Liming induces changes in the macrophyte vegetation of Norwegian softwater lakes by mitigating carbon limitation: results from a field experiment

Published source details Lucassen E.C.H.E.T., Smolders A.J.P. & Roelofs J.G.M. (2012) Liming induces changes in the macrophyte vegetation of Norwegian softwater lakes by mitigating carbon limitation: results from a field experiment. Applied Vegetation Science, 15, 166-174.
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Summary

Action: Add lime or similar chemicals

A replicated, controlled study in 1994–2008 in a lake in southwest Norway (Lucassen et al. 2012) found that limed plots had greater cover of some aquatic macrophyte species than unlimed plots, and that individual plants were larger. After 14 years, limed plots had greater cover of three species: bulbous rush Juncus bulbosus (limed: 10%; unlimed: 2%), narrowleaf bur-reed Sparganium angustifolium (limed: 10%; unlimed: 0%) and water starwort Callitriche hamulata (limed: 2%; unlimed: 0%). Cover of seven other taxa present – including the dominant lake quillwort Isoetes lacustris – did not significantly differ between limed and unlimed plots (see original paper for data). For the three most abundant species, individual plants were larger in limed than unlimed plots. This was true in terms of both total shoot biomass (limed: 30–350 mg/plant; unlimed: 10–40 mg/plant) and maximum shoot length (limed: 5–17 cm; unlimed: 3–7 cm). Methods: Eight 1-m² plots were established in shallow water (1.5 m deep) in the acidified Lake Dybingen. Lime was added to four of the plots, four times between July 1994 and June 1998 (1 kg/m² dolocal, just above the sediment surface). The other four plots were not limed (1 m away from limed area). Aquatic macrophyte species and their cover were monitored in summer 2008. For the most abundant species, ten plants/quadrat were harvested, measured, dried and weighed.