The influence of submerged macrophytes on ecosystem processes in a shallow urban lake

Management of shallow lakes colonised by invasive species is challenging because they grow rapidly and substantially alter the ecosystem structure. These ecosystem changes can feedback onto to the spatial distribution of the species themselves, yielding spatial patterns such as fairy rings. This thesis explores the effects of the invasive submerged macrophyte Potamogeton crispus on water quality and ecosystem structure in a shallow urban lake (Lake Monger, Western Australia, Australia) by employing a novel approach that integrates field measurements and modelling. Macrophyte-induced thermal stratification was found to be a key driver of water quality and macrophyte distribution in the lake. Overall, this thesis expands the understanding of the complex interactions between submerged macrophytes and their environment and provides guidance for the selection of management interventions of invasive macrophyte species.