Macrophyte depth limits in North Island (New Zealand) lakes of differing clarity

The maximal depth of lake water colonized more or less continuously by aquatic macrophytes was symbolized as zc. A relationship for predicting zc in North Island lakes of known clarity was derived. Seasonal variation in water clarity, as indicated by the attenuation coefficient for photosyntheticall...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Hydrobiologia 1986-07, Vol.137 (1), p.55-60
Main Authors: VANT, W. N, DAVIES-COLLEY, R. J, CLAYTON, J. S, COFFEY, B. T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Fresh water ecosystems
Freshwater
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Synecology
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Summary:The maximal depth of lake water colonized more or less continuously by aquatic macrophytes was symbolized as zc. A relationship for predicting zc in North Island lakes of known clarity was derived. Seasonal variation in water clarity, as indicated by the attenuation coefficient for photosynthetically active radiation (Kd per metre) was determined by monthly measurements for a year in 9 lakes. Kd varied by a factor of 2-3 in 8 lakes, and a factor of 5 in one. Annual mean Kd varied by a factor of 15 between lakes. Values of zc were 1.5-12.5 m. The relationship zc equals 4.34 divided by Kd accounted for 93 per cent of the variability in zc, indicating that average annual clarity was probably a useful predictor of zc in North Island lakes.
ISSN:0018-8158
1573-5117
DOI:10.1007/BF00004172