Aerial Photography and Mapping of Fishpond Vegetation

Abstract

The mapping of the fishpond vegetation in the Czechoslovak IBP Wetland project served a twofold purpose: (a) estimation of the areas covered by stands of different vegetation types, which might also serve as production types; (b) documentation of different stages of development of the littoral vegetation and of its changes under various kinds of influence. The aerial photographs permit an examination of the long-term spreading of the stands, of their succession, as well as of their seasonal development. For example, the mass occurrence of filamentous algae, or of communities dominated by Bolboschoenus of short duration in the Nesyt fishpond could be mapped out from the photographs. So could the formation of numerous “lagoons” (patches of open water) within the reed-belt communities in the Opatovický fishpond, resulting from decay of the central parts of Glyceria colonies after long-term excessive flooding. Such a documentation provides valuable information for making decisions on management and conservation.