Study: Managing aquatic plants: Why doing nothing is also an option
Aquatic plants in lakes and rivers are important refuges for animals, bring oxygen into the water and remove nutrients. However, they are not universally popular: some people find them a nuisance when swimming or doing water sports, and they also change the hydrology of aquatic systems. When aquatic plants grow in large numbers, they are often removed. Researchers involving the Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB) have conducted field experiments in six freshwater ecosystems in five countries to investigate why such mass developments occur and what the consequences of removing them are. The evaluation of different management approaches showed that the “do nothing” option can also be considered when dealing with aquatic plants.