Abstract

Uncertainty is an important factor in ecological assessment, and has important implications for the ecological classification and management of lakes. However, our knowledge of the effects of uncertainty in the assessment of different ecological indicators is limited. Here, we used data from a standardized campaign of aquatic plant surveys, in 28 lakes from 10 European countries, to assess variation in macrophyte metrics across a set of nested spatial scales: countries, lakes, sampling stations, replicate transects, and replicate samples at two depth-zones. Metrics investigated in each transect included taxa richness, maximum depth of colonisation and two indicators of trophic status: Ellenberg's N and a metric based on phosphorus trophic status. Metrics were found to have a slightly stronger relationship to pressures when they were calculated on abundance data compared to presence/absence data. Eutrophication metrics based on helophytes were found not to be useful in assessing the effects of nutrient pressure. These metrics were also found to vary with the depth of sampling, with shallower taxa representing higher trophic status. This study demonstrates the complex spatial variability in macrophyte communities, the effect of this variability on the metrics, and the implications to water managers, especially in relation to survey design.

Keywords

Lake; Macrophyte; Uncertainty; Metric; Mixed linear model; WFD

Published in

Hydrobiologia
2013, Volume: 704, number: 1, pages: 179-191
Publisher: SPRINGER

SLU Authors

• Ecke, Frauke

  • Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    
  • Luleå University of Technology

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG6 Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all


UKÄ Subject classification

Ecology


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-012-1338-z

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/39994