Macrophytes

Question 1

Nuphar

Answer 1

1. Common name: water lilies
2. Floating (rooted, not free-flowing)
3. Does not have sharp angles in the crease and often has yellow flowers
4. Macrophyte
5. Large populations can shade shallow areas and limit production

Question 2

Nymphaea

Answer 2

1. Common name: water lilies
2. Floating (rooted, not free- flowing)
3. Has Y-shaped crease and often has white flowers
4. Macrophyte
5. Large populations can shade shallow areas and limit production

Question 3

Potamogetan

Answer 3

1. Common name: pondweed
2. Have both submerged (thinner leaves) and floating leaves (larger, thicker weeds)
3. Macrophyte
4. Many species of this genus are native to North America, but Eurasian curly-leaf pondweed (P. crispus) is invasive in the Great Lakes region

Question 4

Myriophyllum Spicatum (Eurasian Water Milfoil)

Answer 4

1. Native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa, but is invasive in the Great Lakes region
2. Probably spread through ballast water
3. Fast growing
4. Macrophyte
5. Submergent; forms dense, underwater mats that shade other algae and plants
6. Can grow up to 7 m tall

Question 5

Macrophyte Characteristics

Answer 5

1. Emergent - rooted with leaves that emerge above water
2. Floating - rooted with floating leaves
3. Submergent - rooted with leaves that are completely submersed below water
4. Free-Floating - not rooted

Question 6

Littoral Zonation Diagram

Answer 6

A. Emergent Macrophytes
B. Floating Macrophytes
C. Submergent Macrophytes
D. Free-Floating Macrophytes

Question 7

Macrophytes

Answer 7

1. Important as a substrate for colonization, for laying eggs, as a refuge and for providing building materials for houses and nests, etc.
2. Cycle organic substances through/around freshwater basins

Question 8

Study Example

Answer 8

1. Rich and his co workers (1971) found that macrophytic vegetation was the major component (48.9%) of the primary energetic budget of Lawrence Lake, Michigan.