The influence of invertebrates on the breakdown ofPotamogeton pectinatus L. in a coastal marina (Zandvlei,South Africa)

The influence of invertebrates upon the decomposition ofPotamogeton pectinatus L. in a coastal Marina system was examined over 112 days using litter bags. Invertebrate inclusion bags (2 mm mesh, 5 mm holes) registered a dry mass loss of 1% d^–1, while exclusion litter bags (80 µm mesh) produced a 0.4% mass loss d^–1 (a 2.5 fold difference). Losses of ash and N from inclusion bags were greater than those from exclusion bags (p < 0.05). There was a three fold difference between the two treatments in the time taken for litter to breakdown to half the initial stock: T_1/2 for inclusion bags = 43 d, exclusion bags = 130 d. In both treatments, minerals showed an expected rapid loss, due to leaching, with a subsequent slow increase relative to the dry material remaining. A total of nine invertebrate taxa was recorded from inclusion bags, with a peak biomass of 64 mg g^–1 dry massPotamogeton bag^–1 reached at 64 days after immersion. Grazing amphipods,Melita zeylanica Stebbing andAustrochiltonia subtenuis (Barnard), numerically dominated the litter bag fauna, whileM. zeylanica and nymphs of the zygopteran predatorIschnura senegalensis (Rambur) formed most of the biomass. Scanning Electron Microscopy indicated heavy grazing of micro-organisms by invertebrates, with major qualitative differences occurring 112 days after immersion. Invertebrates significantly accelerated the rate of litter breakdown through their feeding activities, assisting fragmentation and thus contributing to plant losses and also by increasing the surface area for microbial colonisation and attack.     

Phosphorus cycling in a dense Potamogeton pectinatus L. Bed

Summary An analysis of phosphorus concentrations and standing stocks in the various components of a dense Potamogeton pectinatus L. community in a brackish lake showed that the amounts of P per unit area varied in the following order: Sediments > Above ground macrophytes > Detritus > Benthic Invertebrates > Below ground macrophyte tissue > Epiphytic algae > Water soluble P > Water borne particulate P. Seasonal changes in the variability of these stocks are described, and shown to be controlled by the annual growth and decomposition pattern of the Potamogeton. The sediments were suggested as the major source of P for the plant biomass. Studies using ³²P tracer showed that of a given input of P to the water, 32% went to large epiphytic algae, 17% to the Potamogeton, 16% to the benthic fauna (mostly filter feeding bivalves), 28% to the sediments (almost all incorporated in the top 1 cm), and the remaining 7% was adsorbed on to, or absorbed by microorganisms associated with detritus. Analysis of ³²P uptake curves indicated that of the P absorbed by the Potamogeton, a significant proportion went to the complex adnate periphyton on the leaf surface. We were unable to separate this fraction. Movement of P in the community was shown to be a closed cycle, and any release of P from decaying macrophytes would be rapidly reabsorbed by epiphytic algae. It is unlikely that phosphorus, once cycling in the macrophyte community, would become transferred to the circulation in the open lake.     

32P uptake in three submerged aquatic plant species

Summary Highest uptake of³²P by young shoots of three plant species was observed and lowest by old ones. The uptake of³²P was highest inHydrilla shoots, followed byVallisneria andPotamogeton.Kinetin (0.23 mM) pretreatment (24 h) increased the uptake of³²P, while 0.69 mM ethrel or 0.075 mM ABA decreased it in all species.³²P was transported to the largest extent to the young shoots of the submerged plants and to the smallest extent to the old ones by kinetin pretreatment. Kinetin enhanced the uptake of³²P most inHydrilla shoots, followed byVallisneria andPotamogeton. Ethrel diminished³²P uptake most inPotamogeton shoots and to the smallest extent inHydrilla, while ABA lowered it most inHydrilla shoots and to the smallest extent inPotamogeton. Kinetin, ethrel and ABA can modify the uptake of³²P of these aquatic plants.     

