Within-lake patterns in depth penetration of emergent vegetation

1. Within‐lake relations of wave exposure (WE), and substratum softness (cone penetration depth; CPD) and organic content (loss on ignition; LOI), to water depth penetration of the emergent vegetation (DPE) was investigated in seven eutrophic lakes in southern Sweden, ranging in area from 1 to 46km2. 2. There was a positive relationship between WE and DPE within lakes. This relationship, however, only occurred for sites with relatively soft substrata, for which CPD and LOI were negatively related to both WE and DPE. 3. Analysis of aerial photographs revealed that expansion of the emergent vegetation towards open water, or recession from open water, was not related to wave exposure or water depth, except in one lake where expansion mainly occurred at high exposures. 4. For relatively static vegetation on soft substrata, regressions with CPD°.5 explained 62–88% of the within‐lake variation of DPE. These regressions did not differ among lakes. Expanding and recessing vegetation were significantly dislocated towards shallower and deeper water, respectively, than predicted from the regression models for static vegetation. 5. Phragmites australis dominated at the lakeward edge of the emergent vegetation, followed in frequency by Typha angustifolia. More broad‐leaved species were generally restricted to shallow water and very soft substrata. 6. The results suggest that changes in the distribution of emergent vegetation in moderately wave exposed eutrophic lakes can be predicted largely from substratum character and water depth.