Growth forms and life-history strategies predict the occurrence of aquatic macrophytes in relation to environmental factors in a shallow peat lake complex

Abstract Aquatic ecosystems provide vital services, and macrophytes play a critical role in their functioning. Conceptual models indicate that shallow lakes, plants with different growth strategies are expected to inhabit contrasting habitats. For peat characterized by incohesive sediments, roles of forms, life-history environmental factors determining the occurrence aquatic vegetation remain unknown. In field survey, we sampled 64 points lake complex related macrophyte forms (floating-leaved rooted submerged), for overwintering (turions, seeds, rhizomes) (water depth, fetch, porewater nutrients). Our survey showed relates water wind-fetch, nutrients, depends on form strategies. Specifically, floating-leaved occur at lower wind-fetch/shallower waters. Submerged from low greater wind-fetch/water depending strategies; rhizomes wind-fetch/depth relative species overwinter seeds or turions. We conclude predict regarding lakes. Therefore, propose an adapted model such Altogether, these results may aid species-selection revegetate lakes its environment.