Food preference of the trichopteran larva Anabolia nervosa from two streams with different food availability

The food preference of the trichopteran shredder Anabolia nervosa from two streams with different food availability was studied in laboratory preference experiments. One stream was unshaded and had abundant growth of the submerged macrophyte Potamogeton perfoliatus. The other was shaded by trees (Alnus glutinosa) and had very sparse growth of submerged macrophytes. To test the food preference of Anabolia nervosa for terrestrial leaf litter and submerged plants we offered leaves of: conditioned Alnus glutinosa, fresh green Alnus, conditioned Fagus sylvatica, fresh green Fagus, and fresh submerged Potamogeton perfoliatus. For both larval populations conditioned Alnus was the most consumed food item, followed by Potamogeton. Larvae from the Alnus-shaded stream preferred conditioned Alnus over all other food items, while larvae from the macrophyte stream did not clearly discriminate between conditioned Alnus and Potamogeton. The three remaining food items were largely rejected. Food items were analyzed for dry matter, organic matter, fibre, nitrogen, phosphorus and toughness. Preference was not correlated to any of these food characteristics, but we suggest that they may still be important and influence food choice in a complex manner. The study indicates that the preference pattern of Anabolia nervosa is not clearly related to previous feeding habituation. The ability to feed on fresh Potamogeton is, therefore, not acquired by certain populations of larvae through long exposure to this resource in the field. The high preference for fresh Potamogeton suggests that Anabolia nervosa may actively select Potamogeton as food even when alternative food sources such as terrestrial leaf litter are abundant in the field.     

BIOMASS AND PRODUCTION OF PONTEDERIA CORDATA AND POTAMOGETON EPIHYDRUS IN THREE CONNECTICUT RIVERS

Above- and below-ground biomass of the emergent Pontederia cordata and the floating-leaved Potamogeton epihydrus was measured during the growing season in three interconnected rivers in Connecticut, U.S.A. Maximum biomass of Pontederia, averaging 1,212 g m^-2 dry weight (524 g m^-2 above-ground, 688 g m^-2 below-ground), occurred 100–150 days after major spring growth began. Peak biomass of Potamogeton averaged 94 g m^-2 (81 g m^-2 above-ground, 14 g m^-2 below-ground) and was attained in 45–85 days. New growth of Pontederia in spring arose from, and was heavily subsidized by, the large biomass of living overwintered rhizomes and roots, which averaged 497 g m^-2 in early June. This new growth appeared to have been produced in only one season, but in reality it contained energy fixed the current season, plus energy carried over from previous years. Net production of Pontederia calculated for only one growing season averaged 1,049 g m^-2. Potamogeton also perennated from rhizomes, but the biomass of these organs in spring was low, averaging 11 g m^-2 in late May. Biomass of Potamogeton in summer consisted primarily of tissue produced during the current season. Rhizomes and roots comprised a much greater proportion of the plant in Pontederia than in Potamogeton. The ratio of new living below-ground/above-ground biomass of Pontederia rose from zero in spring to an average of 1.71 in autumn. For Potamogeton, the below-ground/above-ground ratio averaged 0.37 in late spring, 0.20 in midsummer, and 0.41 in autumn. The overwintered below-ground biomass of Pontederia alive in spring was 42–79% of the new living below-ground biomass the previous autumn. Net photosynthetic efficiency during the period between initiation of major growth in spring and attainment of peak biomass averaged 1.3% for Pontederia and 0.3% for Potamogeton.     

