Macrophyte habitat architecture and benthic-pelagic coupling: Photic habitat demand to build up large P storage capacity and bio-surface by underwater vegetation

Macrophytes play an important role in shallow lakes if large standing crop can be achieved. Here we stress the of submerged macrophytes for benthic-pelagic coupling oxbow lake Alte Donau (Austria) during restoration triggered by sufficient light availability (12% surface ambient light, photic >12% depth, zoptimum ) both, benthic and pelagic habitat. Focusing on id="m2">zoptimum , rather than minimum requirement (euphotic depth), seemed to more meaningful follow macrophyte development. After phosphate precipitation treatment, habitat accounted half total water volume summer, while achievement same conditions sediment area was delayed 8 years. A delay exposure bottom compared is given basin morphometry, but time span that required passing this depends efficiency measures. The 8-year means focusing re-establishment difficult stimulate due insufficient at bottom. further increase 3/4 size both habitat, however, eventually stimulated sustained growth. With onset biomass yield, phosphorus storage pool exceeded annual peak concentration whole about one order magnitude first time. Further, bio-surface surface, also magnitude. Our results support act as a significant sink retaining nutrient least growing season. We see immensely vast spatial dimension additional freshwater biota. Therefore, conclude mature formations need considered not only create unique architecture third main component network between (lake bottom) water)