Mr. Sabbatini et Kj. Murphy, RESPONSE OF CALLITRICHE AND POTAMOGETON TO CUTTING, DREDGING AND SHADE IN ENGLISH DRAINAGE CHANNELS, Journal of aquatic plant management, 34, 1996, pp. 8-12
Populations of two submersed species, common water-starwort (Callitric
he stagnalis Scop.) and curled pondweed (Potamogeton crispus L.), grow
ing in drainage channels in the Solway Drainage Area of northwestern E
ngland, responded differently to stress and disturbance produced by cu
tting, dredging and shade in a field experiment. Although the survival
strategy of both plants is essentially similar (competitive-disturban
ce tolerator), the results suggested that starwort was the more compet
itive of the two species, while curled pondweed tolerated disturbance
better. Shade stress was also better tolerated by curled pondweed. Sub
merged weed management regimes in use in the Solway Drainage Area-depe
nd heavily on cutting and dredging: these disturbance-based control me
thods probably have a low efficacy against disturbance-tolerant specie
s, and may promote their dominance in the channel system.