Molecular phylogenetics of an aquatic plant lineage, Potamogetonaceae

Like most aquatic plants, the pondweeds (Potamogetonaceae) are among the most phenotypically reduced and plastic of all angiosperms. As such, hypotheses of structural homology present difficulties for morphological phylogenetic reconstruction. We used non‐coding nuclear and plastid DNA data to address Potamogetonaceae relationships and accompanying issues in character evolution and biogeography. Genera currently assigned to Potamogetonaceae, plus Zannichellia, formed a strongly supported monophyletic group. Potamogeton and Stuckenia (Potamogeton subg. Coleogeton) were both resolved as monophyletic. Within Potamogeton proper, two major clades followed the traditional split between broad‐ and narrow‐leaved species, with the latter condition optimized as basal. Heterophylly (submerged plus floating leaves) has evolved several times, and the ancestral distribution for Potamogeton appears to be Northern Hemispheric. Our phylogenetic results have provided a useful genetic framework from which to interpret morphological, cytological and biogeographical evolution. © The Willi Hennig Society 2006.     

Production of submerged aquatic plant communities of Doodhadhari lake Raipur, (M.P. India)

The biomass of submerged aquatic plant communities was studied periodically during two annual growth periods. Najas minor contributed 78% to the total standing biomass. Ceratophyllum demersum, Hydrilla, Nelumbo nucifera, Trapa bispinosa and Potamogeton crispus contributed towards the rest of the biomass. The production was 0.64 g./m.²/day for the growing seasons of one year.     

Spatial patterns and population dynamics of plant-associated microcrustacea (Cladocera) in an English shallow lake (Little Mere, Cheshire)

Little Mere (Cheshire) is a small (2.7 ha) and shallow (average depth 0.7 m) fertile lake in Cheshire, UK. Nymphaeids cover almost 40 % of its entire surface during the growing season (April to October) and practically all the rest is covered by a mixed community of submerged plants. The lake was intensively sampled for plant-associated Cladocera and zooplankters from April 1998-April 2000. Samples were collected at five sites across the lake, three of them located within lily beds, the other two over submerged plant beds of mixed composition. Specific sampling techniques were developed for floating lily leaves, petioles, submerged plants and water. Significant horizontal differences were identified for most cladoceran species, both open-water and plant-associated, for chydorid periphyton scrapers and for filter-feeders. Daphnia hyalina (L.) and Ceriodaphnia sp were significantly more abundant in lily beds than in more open water in both growing seasons, suggesting lily beds are an effective refuge against fish predation. Size-structure and egg-ratio data support this contention. Egg-ratio models were examined for Daphnia hyalina and Simocephalus vetulus (O.F. Müller), a plant-associated cladoceran. The fertility of S. vetulus in lily beds was generally high throughout growing seasons. The construction of egg-ratio models for this species was hampered by their generally very patchy distributions.     

Plant community,primary productivity,and environmental conditions following wetland re-establishment in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta,California

Wetland restoration can mitigate aerobic decomposition of subsided organic soils, as well as re-establish conditions favorable for carbon storage. Rates of carbon storage result from the balance of inputs and losses, both of which are affected by wetland hydrology. We followed the effect of water depth (25 and 55 cm) on the plant community, primary production, and changes in two re-established wetlands in the Sacramento San-Joaquin River Delta, California for 9 years after flooding to determine how relatively small differences in water depth affect carbon storage rates over time. To estimate annual carbon inputs, plant species cover, standing above- and below-ground plant biomass, and annual biomass turnover rates were measured, and allometric biomass models for Schoenoplectus (Scirpus) acutus and Typha spp., the emergent marsh dominants, were developed. As the wetlands developed, environmental factors, including water temperature, depth, and pH were measured. Emergent marsh vegetation colonized the shallow wetland more rapidly than the deeper wetland. This is important to potential carbon storage because emergent marsh vegetation is more productive, and less labile, than submerged and floating vegetation. Primary production of emergent marsh vegetation ranged from 1.3 to 3.2 kg of carbon per square meter annually; and, mid-season standing live biomass represented about half of the annual primary production. Changes in species composition occurred in both submerged and emergent plant communities as the wetlands matured. Water depth, temperature, and pH were lower in areas with emergent marsh vegetation compared to submerged vegetation, all of which, in turn, can affect carbon cycling and storage rates.     

