Premium
Influence of eco‐hydrological factors on aquatic plant succession in a regulated river: a case study of the P etchburi R iver, T hailand
Author(s) -
Sangmek Pichasit,
Meksumpun Charumas
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
water and environment journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1747-6593
pISSN - 1747-6585
DOI - 10.1111/wej.12092
Subject(s) - hydrilla , aquatic plant , environmental science , biomass (ecology) , hydrology (agriculture) , potamogeton , benthic zone , ecological succession , water level , detritus , ecology , riparian zone , potamogeton crispus , habitat , macrophyte , biology , geography , geology , geotechnical engineering , cartography
Monitoring of aquatic plant biomass in the P etchburi R iver, a regulated river system in T hailand, was carried out together with the examination of eco‐hydrological characters and the sedimentary organic content. The surveys were performed during M ay, A ugust and N ovember of 2010 and 2011. The results indicated temporal variation in water velocity (0.08–2.51 m/s) and medium to low organic levels (0.58–4.68%) of the benthic substrates. Dominant aquatic plants were H ydrilla verticillata ( L . F .) R oyle and P otamogeton malaianus M iq. with the highest biomass of 70.84 and 182.72 g/m 2 , respectively. The biomass was substantially decreased during the flood‐induced discharge period. This study indicates that P otamogeton has more adaptive potential to high water velocities than H ydrilla , while H ydrilla prefers lower water velocities. Discharge velocities of less than 0.5 m/s could provide positive growth rates of such submerged plants. Approaching the discharge control from this ecological point of view can further contribute to river habitat conservation.