Abstract

Recurrent biological investigations have been made in six lakes in two areas in western Sweden. It has been found that the supply of acid substances induces long-term biological perturbations at all trophic levels in the lake ecosystem. Among these changes, the Sphagnum expansion is believed to strongly affect the dynamics in the lake. A quantification of the Sphagnum expansion in different depth zones of a lake was made. The rate of this invasion was found to be highest in shaded and sheltered areas of the littoral. The abundance of Sphagnum mats is furthermore negatively correlated to the pH of the lake water. The further consequences for the lake ecosystem of this occupation of ever-larger bottom areas by dense Sphagnum mats are discussed.

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