FW1B Eriocaulon aquaticum – Lobelia dortmanna aquatic community
Vegetation
Eriocaulon aquaticum and Lobelia dortmanna, with their emergent flowering shoots, are constant species in this aquatic community and the key indicators. Juncus bulbosus is also a constant, typically growing submerged. Alongside this may be found Littorella uniflora, which is frequent here. The occasional plants, Phragmites australis, Cladium mariscus, Ranunculus flammula and Eleocharis multicaulis may form a swamp-like component.
Ecology
This community is typical of the very nutrient-poor, clear shallow waters of oligotrophic lakes on acid stony substrates.
Sub-communities
No sub-communities are currently described.
Similar communities
From the closely-related other communities in this group, FW1B differs chiefly by the abundance and frequency of Eriocaulon aquaticum and Lobelia dortmanna.
Conservation value
Many examples of this habitat will correspond with EU HD Annex I habitat 3110 Oligotrophic lakes. Eriocaulon aquaticum has a distinctly restricted distribution in Ireland. It is an aquatic community of medium species richness (species/4 m2 = 7.0, n = 85).
Management
This community is typically unmanaged. The main threats to the lakes in which it occurs are eutrophication from agriculture and forestry and inflow of suspended organic sediment from degraded peatlands.