Macrophyte Research Primarily Sterling Pond

1
Macrophyte ResearchPrimarily - Sterling Pond
Bob Johnson Ecology Evolutionary Biology
Cornell University Research Ponds July 7, 2006
2
Methods

• Sample predetermined sites
• by UTM coordinates
• 2001, 2002, 2003
• Biomass
• by species
• dry weight
• Rake toss abundance
• overall abundance categories (5)
• for each species
• Measure plant dimensions.

3
Plant Dimensions Measurements

4
ExampleAssumed Steps to Defining Myriophyllum
spicatum surface area

• 1. Myriophyllum spicatum
• dissected vein plant
• all parts cylindrical
• 2. Calibrate
• Stem
• Leaf midvein
• Leaf side vein

• 3. Calculate standard
• Stem surface area / length
• Leaf surface area
• Whorl surface area
• Apical tip surface area
• 4. Apply standard to plant photographs

5
Sterling Pond Aquatic Macrophytes
Harder - Elodea sp. Lemna trusulca
Najas guadalupensis Zosterella
dubia Hardest - Ceratophyllum demersum
Myriophyllum spicatum Nitellopsis obtusa
later season

• Easy
• Potamogeton crispus
• Flat stem, flat leaf
• Hard
• Nitellopsis obtusa
• early season
• cylindrical stem
• With cylindrical leaf
• Of same diameter

6
Sterling Pond 2003 Starry Stonewort
(Nitellopsis obtusa)
July 25
Oct. 10
7
Dense Macrophyte BedsLabeled Areas Have Biomass
gt 50 g/m2
May 23, 2002
August 19, 2002
September 25, 2003