The aquatic plant community of a lake is full of complex interactions that contribute to the overall health of an aquatic ecosystem. Every level of the aquatic food chain from bacteria and invertebrates to fish and waterfowl are dependent upon aquatic plants to some degree for their survival (Engel, 1985; Wetzel, 2001). Photosynthesis and respiration are important in maintaining clear waters (Engel, 1990). Aquatic plants stabilize sediments and absorb wave action which in turn prevents turbidity caused by suspended sediments. Light penetration, excess nutrients from run-off, wave action and lake morphometry all affect the plant community of the littoral zone (Barko 1988; Duarte and Kalff, 1986). The importance of aquatic plants in an aquatic ecosystem creates the need to study the diversity, density and distribution of the aquatic plant community as well as an examination of the factors impacting the plant community.

Final Report