PREPARATION
Datasheet packets:
Each lake has 8 survey sites.
Data sheets should be printed on “write in rain” paper.
Survey site selections: Sites were selected using GIS software for Riparian zone sampling. Macrophyte transects are laid out perpendicular to shore at the center of plot C. This is 25 meters from the starting point of the Riparian survey sites. If the shoreline has a steep slope and additional transects are needed then the second transect should begin in the center of plot E. A third transect would begin in the center of plot A. Macrophyte sampling will occur in the month of August to utilize the peak biomass and flowering of more plants for easier identification.
EQUIPMENT LIST
- Data Gear: Clipboard, data sheets, lake and site maps, pencils, watch, GPS unit and field guides (optional). (Plastic bags for species collection.)
- Sampling Gear: 50m measuring tapes, 0.25m2 round survey hoops, shoreline anchor for meter tape, weighted buoys for 1m and 2m depths.
- Dive Gear: Snorkel, mask, fins, weight belts, and wetsuits.
- Boat Gear: Oars, cushions and life vests, motor, gas.
- Suggested Personal Gear: Towels, rain gear.
FIELD DATA COLLECTION
Record the lake name, site number, plot letter, date, observers, and the start and stop time for each transect. Circle the initials of the observer who recorded the data.
Depending on the slope of the littoral area, transect lengths will progress to the 2m depth or to a distance of 50m from shore which ever comes first. (The 2m depth was chosen to accommodate snorkel surveys rather than scuba surveys.)
Prepare Survey Plots:
Starting at the center of plot C, place the shoreline anchor, with 50m tape attached, so that the zero mark of the tape is at the ordinary high water mark. Do not walk atop of transect area. Lay out tape/transect to the 2m depth or 50 meter distance. Place the 1m and 2m depth buoys at the appropriate depths so that the float just rests on the waters surface but the buoy rope is taut.
For each transect, record the distance from shore for the 1m and 2m depth markers. This will be used to calculate a general slope. If the transect ends in less than 2 meters of water, record the ending depth (@50m) by measuring the length of buoy rope that is still underwater.
There should be a minimum of 20 hoops per site. If transect is steep and short, additional transects should be surveyed (at plot E then plot A). If transect is shallow and long, you may space survey hoops 2m apart.
Collecting Data:
Using a round 0.25m2 Survey hoop; place hoop so that it starts at the zero mark (and ends at ~0.6m). Every additional meter surveyed should be set up the same so that the hoop edge closest to shore is at a whole meter increment.
For every hoop surveyed, the following characterizations are recorded:
Characterized each hoop area by growth form:
- Broad leaf emergents
- Shrub-like Submergents
- Narrow Leaf Emergents
- Lawn-like Submergents
- Floating leaf
Hoop Characterizations:
- Dominant substrate.
- Growth forms broken down to Genus.
- Macrophytes by presence, absence, and dominance.
- Total vegetation % coverage per hoop.
Substrate:
First record the dominant substrate. If there is more than one dominant substrate present in a hoop, record the most dominant one first with less abundant substrates following sequentially.
Substrate codes: S=Sand, G=Gravel, R=Rock, M=Muck/Organic, W=Wood, B=Boulder
*Note: Substrate data is only a general classification. You do not need to list more than 1 to 4 substrate types per hoop.
Total vegetation % coverage per hoop:
Rank the total vegetation cover from 0% to 100% for all species combined. This assessment is based on a 2 dimensional ranking of cover (an area, not a volume).
Macrophytes present:
The data sheet lists common plant genera found in our area sorted by growth forms. Some plants on the datasheet are listed to the genus and species (if easy to identify or if they are the only species in their genus found in the area).
Check off all plants present in a hoop with an X or a check mark. There are blank spots on the datasheet to fill in species not on the list. Completely fill in the box for the species that is dominant in the hoop so that each hoop’s column on the data sheet shows all species present including one that is dominant.
Unknown plant species: List on data sheet as unknown A, unknown B, etc. More detailed if possible – Unknown NL [narrow leaf] Potamogeton A. Then collect a specimen in a labeled bag to bring back for analysis. Correct datasheets back at the lab once plant is identified.
Appendix A:
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SPECIES LIST (By Growth form)
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Narrow-leaf
Emergents
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Acorus calmus
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Carex spp.
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Dulichium arundinaceum
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Eleocharis .spp.
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Eleocharis acicularis
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Equisetum fluviatile
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Iris versicolor
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Juncus .spp.
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Phragmites spp.
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(never observed)
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Scirpus .spp.
