Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER)/NTL005: Aquatic Macroflora Composition and Biomass in Trout Lake, Wisconsin

LTER - Long-Term Ecological Research Program/North Temperate Lakes (NTL)

LTER/NTL005 [Summary adapted from the LTER Core Data Set Catalog]:

These data were collected to document and characterize the submersed macroflora of Trout Lake to evaluate the long-term stability of this component and to interface with investigations of other compartments of the ecosystem. Four sites along the shoreline of Trout Lake have been sampled annually in August along permanent line transects. Parameters include biomass per m2 for individual species at three depths and frequency data by species by depth along the transect. This information will be used to determine the annual variability of the sub-mersed macroflora and to provide information on the effects of the invasion of an introduced crayfish. In addition, macrophyte surveys were conducted on Sparkling, Crystal, and Trout lakes during 1981 and on Weber (Firefly Lake) during 1984. Species lists and maps of the macrophyte distributions were prepared. In Trout, Crystal, and Weber lakes, biomass per species, total crop, and relative frequency were determined.

The North Temperate Lakes (NTL) site is affiliated with the Center for Limnology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. The NTL site focuses its research on north temperate lake ecosystems in the Northern Highland Lakes District of Wisconsin. The Northern Highland Lakes District, has an area of approximately 10,000 sq. km. and has one of the highest concentrations of lakes in the world. Lakes range in size from 0.1 to 1,500 ha, in depth from 1 to 33 m, and in fertility from oligotrophic to eutrophic. Other representative limnological conditions include: rainwater dominated, groundwater dominated and drainage lakes; dystrophic lakes; lakes with varved sediments, winterkill lakes, temporary and permanent forest ponds, and reservoirs. Lakes are influenced by strong seasonality and are usually ice covered from late November to late April. Lakes within the Northern Highland exhibit near-natural water quality conditions. Nearly 80% of the land area and two-thirds of the lake frontage are protected.

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