Abstract
Biomass density, defined as biomass per unit volume of spaceoccupied by a plant, has been described as a species specificcharacteristic, suspected to be unrelated to plantdevelopment. A detailed study of Myriophyllum spicatum L. in a northernUSA, ntemperate zone, seepage lake refutes the latter assumption,revealing that considerable spatial and temporal variabilityin biomass density exists. A two- to three-fold increase inbiomass density during the growing season was significantly correlatedwith increases in plant height and biomass, specifically withincreases in the relative weight of foliated segments of the plant.Biomass density remains a useful measure of plant community structureif spatial and temporal changes are accounted for.
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Lillie, R.A., Budd, J. & Rasmussen, P.W. Spatial and temporal variability in biomass density of Myriophyllum spicatum L. in a northern temperate lake. Hydrobiologia 347, 69–74 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003059000277
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003059000277