An experimental system to study ecophysiological responses of submerged macrophytes to temperature and light

An experimental growth system was devised to study the ecophysiological responses of submerged macrophytes to temperature and light. Using the system, a pilot study was conducted to compare responses to light of three representative species common to the littoral zone of Lake Biwa: Vallisneria asiatica Miki var. biwaensis Miki, which is endemic to Japan, Potamogeton maackianus A. Benn., a dominant submerged macrophyte in Lake Biwa, and Elodea nuttallii (Planch.) St. John, one of the most influential submerged exotic macrophytes naturalized in Japan. Different relative growth rate responses and other growth parameters among the species were observed. We ascertained the experimental system to be useful for the comparison of ecophysiological responses of submerged macrophytes.     

Are native cyprinids or introduced salmonids stronger regulators of benthic invertebrates in South African headwater streams?

The introduction of nonnative salmonids in the Southern Hemisphere generally leads to a reduction in invertebrate abundance and changes in assemblage composition. In the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa, introduced rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss is the dominant predator in many headwater streams, where they have replaced small‐bodied native fishes such as Breede River redfin Pseudobarbus burchelli. To examine the consequences of this species replacement on food web structure, we used a month‐long field experiment to compare the top‐down effects of Breede River redfin and rainbow trout on benthic invertebrate assemblages (abundance and composition) and basal resources (periphyton and particulate organic matter) in 1 × 1.5 m of plastic cages. Benthic invertebrate abundance was more strongly depleted in the cages with redfin than in the cages with trout, and redfin and trout had distinct effects on invertebrate assemblage composition. On the other hand, neither redfin nor trout had a significant influence over standing stocks of periphyton or organic matter, implying that their differential effects on benthic invertebrates did not cascade down to the base of the stream food web in our experiment. Gut content analysis showed that aquatic invertebrates contributed more to the diet of redfin, while terrestrial invertebrates contributed more to the diet of trout, which may be responsible for the relatively weak effect of trout on aquatic invertebrates. This pattern contrasts with nonnative salmonid impacts elsewhere in the Southern Hemisphere. That trout can strongly alter the structure of benthic invertebrate assemblages, in addition to severely depleting native fish abundance, in Cape Floristic Region headwater streams should be weighed into management decisions, and our findings highlight the need for a detailed understanding of species‐specific top‐down effects where native predators are replaced by invasive predators.     

Invertebrate communities associated with macrophytes in Lake Ladoga: effects of environmental factors

Littoral invertebrate communities (meio- and macrobenthos and zooplankton) were studied in seven types of macrophyte associations commonly encountered in Lake Ladoga: in reed (Phragmites) beds on sand, soft and hard bottoms, in associations with the prevalence of Potamogeton spp., Carex spp., and Equisetum fluviatile, and in diverse vegetation stands with e.g. Polygonum amphibium, Cicuta virosa, Typha latifolia and Eleocharis acicularis. Some of the studied habitats were affected by sewage pollution, others were in comparatively undisturbed areas. Statistically significant differences between invertebrate communities in the different macrophyte associations were found. In stepwise multiple linear regression analysis the following factors were identified as determinants of abundance of aquatic invertebrates in macrophyte associations: shoot density, plant dry weight biomass, periphyton biomass, periphyton chlorophyll a, periphyton primary production, and concentrations of Sr, Mg, Ca, P, Mn, Zn, Pb and Cu. Pollution was shown to have a minor effect on the composition of littoral invertebrate communities. It is not possible to determine one single principle factor responsible for the structure and density of invertebrates in macrophyte communities.     

