Abstract
During the last two decades the nutrient loading to Danish lakes has been reduced with the aim to improve water quality. However, because of internal P-loading and biological resistance, the expected improvement has been delayed. Therefore, to reduce the duration of the recovery period and to accelerate recolonisation of submerged macrophytes, several lakes have been biomanipulated with the purpose of improving the top-down control by zooplankton. To elucidate the effects of these measures, we undertook an analysis of data on submerged macrophytes monitored annually in 17 lakes for 8 years. The results obtained show that the macrophyte coverage in non-biomanipulated lakes remained relatively stable following the external nutrient reduction. However, a small increase in macrophyte coverage occurred in a few lakes. In two of the four biomanipulated lakes, in contrast, macrophyte coverage increased from 0 up to 80% within 2–4 years following manipulation. In the other two lakes macrophyte colonisation failed. However, in lakes with a successful recolonisation, large inter-annual variations in macrophyte coverage, varying between 2 and 80% among growth seasons, occurred. We conclude that the potential of macrophyte recolonisation after nutrient loading reduction on the short term is higher in biomanipulated lakes than in lakes subjected to loading reduction only, although biomanipulation does not provide a guarantee for macrophyte recolonisation or a stable macrophyte community when colonisation occurs.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barko, J. W. & R. M. Smart, 1986. Sediment related mechanisms and growth limitations in submersed macrophytes. Ecology 67: 1328–1340.
Burla, H. & G. Ribi, 1998. Density variation of the Zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha in Lake Zurich, from 1976 to 1988. Aquat. Sci. 60: 145–156.
Fyns Amt, 2001. Arreskov Sø 2000. Vandmiljøovervågning. Report by Fyns County, Natur-og Vandmiljøafdelingen. In Danish.
Grøn, P., 2002. Vandremuslingen i Fårup Sø. Report by a/s Bioconsult for Vejle County 2002. In Danish.
Jensen, J. P., M. Søndergaard, E. Jeppesen, R. Bjerring Olsen, F. Landkildehus, T. L. Lauridsen, L. Sortkjær & A.-M. Poulsen, 2001. Søer 2000. NOVA 2003. Danmarks Miljøundersøgelser. 106 s. – Faglig rapport fra DMU nr. 377. http: faglige-rapporter.dmu.dk. In Danish.
Jeppesen, E., P. Kristensen, J. P. Jensen, M. Søndergaard, E. Mortensen & T. L. Lauridsen, 1991. Recovery resilience following a reduction in internal phosphorus loading of shallow, eutrophic Danish lakes: duration, regulating factors and methods for overcoming resilience. Memorie dell'Istituto italiano di idrobiologia dott. Marco de Marchi 48: 127–148.
Jespersen, A.-M. & K. Cristoffersen, 1987. Measurements of chlorophyll a from phytoplankton using ethanol as extraction solvent. Arch. Hydrobiol. 109: 445–454.
Kronvang, B., G. Ærtebjerg, R. Grant, P. Kristensen, M. Hovmand & J. Kirkegaard, 1993. Nationwide monitoring of nutrients and their ecological effects. State of the Danish Aquatic Environment. Ambio 22: 176–187.
Lauridsen, T. L., E. Jeppesen & M. Søndergaard, 1993. Colonization of submerged macrophytes in shallow fish manipulated Lake Væng: impact of sediment composition and waterfowl grazing. Aquat. Bot. 46: 1–15.
Lauridsen, T. L., E. Jeppesen & M. Søndergaard, 1994. Colonization and succession of submerged macrophytes in shallow Lake Væng during the first five years following fish-manipulation. Hydrobiologia 275/276: 233–242.
Lauridsen, T. L., H. Sandsten & P. H. Møller, in press. Restoration of a shallow lake by introducing Potamogeton spp.: impact of waterfowl grazing. Lakes and Reservoirs: Research Management.
Marklund, O., H. Sandsten, L.-A. Hansson & I. Blindow, 2002. Effects of waterfowl and fish on submerged vegetation and macroinvertebrates. Freshwat. Biol. 47: 2049–2059.
Meijer, M. L., I de Boois, M. Scheffer, R. Portielje & H. Hosper, 1999. Biomanipulation in shallow lakes in the Netherlands: an evaluation of 18 case studies. Hydrobiologia 408/409: 13–30.
Middelboe, A. L. & S. Markager, 1997. Depth limits and minimum light requirements of freshwater macrophytes. Freshwat. Biol. 37. 553–568.
