Multiscale collection and analysis of submerged aquatic vegetation spectral profiles for Eurasian watermilfoil detection

Authors:
Open Access
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Aquatic vegetation provides a key refuge and growth habitat for a variety of plant and animal species in the shallow littoral regions on the edges of waterbodies,1,2 supporting more species per unit of primary production than open water (limnetic) zones.3 In a study of 14 of the world’s largest lakes, Vadeboncoeur et al.3 found that more than 93% of fish species were found in the littoral zones and 72% of species were restricted to this area. Aquatic vegetation is a key factor controlling the structure and function of littoral zones, cycling nutrients, fixing carbon via photosynthesis, providing habitat for periphyton colonization and facilitating carbon and nutrient cycling by other primary producers.4,5 Aquatic vegetation is a source of both food and habitat for macroinvertebrates, fishes, and amphibians that are part of the food web.6 Finally, littoral zones are highly influenced by anthropogenic activity yet are poorly studied compared to limnetic zones. There are many aquatic invasive plant species,7 whose ecological and management impacts have resulted in control and treatment efforts in need of monitoring.8 – 12 Invasive aquatic plants can interfere with recreation, affect property values, impact subsistence fisheries harvests, increase nutrient loading, and deplete dissolved oxygen.13 For example, non-native Myriophyllum spicatum (Eurasian watermilfoil or “EWM”) forms thick, submerged monotypic beds that typically reduce the richness, diversity, and distributions of benthic invertebrates and fishes in littoral zones.14 Challenges to the study of aquatic vegetation include relative difficulty of site access compared to terrestrial systems and attenuation of light in water, especially for freshwater systems.
Funding Information
  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (00E01928)

This publication has 58 references indexed in Scilit: