Latitudinal influences on the Depths of Maximum Colonization and Maximum Biomass of Submerged Angiosperms in Lakes

Both water transparency and lake latitude influence the depths of maximum biomass (Zb) and maximum depth of colonization (Zc) of submerged plants. The differences in the depth distribution of plants in lakes differing in water transparency become more pronounced as latitude decreases. Changes in transparency in low-latitude lakes should result in greater changes in macrophyte cover than similar changes in lakes at higher latitudes. The maximum depth of colonization appears to be largely a function of water transparency, whereas the depth of maximum biomass is best related to latitude. Relationships developed here allow better predictions of Zc and Zb for individual lakes than were possible before.