Methods

Macrophyte cover in Sparkling Lake was assessed in the third or fourth week of July from 2002-2004 and from 2007-2010. Eight transects were selected to correspond to trap survey sites for rusty crayfish and represent the range of macrophyte communities in the lake. These transects stretched from the waterline to a depth of 4 meters, running perpendicular to shore. Circular quadrats (1m2) were placed along each transect at 1 m longitudinal intervals, and observers using SCUBA estimated visually the percent cover of each macrophyte species within the quadrat. The sum of percent cover of all species within a quadrat does not necessarily add to 100; rather, this sum reflects the percentage of bottom substrate covered by macrophytes.

Methods

This data set provides sampling-point by sampling-point macrophyte data for lakes sampled by a number of agencies in Wisconsin. Sampling timing and intensity varied. An estimate of plant density is given at each point and water depth and substrate information is available for many sampling points. The AQUAPLT2, DATSOUR, MAXDEPLNG, PLTNAME, and LAKEHAB tables are relational and were original used in a database to generate plant community tables. These relational tables contain more detailed and recent data from approximately the 1970s onwardThe LAKESPEC table contains analyzed plant community data that may have been generated from the above tables or gleaned from the literature. The LAKESPEC data contains some historical data from the 1930s and before as well as more recent data. More information on the LAKESPEC data is in Nichols, S.A. and R. A. Martin, 1990. Wisconsin Lake Plant Database. Information Circular 69, Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey, Madison, 27 ppVilas County lakes were sampled from 2001-2004 (approximately 15 different lakes each year).