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Aquatic Plants

Aquatic Plants. Aquatic Ecology Mr. Werner. PLANTS (MACROPHYTES) TAXONOMY and DIVERSITY Macro-algae ( Chara ) – Several forms Flowering Plants – 2 dozen families (several hundred species) 4 categories: Floating unattached, Floating attached, Submerged, Emergent.

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Aquatic Plants

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  1. Aquatic Plants Aquatic Ecology Mr. Werner

  2. PLANTS (MACROPHYTES) TAXONOMY and DIVERSITY Macro-algae (Chara) – Several forms Flowering Plants – 2 dozen families (several hundred species) 4 categories: Floating unattached, Floating attached, Submerged, Emergent

  3. AQUATIC MACROPHYTE HABITAT Attached, Floating, submerged, emergent, SWIMMING AND ESCAPE BEHAVIOR none FEEDING PREFERENCES AND BEHAVIOR Photosynthesis LIFE CYCLE AND DIAPAUSE The seed bank ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE AND MANAGEMENT Large: Ecologically important Sometimes nuisances

  4. EXTERNAL STRUCTURE, APPEARANCE and ANATOMY Typical plant structures: roots (rhizome, holdfast) stem (single cell in macro-algae) leaves flowers “Plants are inside-out animals.” Tim Allen

  5. The importance of aquatic macrophytes infreshwater systems • Aquatic macrophytes play a vital role in ecosystems. • They are primary producers and an important food source. • They provide a substrate for algae and shelter for invertebrates and young fish. • They offer nesting sites or birds and mammals • They aid in nutrient cycling. • They catch sediments and help stabilize river and stream banks.

  6. Rhizomes

  7. 1. Floating unattached plants • Roots, if present, hang free in the water and are not anchored to the bottom. Duckweed

  8. 2. Floating attached plants • …have leaves which float on the surface, but their stems are beneath the surface, and their roots anchor the plant in the substrate.

  9. 3. Submerged plants Elodea nuttallii • … the entire plant is below the surface.

  10. 4. Emergent aquatic macrophytes • …have roots below and stems and leaves above the water’s surface. Sedges - Carex

  11. b. For Picture see Fig. 5.6 p.136 in Textbook a. • Sedge - Wetlands • Grass – Emergent • Lily pads – Floating Attached • Sundew - Emergent • Duckweed – Floating Unattached c. d. e.

  12. Representative of aquatic submerged macrophytes For Picture see Fig. 5.7 p.136 in Textbook Chara (macroalgae) Pond weeds (narrow-leafed water weed) Boad-leafed water weed Utricularia(bladder wort) Milfoil (Myriophyllum)

  13. Life Cycle • Reproduce once a year • Macro-algae = release motile gametes • Flowering Plants = flowers on stalks, pollinated by wind or insects/birds. • Seeds mature during warm season & enter diapause stage in winter.

  14. The speed of the water determines thetype of plants found. • Fast water encourages low, encrusting forms

  15. Lentic Systems • Slow flowing or lentic bodies can have large leafy forms present.

  16. Factors affecting plant growth • Light is the most important factor in determining the presence of plants • Light levels beneath the surface can be affected by many factors such as: • Depth • Turbidity (sediment) • Shading (trees etc.) • Water color (chemical staining) • Ice formation

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