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Evolution of Native and Alien Macrophytes in a Fluvial‐wetland System Using Long‐term Satellite Data

  • Applied Wetland Science
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Abstract

An overgrowth of invasive floating macrophytes can occur in shallow eutrophic lakes as a result of significant anthropogenic pressures. This necessitates appropriate monitoring, followed by informed management, control and mitigation actions. In this study, we explored the long-term dynamics of macrophyte stands in a fluvial-wetland system and the influence of mechanical removal alongside environmental drivers. The Landsat imagery archive was used to analyze the areal coverage and canopy density of both autochthonous and allochthonous macrophytes in the Mantua lakes system (Northern Italy). Satellite derived data showed a substantial increase in the extent of the alien Nelumbo nucifera, and Ludwigia hexapetala, and the native Trapa natans over a timescale of decades, possibly caused by the temporary absence of macrophyte removal and altered hydrology. According to spectral proxies, N. nucifera recorded consistently the highest density in the system. T. natans density was found to respond to the maximum summer temperature and Eastern Atlantic climatic index, reflecting the role of regional climatic controls. This approach may be transferred to inland waters from regional to global scale exploiting satellite archives to obtain a time series on changing species dynamics essential for the conservation and management of aquatic habitats.

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Data Availability

The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. Landsat imagery is available at https://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/.

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Acknowledgements

This study is part of the research activities carried out within the Convention between the Institute for Electromagnetic Sensing of the Environment of the National Research Council (IREA-CNR) and the Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability of the University of Parma (SCVSA-UNIPR), in particular with Prof. Marco Bartoli. The study is supported by CNR projects DIT.AD012.115.001 (WATER-Sat) and DIT.AD012.024.001. Landsat imagery was gathered from USGS. We are very grateful to ARPA Lombardy, AIPO (Mantua Office) and Province of Mantua for providing us in situ data and information on the Mantua lakes system. Many thanks to the Mincio Park for logistic help and field assistance during the sampling in Mantua Lakes. Thanks to the editor and anonymous referees that contributed with constructive comments.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Electromagnetic Sensing of the Environment, National Research Council (CNR-IREA), Via Bassini 15, 20133, Milan, Italy

    Monica Pinardi, Paolo Villa, Gary Free, Claudia Giardino & Mariano Bresciani

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  1. Monica Pinardi
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  2. Paolo Villa
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  3. Gary Free
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  4. Claudia Giardino
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  5. Mariano Bresciani
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Contributions

MP and MB: conceptualization; MP, PV, GF and MB: methodology; MP, GF: statistical analysis; MP, GF and PV investigation and data curation; MP writing - original draft preparation; PV, GF, MB, CG writing – review; MP: editing; MB and CG: supervision. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Monica Pinardi.

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Pinardi, M., Villa, P., Free, G. et al. Evolution of Native and Alien Macrophytes in a Fluvial‐wetland System Using Long‐term Satellite Data. Wetlands 41, 16 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-021-01395-9

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