MACROPHYTE COMMUNITY DYNAMICS IN A DREDGED WISCONSIN LAKE1

ABSTRACT This paper describes the change in the macrophyte community caused by dredging a small Wisconsin lake. In water depths up to 1.5 m, revegetation was rapid after dredging. The plant community changed from one dominated by large-leafed Potamogeton (pondweed), Megalodonta beckii (water marigold), and Elodea canadensis (waterweed) to one dominated by Chara (stonewort), Najas flexilis (naiad), and Myriophyllum (milfoil). Plant growth ended at the 4 m depth and growth recovered much more slowly in water depths between 1.5 and 4 m. The area between 1.5 m and 2.5 m in particular supported a monotypic milfoil stand after dredging.