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Sparganium spp.
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Typha spp.
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Unknown Grasses
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Zizania aquatica, Z. Palustris
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Broad-leaf
Emergents
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Alisma spp.
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(never observed)
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Calla palustris
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Decadon verticillatus
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(never observed)
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Lythrum salicaria
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(never observed)
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Pontederia cordata
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Sagittaria spp.
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Sagittaria spp. Submersed
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Floating Leaf
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Brasenia schreberi
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Nuphar spp.
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Nymphaea spp.
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Polygonum amphibium
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Free Floating
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Lemna spp.
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Lemna minor
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Spirodela polyrhiza
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Wolffia spp.
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Submersed
-alternate or basal
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Eriocaulon aquaticum
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Isoetes spp.
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Juncus paleocarpus submersus
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Littorella uniflora
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Lobelia dortmanna
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Myriophyllum tenellum
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Potamogeton .spp. (A)
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Unknown potamogeton B
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Unknown potamogeton C
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Potamogeton amplifolius
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Potamogeton diversifolius
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Potamogeton epihydrus
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Potamogeton foliosus
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Potamogeton gramineus
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Potamogeton illinoensis
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Potamogeton natans
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Potamogeton pectinatus
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Potamogeton praelongus
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Potamogeton pusilus
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Potamogeton richardsonii
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Potamogeton robbinsii
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Potamogeton spirilis
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Potamogeton zosteriformis
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Ranunculus flammula
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Scirpus subterminalis
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Vallisneria americana
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Zosterella dubia
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Submersed
-finely divided
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Ceratophyllum spp.
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Megalodonta (Bidens) beckii
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Myriophyllum spp.
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Myriophyllum alternaflorum
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Ranunculus .spp. (shrublike)
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Ranunculus aquatilis
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Utricularia spp.
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Utricularia gibba
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Utricularia purpurea
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Utricularia vulgaris
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Utricularia resupinata
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Submersed
-opposite or whorled
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Callitriche spp.
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(never observed)
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Chara spp.
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Elatine spp.
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Elodea spp.
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Gratiola aurea
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Najas spp.
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Nitella spp.
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Ruppia maritima
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(never observed)
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Zannichellia pallustris
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(never observed)
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(LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)
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Acorus calmus
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Alisma spp.
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Brasenia schreberi
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Calla palustris
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Callitriche spp.
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Carex spp.
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Ceratophyllum spp.
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Chara spp.
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Decadon verticillatus
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Dulichium arundinaceum
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Elatine spp.
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Eleocharis .spp.
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Eleocharis acicularis
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Elodea spp.
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Equisetum fluviatile
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Eriocaulon aquaticum
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Gratiola aurea
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Iris versicolor
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Isoetes spp.
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Juncus .spp.
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Juncus paleocarpus submersus
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Lemna minor
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Lemna spp.
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Littorella uniflora
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Lobelia dortmanna
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Lythrum salicaria
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Megalodonta (Bidens) beckii
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Myriophyllum alternaflorum
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Myriophyllum spp.
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Myriophyllum tenellum
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Najas spp.
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Nitella spp.
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Nuphar spp.
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Nymphaea spp.
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Phragmites spp.
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Polygonum amphibium
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Pontederia cordata
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Potamogeton .spp. (A)
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Potamogeton amplifolius
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Potamogeton diversifolius
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Potamogeton epihydrus
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Potamogeton foliosus
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Potamogeton gramineus
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Potamogeton illinoensis
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Potamogeton natans
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Potamogeton pectinatus
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Potamogeton praelongus
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Potamogeton pusilus
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Potamogeton richardsonii
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Potamogeton robbinsii
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Potamogeton spirilis
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Potamogeton zosteriformis
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Ranunculus .spp. (shrublike)
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Ranunculus aquatilis
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Ranunculus flammula
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Ruppia maritima
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Sagittaria spp.
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Sagittaria spp. Submersed
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Scirpus .spp.
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Scirpus subterminalis
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Sparganium spp.
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Spirodela polyrhiza
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Typha spp.
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Unknown Grasses
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Utricularia gibba
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Utricularia purpurea
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Utricularia resupinata
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Utricularia spp.
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Utricularia vulgaris
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Vallisneria americana
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Wolffia spp.
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Zannichellia pallustris
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Zizania aquatica, Z. Palustris
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Zosterella dubia
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(revised 10/10/02)
LTER Keywords
Protocol Format
Process
Protocol ID
biocom_macrophytes1
Protocol Type
field
