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Aquatic plants play an important role within a river's
ecosystem. They oxygenate the water and provide food and shelter for all
kinds of animals, including aquatic insects, fish and mammals such as
muskrats.
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| Fragrant white
water lily, Nymphaea odorata. |
During the Rideau
River Biodiversity Project, 51 species
of aquatic plants were found in the River. According to scientist Lynn
Gillespie, this means the River has moderate aquatic plant diversity.
The most common aquatic plants were tape grass, common
waterweed and coontail. Water star-grass
grass is also frequently seen.
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| A person sampling aquatic plants. |
Aquatic plant diversity was highest in rural areas,
with a peak between Kars and Kilmarnock. Diversity was lowest at downstream
sites between Mooneys Bay and Manotick.
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| Knotted
pondweed, Potamogeton nodosus. |
Aquatic plants grew best in those places where the river
bottom sloped very gradually from shore. Species diversity was typically
higher wherever the water's rate of flow was slower.
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| Equipped
with leaves that are similar to those of water lilies, but smaller, European frogbit,
(Hydrocharis morsus-ranae) is an exotic plant that has become established in the Rideau River. Not as well-adapted to flowing water as Eurasian water milfoil, it was found in 20% of the sampling sites, and seldom in abundance. |
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