Growth and recession of aquatic macrophytes on an unshaded section of the River Lambourn, England, from 1971 to 1976

Abstract

SUMMARY. The growth and recession of the macrophytes on an unshaded section of the R. Lambourn was documented by a mapping procedure from March 1971 to December 1976. The seasonal patterns were determined mainly by the dominant macrophytes. Ranunculus penicillatus var. calcareus and Ranunculus peltatus. Ranunculus grew rapidly in spring and early summer, mainly colonizing areas of gravel and reached a summer maximum. The greatest loss of plants was in August and September but losses continued through the winter to give minimum cover in March. Berula and Callitriche did not show regular seasonal growth patterns but their growth was largely confined to times when there was little growth of Ranunculus. Increase in area of Ranunculus in the spring was positively correlated with the mean discharge at that time. The growth of Ranunculus appeared to be restricted when shading was caused by turbid water due to dredging or by accumulation of epiphytic algae on the surface of the plants in years when discharge was low. Discharge also influenced the substrata underlying Ranunculus and the area of silt under Ranunculus beds was negatively correlated with discharge. The factors thought to influence growth of Ranunculus were used to develop a conceptual model of growth.