Literature Review of the Effects of Waves on Aquatic Plants. Long Term ResourceMonitoring Program

摘要

The report embodies a review describing the potential impacts on aquaticvegetation from waves generated by commercial and recreational vessel traffic, and contrasts these impacts with effects of natural forces. Interactions between waves and aquatic vegetation are summarized in the report. Waves act directly by uproofing or fragmenting plants. Wave action can resuspend and transport sediments, resulting in altered sediment texture and sediment resuspension. Changes in sediment texture potentially affect plant nutrition. Resuspended sediments can limit plant photosynthesis, due to reduced availability of underwater light. Wave energy can also be important in the burial or dispersal of plant propagules. Changes in wave energy regimes may affect plant species composition and abundance, potentially leading to changes in other components of aquatic systems. While affected by wave energy, aquatic plants also dissipate this energy which, in turn, may result in localized areas of decreased sediment resuspension and increased sediment accretion. Thus, effects of wave energy on aquatic vegetation can be expected to vary with differences in plant abundance as well as position with respect to wave regimes.