Abstract for S13

Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation
Végétation aquatique d'eau douce


Freshwater Aquatic Vegetation occurs in shallow to deep water habitats where emergent vegetation is <10% cover, and submerged or floating-aquatic plants have >1% cover, occurring around the globe from the equator to the polar regions. The upper limits of salinity are set at approximately 0.5 ppt, above which it is typically considered saltwater. They are transitional between those wetlands that are saturated or seasonally wet (i.e., bog, fen, marsh or swamp) and permanent, deep waterbodies (i.e., lakes). Submerged or floating-aquatic plants usually dominate the vegetation. Open surface water up to 2 m deep is present for all or most of the year. Water levels are seasonally stable, permanently flooded, or intermittently exposed during droughts, low flows or intertidal periods.

Source: Faber-Langendoen, D., T. Keeler-Wolf, D. Meidinger, C. Josse, A. Weakley, D. Tart, G. Navarro, B. Hoagland, S. Ponomarenko, J.-P. Saucier, G. Fults, E. Helmer. 2014. Classification and description of world formation types. Part I (Introduction) and Part II (Description of world formations). Hierarchy Revisions Working Group, Federal Geographic Data Committee, FGDC Secretariat, U.S. Geological Survey. Reston, VA, and NatureServe, Arlington, VA.

 No Factsheet Available