The Effects of Short-term Disturbance on a Freshwater Macrophyte Community

ABSTRACT

Areas of a freshwater macrophyte community were disturbed (vegetation removal) to test the hypothesis that the high plant species diversity found in the macrophyte community could be explained in part by disturbance. Three removal treatments were undertaken and the disturbed areas were observed for up to three years. The size, shape and extent of disturbance had an effect on the pattern of plant re-establishment. In narrow clearings, shading by bordering plants appeared to inhibit plant recruitment in the year of the disturbance. In the following year(s) the vegetation on the disturbed areas was indistinguishable from the surrounding vegetation. In broader areas where only the above-ground biomass was removed, some plants regrew from the remaining rhizomes. On large clearings from which both above-ground and some rhizomes were removed, annual macrophyte species became established. Thereafter, there was a successional sequence on the removal area.