2008 NORTHEASTERN NATURALIST 15(1):97–110

"Aquatic Plant Communities in Waneta Lake and Lamoka Lake, New York"

John D. Madsen, R. Michael Stewart, Kurt D. Getsinger, Robert L. Johnson, and Ryan M. Wersal

ABSTRACT

Abstract - A point-intercept survey was implemented in August 2000 to determine
the distribution and richness of aquatic plant species present in Waneta Lake
and Lamoka Lake, NY. Myriophyllum spicatum (Eurasian watermilfoil) was the
most commonly observed species in Waneta Lake (25% of entire lake, 78% of littoral
zone) and Lamoka Lake (43% of entire lake, 77% of littoral zone). Eurasian
watermilfoil biomass (24.3 g DW/m2) was also significantly greater (p ≤ 0.001) in
Waneta Lake than native plant biomass. Our data suggests that Eurasian watermilfoil
is invading the native plant communities of Waneta Lake and Lamoka Lake,
thereby displacing native plants and limiting their growth to the shallow waters of
the littoral zone.