The effect of an emergent macrophyte (<i>Typha angustifolia</i>) on sediment resuspension in a shallow north temperate lake

Abstract

1. The effects of emergent macrophytes on water turbidity and sediment resuspension in the shallow Kirkkojärvi basin of Lake Hiidenvesi were studied with sediment traps, and concomitant sediment and water samples. The study was conducted during May–August in three different zones of a stand of the emergent Typha angustifolia . 2. Within the stand (5 m from the edge), both the concentration of suspended solids and the rate of sediment resuspension were significantly lower than at the edge and outside the stand (5 m from the edge). The differences between the zones increased towards the end of summer together with the growing stem density. During the study period (82 days), 2210 g dw m −2 of sediment was resuspended in the outer zone. At the edge and in the inner zone, the corresponding numbers were 1414 and 858 g dw m −2 , respectively. 3. With the resuspended sediment, 39.4 mg P m −2 day −1 was brought to the water column outside the stand, 22.4 mg P m −2 day −1 at the edge and 13.4 mg P m −2 day −1 within the stand. 4. In early summer, the concentration of suspended solids had a highly significant positive effect on soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) concentration in the water, whereas in late summer no effect was found. During the study period, phosphorus retention by emergent macrophyte stands corresponded to 3–5% of the present annual external phosphorus loading of the Kirkkojärvi basin.