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Aquatic macrophytes in saline lakes of the Canadian prairies

  • Conference paper
Saline Lakes

Part of the book series: Developments in Hydrobiology ((DIHY,volume 44))

Abstract

Vascular macrophyte species richness decreases with increasing salinity. Only three species of submerged plants (Potampgeton pectinatus, Ruppia maritima, R. occidentalis) tolerate hypersaline waters (> 50 g l-1, total of ionic constituents). Eight emergent species occur in more saline habitats but only five (Scirpus maritimus var. paludosus, Distichlisstricta, Puccinellia nuttalliana, Scirpus americanus, Triglochin maritima) occur commonly over a range of saline lakes into the hypersaline category. Usually, species tolerant of high salinities are found over the entire saline spectrum and even extend into subsaline waters (> 3 g l-1) and thrive there. A major increase in the number of species occurs below 5 g l-1. As the water recedes plants such as Salicornia rubra, Suaeda calceoliformes, Hordeum jubatum and Sonchus arvensis invade.

Submerged angiosperm distribution is controlled by total ion concentration and substrate texture plays no apparent role. Although angiosperms normally grow in all kinds of substrates, they occupy coarse substrates in Wakaw lake because suitable fine substrates are densely colonized by charophytes. In this lake light limited growth occurs to a depth of 5% of surface light. Light was not limiting in Redberry Lake but angiosperm growth was limited to the upper 8 m (10% or more of surface light). Thermal stratification and depth (pressure) were probably limiting istead. In meromictic Waldsea Lake the depth of the chemocline (6 m, 5% surface light) delimits angiosperm growth.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, S7N 0W0

    U. Theodore Hammer & J. Michael Heseltine

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  1. U. Theodore Hammer
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  2. J. Michael Heseltine
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  1. University of California, USA

    John M. Melack

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© 1988 Dr W. Junk Publishers, Dordrecht

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Hammer, U.T., Heseltine, J.M. (1988). Aquatic macrophytes in saline lakes of the Canadian prairies. In: Melack, J.M. (eds) Saline Lakes. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 44. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3095-7_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3095-7_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7891-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-3095-7

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