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USGS · 1000521

Distribution of submersed macrophytes in the St. Clair-Detroit River System, 1978

Donald W. Schloesser·Bruce A. Manny
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Abstract

An extensive survey was conducted in fall 1978 to determine the distribution and abundance of submersed macrophytes through the St. Clair-Detroit River system from Lake Huron to Lake Erie. Submersed macrophytes, representing 19 taxa, were widely distributed in the system, being found on 358 km 2 (30%) of the total 1185 km 2 of substrate surveyed. Of the 19 taxa identified, 8 common taxa were found on 20 to 121 km 2 of substrate. These commonly found taxa, in decreasing order of substrate coverage were Characeae, Vallisneria americana , Najas flexilis , Myriophyllum spicatum , Elodea canadensis , Potamogeton richardsonii , Potamogeton spp. (narrow-leaf forms), and Heteranthera dubia . In general, macrophyte beds of low, medium, and high biomass covered much less area but a higher proportion of the available substrate in the St. Clair and Detroit rivers than in Lake St. Clair.

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Journal of Freshwater EcologyArticle

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BibTeXRIS

Donald W. Schloesser, Bruce A. Manny. 1986. Distribution of submersed macrophytes in the St. Clair-Detroit River System, 1978. https://doi.org/10.1080/02705060.1986.9665147

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