Distribution of aquatic macrophytes in Lake Alexandrina, New Zealand

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Abstract
The macrophyte distribution in Lake Alexandrina (737 m above sea level), a small, a small, homothermous, South Canterbury high-country lake, is closely related to depth. Shallow water communities, mostly dominated by Isoetes alpinus Kirk, extend to a depth of about 4 m, but do not grow above 0.7 m because of strong wave action. Mid-depth communities consist of a tall Elodea canadensis Michx./Myriophyllum triphyllum Orchard community between 2 and 4 m at the shallow northern end of the lake, large areas of Chara fibrosa var. acanthopitys (A.Br). Zenev. at the southern end, and a M. triphyllum/Nitella hookeri A.Br. community at 2-6 on the steeply descending eastern and western sides of the lake. Pure stands of E. canadensis may replace the last community, particularly on the eastern side. A deep water characean community of C. globularis Thruill. and C. corallina Kl. ex Willd. extends from 4 m to 10-11 m with 100% cover; C. corallina continuing sparsely to 16 m. Maximum above-ground biomass recorded for the summer 1982-1983 was 1350 g m-2 (dry weight) for C. globularis and 1100 g m-2 for E. canadensis.

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