Seasonal Flux of Nonstructural Carbohydrate in Five Species of Submerged Macrophytes in a Precambrian Shield Lake. Part 2: Fluctuation in Relation to Chlorophyll Content, Temperature and Water Chemistry

Abstract

AbstractTotal soluble carbohydrate, individual sugars and starch content in green shoots of Ceratophyllum demersum, Elodea canadensis, Myriophyllum exalbescens, Potamogeton foliosus and P. zosteriformis from Shoal Lake (Manitoba‐Ontario) were examined in relation to tissue chlorophyll content, water chemistry and temperature. The different species showed a variety of seasonal carbohydrate patterns. Seasonal concentrations of total soluble carbohydrate were significantly positively correlated with chlorophyll and total chlorophyll a + b in E. canadensis and P. foliosus. Seasonal starch content was inversely correlated with chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll a + b in C. demersum and P. foliosus. In C. demersum nonstructural carbohydrate was inversely correlated with total alkalinity, total molybdenum reactive phosphorus, total inorganic nitrogen and temperature of the water. Sucrose concentrations in P. foliosus in June were positively correlated with phosphorus levels in the water.