Summary
The main events in the development of the vascular hydrophyte flora of Lake Kariba are reviewed on the basis of the growth forms present in the Lake.
The habitats occupied by free floating plants are still dominated by Salvinia auriculata and here the situation appears ho have reached a measure of stability.
The colonies of sudd plants Salvinia mats have similarly reached an apparently stable state.
The emergent vegetation of the shores of the lake is shown to be affected by a number of factors, the most important probably being the fluctuations in lake level.
Attached hydrophytes with floating leaves are present in such small quantity as to be a relatively unimportant constituent of the present vascular hydrophyte flora of Lake Kariba.
The significance to the productivity of Lake Kariba of the establishment of indigenous aquatic and semi-aquatic plants is stated. The detrimental effect of Salvinia mats in retarding the establishment of these plants is pointed out.
The development of the submerged aquatic flora is briefly described.
Finally these separate events are reviewed in the chronological order in which they occurred.
Résumé
Les principaux stages dans le développement de la flore vasculaire hydrophyte du Lac Kariba sont examinés selon l'échelle de croissance des plantes qui se recontrent actuellement dans le lac.
Les habitats des plantes flottantes sans attache sont toujours dominés par la Salvinia auriculata; dans ces aires la situation semble avoir atteint, dans une certaine mesure, un état stable.
Les colonies de plantes su sedd sur les radeaux de Salvinia paraissent aussi avoir atteint un état stable.
Preuve est fournie que la végétation émergeant sur les rives du lac est influencée par un certain nombre de facteurs, dont les plus importantts. sont les variations dans le niveau du lac.
Les hydrophytes á pédoncule et á feuilles rencontrent en quantité tellement réduite qu'elles ne constituent qu'un élément relativement sans importance de la flore vasculaire hydrophyte actuelle du Lac Kariba.
En termes de productivité du Lac Kariba, les conséquences de l'établissement de plantes aquatiques ou semi-aquatiques est mise en lumiére. L'effet préjudiciable des radeaux de Salvinia en tant qu'ils retardent l'établissement de ces plantes est souligné.
Le développement de la flore aquatique sumergée est esquissé. dans l'ordre chronologique de leur apparition.
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Mitchell, D.S. The ecology of vascular hydrophytes on Lake Kariba. Hydrobiologia 34, 448–464 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00045403
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00045403