Mitchell, S. F. & M. R. Perrow, 1998. Interactions between grazing birds and macrophytes. In Jeppesen, E., Ma. Søndergaard, Mo. Søndergaard & K. Christoffersen (eds), The Structuring Role of Submerged Macrophytes in Lakes. Ecological Studies Vol. 131. Springer-Verlag New York: 175–196.
Perrow, M. R., J. H. Schutten, J. R. Howes, T. Holzer, F. J. Madgewick & A. J. D. Jowitt, 1997. Interactions between coot (Fulica atra) and submerged macrophytes: the role of birds in the restoration process. Hydrobiologia 342/343: 241–255.
Perrow, M. R., A. J. D. Jowitt, S. A. C. Leigh, A. M. Hindes & J. D. Rhodes, 1999. The stability of fish communities in shallow lakes undergoing restoration: expectations from the Norfolk Broads (U.K.). Hydrobiologia 408/409: 85–100.
Phillips, G., R. Jackson, C. Bennet & A. Chilvers, 1994.The importance of sediment phosphorus release in the restoration of very shallow lakes (The Norfolk Broads, England) and implications for biomanipulation. Hydrobiologia 275/276: 445–456.
Rørslett, B., D. Berge & S. W. Johansen, 1985. Mass invasion of Elodea canadensis in a mesotrophic, South Norwegian lake – impact on water quality. Verh. int. Ver. theor. angew. Limnol. 22:2920–2926.
Sas, H., 1989. Lake restoration by reduction of nutrient loading. Expectations, experiences, extrapolation. Academic Verlag St. Augustin: 497 pp.
Scheffer, M. & E. Jeppesen, 1998. Alternative stable states. In Jeppesen, E., Ma. Søndergaard, Mo. Søndergaard & K. Christoffersen (eds), The Structuring Role of Submerged Macrophytes in Lakes. Ecological Studies Vol. 131. Springer Verlag New York: 397–406.
Spence, D. H. N., 1982. The zonation of plants in freshwater lakes. Adv. Ecol. Res. 12: 37–125.
Søndergaard, M., P. Kristensen & E. Jeppesen, 1992. Phosphorus release from resuspended sediment in the shallow and wind exposed Lake Arresø, Denmark. Hydrobiologia 228: 91–99.
Søndergaard, M., L. Olufsen, T. Lauridsen, E. Jeppesen & T. Vindbæk Madsen, 1996. The impact of grazing waterfowl on submerged macrophytes: in situ experiments in a shallow eutrophic lake. Aquat. Bot. 53: 73–84.
Søndergaard, M., E. Jeppesen, J. P. Jensen, T. L. Lauridsen, J. P. Muller, H. J. Jensen, S. Berg & C. Hvidt, 1998. Sørestaurering i Danmark. Metoder, erfaringer og anbefalinger. Miljønyt nr. 28, 1998. Miljø-og Energiministeriet. Miljøstyrelsen. In Danish.
Søndergaard, M., E. Jeppesen, J. P. Jensen & T. L. Lauridsen, 2000. Lake restoration in Denmark. Lakes and Reservoirs: Research Management 5: 151–159.
Søndergaard, M., J. P. Jensen & E. Jeppesen, 2001. Retention and internal loading of phosphorus in shallow, eutrophic lakes. The Scientific World 1: 427–442.
Van der Molen, D. T. & P. C. N. Boers, 1994. Influence of internal loading on phosphorus concentration in shallow lakes before and after reduction of the external loading. Hydrobiologia 275/276: 379–389.
Van Donk, E. & A. Otte, 1996. Effects of grazing by fish and water fowl on the biomass and species composition of submerged macrophytes. Hydrobiologia 340: 285–290.
Vejle Amt, 2001. Overvågning af Fårup Sø, 2000. Report from Vejle County, Forvaltning for Teknik og Natur. In Danish.
Weisner, S., J. Strand & H. Sandsten, 1997. Mechanisms regulating abundance of submerged vegetation in shallow eutrophic lakes. Oecologia 109: 592–599.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lauridsen, T.L., Peder Jensen, J., Jeppesen, E. et al. Response of submerged macrophytes in Danish lakes to nutrient loading reductions and biomanipulation. Hydrobiologia 506, 641–649 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:HYDR.0000008633.17385.70
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:HYDR.0000008633.17385.70