Susanne C Schneider, Julie A Coetzee, Elena Fukasawa Galvanese, Sarah Faye Harpenslager, Sabine Hilt, Bart Immerzeel, Jan Köhler, Benjamin Misteli, Samuel N Motitsoe, Andre A Padial, Antonella Petruzzella, Anne Schechner, Gabrielle Thiébaut, Kirstine Thiemer, Jan E Vermaat
Aquatic plants (macrophytes) are important for ecosystem structure and function. Macrophyte mass developments are, however, often perceived as a nuisance and are commonly managed by mechanical removal. This is costly and often ineffective due to macrophyte regrowth. There is insufficient understanding about what causes macrophyte mass development, what people who use water bodies consider to be a nuisance, or the potential negative effects of macrophyte removal on the structure and function of ecosystems. To address these gaps, we performed a standardized set of in situ experiments and questionnaires at six sites (lakes, reservoirs, and rivers) on three continents where macrophyte mass developments occur...
May 4, 2024: Science of the Total Environment