
Aquatic plants play a crucial role in freshwater ecosystems, offering essential habitats for fish and supporting a wide range of ecosystem services. Known as macrophytes, these plants grow in or around water and can either be rooted in soil or float, with some being partially or fully submerged.
Researchers from Michigan State University surveyed 78 lakes in northern Michigan to gain a better understanding of the vegetation within to gain a better understanding of the distribution and abundance of macrophytes in Michigan’s inland lakes.
A primary objective of the project was aimed at demonstrating how a larger dataset informs application approval and thus macrophyte management, with the hope that the model can be used across the state in the future as there are several factors to consider with aquatic vegetation removal.
Using the surveys explored in the MDNR project, the team can focus on efficient and cost-effective ways of finding invasive macrophytes before they pose serious problems and they consulted with biologists in the management units to identify high-priority lakes, as well as ones that would allow for sufficient data collection in the project timeframe.