Using turbidity tolerant water plants in the rehabilitation of turbid farm dams

Abstract

The colonization of some Australian wetlands by submerged water plants appears to be restricted by high water turbidity, which reduces underwater light and this turbidity appears to be a permanent state in many wetlands. A relationship between the lack of submerged water plant cover and high phytoplankton concentrations, particularly of blue-green algae, has been observed in turbid farm dams. Water plants are known to reduce algal blooms, clarify the water and improve water quality, but the processes of submerged water plant establishment are not fully understood. This research project set out to investigate the influence of turbidity on submerged water plant germination and establishment and to find turbidity tolerant species that could be used to rehabilitate farm dams.