Reconstructing the past density of planktivorous fish and trophic structure from sedimentary zooplankton fossils: a surface sediment calibration data set from shallow lakes

1. As quantitative information on historical changes in fish community structure is difficult to obtain directly from fish remains in lake sediments, transfer function for planktivorous fish abundance has been developed based on zooplankton remains in surface sediment (upper 1 cm). The transfer function was derived using weighted average regression and calibration against contemporary data on planktivorous fish catch per unit effort (PF-CPUE) in multiple mesh size gill nets. Zooplankton remains were chosen because zooplankton community structure in lakes is highly sensitive to changes in fish predation pressure. The calibration data set consisted of thirty lakes differing in PF-CPUE (range 18–369 fish net^–1), epilimnion total phosphorus (range 0.025–1.28 mg P l^–1) and submerged macrophyte coverage (0–57%). 2. Correlation of log-transformed PF-CPUE, total phosphorus and submerged macrophyte coverage v the percentage abundance in the sediment of the dominant cladocerans and rotifers revealed that the typical pelagic species correlated most highly to PF-CPUE, while the littoral species correlated most highly to submerged macrophyte coverage. Consequently, only pelagic species were taken into consideration when establishing the fish transfer function. 3. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) revealed that the pelagic zooplankton assemblage was highly significantly related to PF-CPUE (axis 1), whereas the influence of total phosphorus and submerged macrophyte coverage was insignificant. Predicted PF-CPUE based on weighted average regression without (WA) and with (WA(tol)) downweighting of zooplankton species tolerance correlated significantly with the observed values (r² = 0.64 and 0.60 and RMSE = 0.54 and 0.56, respectively). A marginally better relationship (r² = 0.67) was obtained using WA maximum likelihood estimated optima and tolerance. 4. It is now possible, quantitatively, to reconstruct the historical development in planktivorous fish abundance based on zooplankton fossil records. As good relationships exist between contemporary PF-CPUE data and indicators such as the zooplankton/phytoplankton biomass ratio, Secchi depth and the maximum depth distribution of submerged macrophytes, it is now also possible to derive information on past changes in lake water quality and trophic structure. It will probably prove possible further to improve the transfer function by including other invertebrate remains, e.g. chironomids, Chaoborus, snails, etc., and its scope could be widened by including deeper lakes, more oligotrophic lakes, more acidic lakes and lakes with extensive submerged macrophyte coverage (in the latter case to enable use of the information in the fossil record on plant-associated cladocerans).     

Variations of floral traits among different life forms illustrate the evolution of pollination systems in Potamogeton species from China

Four leaf morpha groups (floating-leaved, submerged broad-leaved, submerged linear-leaved and filiform-leaved) and three inflorescences type groups (erect, facultative floating and floating) can be found in the genus Potamogeton. Life forms in the genus correlate with pollination types (anemophily, epihydrophily and hydroautogamy). Floral traits vary greatly among different life forms and pollination types. Both floating and submerged broad-leaved species produce erect inflorescences that are suited for anemophilous pollination. These flowers also have the highest pollen/ovule (P/O) ratio (25,013) and the smallest pollen grain volume (6046 μm³). On the contrary, submerged filiform-leaved species produce only floating inflorescences and their flowers produce the largest pollen grains (17,567 μm³) and have the lowest P/O ratio (6752), which is typical of the syndromes of hydroautogamy and epihydrophily. The relatively prolific seed production (about 70%) and wide dispersal in the floating and submerged broad-leaved species and the submerged filliform-leaved species indicate that these two groups are well adapted to the aquatic environment. This is in contrast with the less well-adapted complex and unstable pollination system found in linear-leaved species. We propose that the pollination systems and life forms in the Potamogeton, have undergone modification in response to the demands imposed by the aquatic environment during the evolutionary process in the genus.     

ON THE BREEDING OF THE WHITE-RUMPED SWIFT (APUS CAFFER CAFFER) IN GATOOMA

Crawford, R. J. M., Cooper, J. &; Shelton, P. A. 1982. Distribution, population size, breeding and conservation of the Kelp Gull in southern Africa. Ostrich 53:164:177.

