Helle Mäemets

Characteristics of reeds on Lake Peipsi and the floristic consequences of their expansion

Abstract The reeds of Lake Peipsi (surface area 3555 km 2 , mean depth 7.1 m, max. depth 15.3 m, not-regulated) have increased through the last 30 years. The most significant increase has taken place in the larger formerly mesotrophic northern part where the mean air-dry biomass of reed shoots has increased from 20 g m −2 in 1970 through 789 g m −2 in 1989 to 1563 g m −2 in 2002. The data of 34 transects for 2001–2002 along the Estonian coast and aerophotos made in 2001 showed that in places reeds reach a water depth of 1 m (mean 0.64 m) and a width of more than 200 m (mean 89.5 m). Their area of 9.3 km 2 accounts for about 0.6% of the Estonian territory of the lake. The longer and thicker shoots grew in the lakeward and intermediate zones of reeds. Near villages the shoots were weaker and their biomass lower. Phosphorus content of shoots, being higher near settlements, was generally low; in some cases content of phosphorus was ≤0.001%. The monotonous reed belt occupies the growth area of shallow-water submergent and shorter emergent species and favours the accumulation of organic sediments. The frequency of several species demanding light and sandy bottom has decreased, as well has the overall diversity of the macrovegetation. The main reasons for expansion of the reed could be eutrophication, combined with low-water periods, and the decline of cattle breeding in the shore areas. Some suppressed species have reappeared on stretches cleaned from reeds.

First steps in the Central-Baltic intercalibration exercise on lake macrophytes: where do we start?

The Water Framework Directive (WFD 2000) defines macrophytes as one of the biological groups required for the ecological assessment of European surface waters. Several indices for macrophyte assessment have been proposed or are currently in use by different European states. As a first step towards performing an intercalibration of these indices a common dataset was developed. This dataset contains abundance data on 789 macrophyte species from 316 different lake sites in ten European countries. Various common species and genera were identified as indicators of reference and impacted conditions within the dataset. Cluster analysis of macrophyte data, supported by non-metric multidimensional scaling, indicated that clusters formed were more reflective of their source country rather than lake type. This might be caused by differences in regional climate, biogeography, monitoring techniques, or a combination of these factors. A total of six national indices were applied to assign quality classes to the lakes. However, this produced results that often differed by one or two quality classes for the same site. We foresee that a more precise intercalibration exercise is necessary, and it should be based on more detailed data considering both seasonality and the latitudinal differences within the area covered.

Long- and short-term Changes of the Macrophyte Vegetation in Strongly Stratified Hypertrophic Lake Verevi

The aim of study was to bring out changes in the macrophyte vegetation, caused by eutrophication, short-term lowering of the water level and the following restoration of equilibrium in L. Verevi. Also biomass and N and P content of shoots of main submergent species were studied in 1999–2001, to follow the temporal and specific differences. Due to strong eutrophication, the type of the lake changed from a Myriophyllum-Potamogeton-Charophyta lake to a Ceratophyllum-Lemna trisulca lake in 1984–1988, obviously owing to the formation of loose organic-rich sediment. Water lowering by 0.7 m during summer months of 1998 facilitated mineralization of sediments, as a consequence of which a mass development of Ranunculus circinatus and a temporary increase in the abundance and biomass of other nutrient-demanding species took place during following years. Our data suggest differences in nutrient supply and release of submerged species and the need for more species-related approach to this group. The problem of nutrient supply of unrooted plants at the time of stratification arises. Regarding the increase of biomass of Ceratophyllum demersum in second half of summer, we suppose that one part of nutrients for this growth may derive from freshly decayed filamentous algae or vascular plants.

Macrophyte assessment in European lakes: Diverse approaches but convergent views of ‘good’ ecological status

Graphical abstract