Implications of the annual macrophyte growth cycle on habitat in rivers

Abstract

Abstract The continuity equation, Manning's equation and an empirically determined relationship between channel roughness and the biomass of macrophytes were used to simulate the effects of weed growth in contrasting channels. Two indices of wetted available habitat, velocity and depth were chosen to illustrate the role of macrophyte in maintaining and modifying instream habitat with particular reference to chalk streams. Plant growth maintained depth within the channels and its effect was modified by channel shape and slope. Weed cutting resulted in very sudden changes in depth and velocity and the loss of a large volume of water from the river. The results indicate that macrophyte growth could be used to maintain wetted habitat while allowing more abstraction, but more data are required on the long‐term effects of implementing such policies.