The Kelp Gull Lams dominicanus in Africa occurs coastally between Luanda, Angola and Delagoa Bay, Moçmbique. It breeds between Cape Cross Lagoon, South West Africa/Namibia and Riet River, eastern Cape, South Africa. Censuses of nests and breeding birds at all known southern African breeding localities in the period 1976–1981 indicated that 11 199 pairs bred at 52 localities; 79.5% of this population occurred in South Africa, 57,1% in the Saldanha Bay to Dassen Island region, southwestern Cape. Of the breeding pairs 83% occurred on offshore islands and rocks. Colony size at islands is related to their surface area andMayalso be influenced by food availability and the level of human disturbance. The species breeds in a wide variety of habitats ranging from cliffs and rock stacks to wooden platforms, lowlying vegetation among sand dunes and estuarine sandbars. Any available material is used in the construction of nests, whichMaybe as dense as 4/m² Clutch size is 2–3 eggs. In 1978 breeding took place earlier in South Africa than in South West Africa/Namibia. 92% of the population breeds m sites which are legally protected. Kelp Gulls have decreased or increased in numbers at some breeding localities but there is no clear overall trend. Any increases in colony size near urban areasMayresult in added airstrike hazards.     

On body size and habitat selection in rotifers in a macrophye-dominated lake Budzyńskie,Poland

Lake Budzyńskie is shallow, freshwater lake with a well-developed and differentiated macrophytic vegetation. Zooplankton samples were collected from five stations: two of them in submerged macrophytes (Chara and Myriophyllum), one in the zone of floating leaves (Potamogeton), a rush station (Typha) and one in the open water surrounding the vegetation beds. The mean Rotifera densities differed significantly between the lake parts. Furthermore, different habitats were characterised by differences in body size with the exception of the middle body size group (Keratella cochlearis, Polyarthra vulgaris and Trichocerca similis), which was dominated by limnetic representatives. However, in all the other size-dependent groups both stands of submerged macrophytes were characterised by much higher densities than other zones. Additionally, body size within the examined habitats significantly differed. Thus, the size structure of Rotifera communities was directly related to morphological and spatial structures of the substrata. Two groups of habitats were distinguished: the first one consisting of open water and two vegetated zones of less complicated structure (Potamogeton and Typha), and the second of more complex submerged macrophyte species (Chara and Myriophyllum). The differentiation of the architecture of macrophytes affected the nutritional conditions and refuge effectiveness of these habitats.     

A new species of Caprellinoides (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Phtisicidae) from the Antarctic

A new caprellid species, Caprellinoides singularis, is described and illustrated based on the material collected on the Polarstern Cruise ANT XVII/3 from the Branfield Strait. The most striking characteristic of this species is the presence of bilobed gills on pereonites 3 and 4. The genus Caprellinoides is revised. Caprellinoides antarctica Schellengerg, 1926 and Caprellinoides spinosus Barnard, 1930 are considered junior synonyms of Caprellinoides tristanensis Stebbing, 1888 and Caprellinoides mayeri (Pfeffer, 1888), respectively. The new species, C. singularis, is compared with the remaining species in the genus Caprellinoides: C. tristanensis and C. mayeri, which are illustrated in detail. Received in revised form: 4 June 2001 Electronic Publication     

The influence of crabs on litter processing in high intertidal mangrove forests in tropical Australia

