Mechanical removal of macrophytes in freshwater ecosystems: Implications for ecosystem structure and function

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Environmental Science
• Aquatic Ecosystems

Background:

• Macrophytes are often removed due to perceived nuisance, incurring significant global costs.
• Macrophyte removal can negatively impact freshwater ecosystem structure and function.
• Current management practices may conflict with goals for healthy aquatic environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the ecological consequences of mechanical macrophyte removal.
• To summarize findings from 98 studies on short- and long-term effects.
• To explore methods for assessing complex ecosystem impacts.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of 98 studies on mechanical macrophyte removal.
• Analysis of short- and long-term consequences on ecosystem structure and function.
• Illustration of a Bayesian network (BN) approach for impact assessment.

Main Results:

• Most studies focused on rivers/streams and short-term effects on single properties.
• Effects of removal were contrasting and context-dependent, hindering cross-study comparisons.
• Bayesian networks can model interrelated ecosystem properties and environmental conditions.

Conclusions:

• Macrophyte removal has complex, often negative, ecosystem impacts.
• The context of removal significantly influences outcomes.
• Bayesian networks offer a promising tool for ecosystem management and stakeholder engagement.