Methodology for the study of the distribution of aquatic vegetation in the French Alpine lakes

Summary

The Methodology Described Has Been Applied to Two Lakes (Aiguebelette, Annecy) in Order to Have an Inventory of the Vegetation and to Get a Reference When Studying Its Evolution or Comparing Different Lakes. Methods Using Aerial Photographs Are Inoperative When the Vegetation Develops in Deep Water. The Method Developed by Jensen (1977) for the vegetation of the lakes of Scania (Sweden) has been adapted: vegetation of the inflowing and outflowing rivers zones is taken into account; the cover classes have been simplified. Observations have been made along transects with determination of depth and substrate granulometry and sampling of plants for chemical analysis. Results are discussed.