Abstract
The influence of water eutrophication on the macrophytic vegetation of Lake Lugano (Lago di Lugano) is demonstrated using two complementary procedures: A comparative study of the flora, floristic diversity and abundance of vegetation of the three main basins (Northern, Southern, and Ponte Tresa) differing in their geographical and limnological (trophic) characteristics. Our findings are briefly compared with the observations made on other Swiss lakes. A description of the qualitative and quantitative evolution of macrophytes based on the comparison of our results of 1980 and 1987 with those of Steiner in 1912. These three studies correspond to different trophic levels and provide trends to link the evolution of vegetation and flora to the phenomenon of eutrophication.
Highlights
These three studies correspond to different trophic levelsand provide trends to link the evolution of vegetation and flora to the phenomenon of eutrophication
Taking into account the studies of Baldi et al (1949), Jaag (1958, 1964) and Vollenweider (1965), Barbieri et al (1989) estimate that the accelerated water eutrophication of Lake Lugano began in the 1940s
The evolution of the macrophytic flora and vegetation of Lake Lugano was described by comparing previous data to our own 1980 and 1987 observations
Summary
In particular since Vollenweider (1970), that water eutrophication leads to an increase of primary production and to modifications in the community's composition: i.e., appearance and proliferation of organisms indicating nutrient-rich waters and simultaneous disappearance of species typical of oligotrophic waters. The consequences of water eutrophication on the macrophytic vegetation of lakes have been amply described, in particular by Suonimen (1968), Morgan (1970), Ryan et al (1972), Wium-Andersen (1974), Jupp and Spence (1977), Wallsteen (1981), Lachavanne (1982, 1985), Burgermeister and Lachavanne (1984), Lachavanne et al (1984), Juge et al (1985), Lachavanne et al (1986 a and 1986 b) These studies clearly show that, up to a certain trophic level, water eutrophication first promotes an increase of macrophytic colonization. The comparison of the abundance of macrophytes in Lake Lugano with that of other Swiss lakes (Lachavanne et al, 1986b) gives an estimation of the trophic level
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