Summary Measurements of litter fall and litter removal by crabs, in conjunction with estimates of litter decay by microbes and tidal export of litter from three high-intertidal mangrove forests were made during a year-long study in tropical northeastern Australia. In forests dominated by Ceriops tagal and Bruguiera exaristata, litter standing stocks remained low on the forest floor (mean 6 g·m^-2), although litter fall was high; 822 and 1022 g·m^-2·y^-1, respectively. Sesarmid crabs removed 580 (Ceriops) and 803 (Bruguiera) g·m^-2·y^-1, or 71 and 79%, of the total annual litter fall from the forest floor. Relative to the rate of litter removal by crabs, microbial turnover of whole, unshredded litter was insignificant, accounting for <1% of annual litter fall. Export of litter by tides was estimated to remove 194 (Ceriops) and 252 (Bruguiera) g·m^-2·y^-1 or 24 and 25% of annual litter fall. In a forest dominated by Avicenniamarina, in which an ocypodid crab was more abundant than sesarmids, litter standing stocks were higher (mean 84 g·m^-2) and crabs removed less litter; 173 g·m^-2·y^-1 or 33% of the annual litter fall of 519 g·m^-2·y^-1. Microbial turnover of intact litter was more important in the Avicennia forest (168 g·m^-2·y^-1 or 32% of annual litter fall), and tides exported 107 g·m^-2·y^-1 or 21% of litter production. In areas where sesarmid crabs were absent or rare in Ceriops forests, there were significantly higher standing stocks of litter and slower rates of leaf removal. Taking into account the probable assimilation efficiencies of sesarmid crabs feeding on mangrove leaves, we estimate that in Ceriops and Bruguiera forests leaf processing by crabs turns litter over at >75 times the rate of microbial decay alone, thus facilitating the high sediment bacterial productivity in these forests. The importance of litter processing by crabs increases with height in the intertidal in tropical Australia, in contrast to New World mangrove forests, where the reverse is true.Contribution No. 445 from the Australian Institute of Marine Science     

Australian Iphimediidae (Crustacea: Amphipoda)

Australian species of the iphimediid amphipod genus Iphimedia are revised. Based on new material from inshore and continental shelf habitats six new species are described: Iphimedia beesleyae; I. filmersankeyi; I. kateae; I. lisae; I. neuweileri and I. oetkeri. Four established species are redescribed: I. ambigua Haswell, 1879; I. discreta Stebbing, 1910; I. edgari (Moore, 1981) and I. warraina (Thomas and Barnard, 1991). A key to Australian species of Iphimedia is provided. Full article published online at http://www.senckenberg.de/odes/06-09.htm     

A 250 year comparison of historical, macrofossil and pollen records of aquatic plants in a shallow lake

1. Sedimentary remains of aquatic plants, both vegetative (turions, leaves, spines) and reproductive (fruits, seeds, pollen), may provide a record of temporal changes in the submerged vegetation of lakes. An independent assessment of the degree to which these remains reflect past floristic change is, however, rarely possible. 2. By exploiting an extensive series of historical plant records for a small shallow lake we compare plant macrofossil (three cores) and pollen (one core) profiles with the documented sequence of submerged vegetation change since c. 1750 AD. The data set is based on 146 site visits with 658 observations including 42 taxa classified as aquatic, spanning 250 years. 3. Approximately 40% of the historically recorded aquatic taxa were represented by macro‐remains. In general macrofossils underestimated past species diversity, with pondweeds (three of eight historically recorded Potamogeton species were found) particularly poorly represented. Nonetheless, several taxa not reported from historical surveys (e.g. Myriophyllum alterniflorum and Characeae) were present in the sediment record. 4. The pollen record revealed taxa which left no macro‐remains (e.g. Littorella uniflora), and the macrofossil record provided improved taxonomic resolution for some taxa (e.g. Potamogeton) and a more reliable record of persistence, appearance and loss of others (e.g. Myriophyllum spp. and Nymphaeaceae). 5. Detrended correspondence analysis indicated that changes in the community composition evidenced by the palaeolimnological and historical records were synchronous and of a similar magnitude. Both records pointed to a major change at around 1800, with the historical record suggesting a more abrupt change than the sedimentary data. There was good agreement on a subsequent change c. 1930. 6. The palaeolimnological data did not provide a complete inventory of historically recorded species. Nevertheless, these results suggest that combined macrofossil and pollen records provide a reliable indication of temporal change in the dominant components of the submerged and floating‐leaved aquatic vegetation of shallow lakes. As such palaeolimnology may provide a useful tool for establishing community dynamics and successions of plants over decadal to centennial timescales.