Effects of acidification on macrophyte growth in the HUMEX Lake Skjervatjern, with special emphasis on Sphagnum auriculatum

Conference · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Environment International; (United States)

OSTI ID:7065913

Brandrud, T E; Johansen, S W ^[1]

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1. Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Oslo (Norway)

Transplantation experiments for the study of aquatic macrophyte growth and vitality were carried out in the HUMEX Lake Skjervatjern. Plants (preferentially indigenous) were transplanted to plastic pots in the acid-treated (A) basin and the control (B) basin. During the first phase of the experiments in 1991-1992, shortly after start of acidification treatment, the following trends were apparent: (1) The isoetic plants (Isoetes lacustris, Littorella uniflora, and Lobelia dortmanna) showed similar growth and vitality responses in the two Skjervatjern basins. (2) The elodeid species showed a slightly different response in the two basins. Juncus bulbosus exhibited a slightly higher growth rate in the acidified A basin. Myriophyllum alterniflorum died out after less than a growing season in the treated basin A, while a few shoots survived in basin B. (3) The transplanted shoots of submerged Sphagnum auriculatum showed a decreased growth in the acidified basin less than a year after start of treatment. This contrasts the results of other lake acidification studies where submerged Sphagnum mats were found to increase. The decreased growth of Sphagnum auriculatum after treatment seems most probably to be due to the increased SO[sub 4] concentrations, or to increased competition with epiphytic green algae. 43 refs., 12 figs.

• OSTI ID: 7065913
• Report Number(s): CONF-9306371--; CNN: STEP-CT90-0112
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Environment International; (United States) Journal Volume: 20:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ACIDIFICATION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BRYOPHYTA
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
EUROPE
FIELD TESTS
GROWTH
LAKES
MOSSES
NORWAY
PLANT GROWTH
PLANTS
SCANDINAVIA
SURFACE WATERS
TESTING
WESTERN EUROPE