Classifying plant species indicators of eutrophication in Korean lakes
Abstract
The objectives of this study were to establish a method of classifying plants as indicator species of eutrophication, as a key metric for assessing lake ecosystem health, and to select sensitive and tolerant plant species among aquatic macrophytes and hygrophytes. Thus, 38 natural and artificial lakes throughout Korea were investigated. The distribution and abundance of plant species were investigated. As a measure of eutrophication, the modified trophic state index (TSIKO), derived from total phosphorus and chlorophyll a, was used. Using TSIKO criteria and the response curves of plants to TSIKO, a selection method of classifying sensitive and tolerant species was developed. Overall, 15 sensitive and 11 tolerant species among 117 macrophytes and hygrophytes were classified. The applicability of the selected indicator species was verified by a comparison with the results of a multimetric analysis using eight variables. The results suggest that the selected indicator species is expected to be useful as a metric for assessing lake ecosystem health.
- Publication:
-
Paddy and Water Environment
- Pub Date:
- August 2014
- DOI:
- Bibcode:
- 2014PWEnv..12S..29S
- Keywords:
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- Indicator;
- Aquatic macrophyte;
- Sensitive plant species;
- Tolerant plant species;
- Eutrophication;
- Trophic state index for Korea;
- Lake health assessment