Results from this experiment showed decreased light
penetration and decreased relative macrophyte biomass at 0.5m depth in 2000.
Phytoplankton community composition became more variable, and biomass increased
during macrophyte cutting. Daphnia pulex, Daphnia catawba, and Daphnia schoedleri
collectively and Diaptomus oregonensis saw the greatest biomass changes within the
zooplankton community. [...] | en_US |
