STAGES OF HYDROSERE

As vegetation is develops, the same area become successively

occupied by different plant communities. This process is termed as
plant succession. A good example of succession is the hydrarch
succession or hydrosere, in which a pond and its community are
converted into a land community. Successive stages where start in
water and final or climax stage is formed by on denuded land.
succession is depended up on the water, they termed as hydrarch
and the different stage of serious or sere is called hydrosere.
Although the movement from the inidial stage to climax is usually
continuous, when one group is dominant the other plants reaches its
maximum the change is clearly marked. Especially true when one
life form, such as that of floating, gives way to another, such reed
and rushes. The stages and the processes operative in bringing
about plant succession in the various sere, will now be examined.
Stage 1 phytoplankton:
The initial state of phytoplankton are the pioneer
colonizer [eg some blue green algae (cyanobacteria), green algae
(spirogyra, oedogonium). Gradually these organisms die and
increase the content of dead organic matter in the pond, they settle
in the bottom of the mud.
Stage 2 Submerged Stage :
As the water body becomes shallower, more submerged rooted
species are able to become established due to increasing light
penetration in the shallower water. This is suitable for growth of rooted
submerged species such as Myriophyllum, Vallisneria, Elodea, Hydrilla,
Nymphoides peltata and Ceratophyllum. Deep freshwater will not
support rooted, submerged plants because there is not enough light for
photosynthesis in the depth.

These plants root themselves in mud. Once submerged species

colonize the successional changes are more rapid and are mainly
autogenic as organic matter accumulates. Inorganic sediment is still
entering the lake and is trapped more quickly by the net of plant roots
and rhizomes growing on the pond floor.
 The pond becomes sufficiently shallow (2-5 ft) for floating species
and less suitable for rooted submerged plants. Over time, sediments will
be transported into the lake (or pond) by streams or rainwater draining
into it from the land. Large amounts of sediment can be deposited in this
way. Buried older plants form good humus for next seral stage.

Stage 3. Floating Stage:

The floating plants are rooted in the mud, but some or all their
leaves float on the surface of the water. The water depth will gradually
decrease, allowing rooted, submerged plants, such as pondweed to grow.
Water-lilies, which are rooted, but with floating leaves may also, become
established.

These include species like Nymphaea, Nelumbo and

Potamogeton., which help the water become rich in mineral and organic
matter. Later free floating species like Azolla, Lemna, Pistia, Eichornia,
etc. appear. This rapid growth of plants builds up the pond bottom and
makes the water shallower. Some free-floating species also become
associated with root plants. Floating plants, such as duckweed, may also
be present.
 The large and broad leaves of floating plants shade the water
surface and conditions become unsuitable for growth of submerged
species which start disappearing. The plants decay to form organic mud
which makes the pond shallower yet (1-3 ft.) organisms and floating
plankton in the water. The vegetation traps and holds more and more of
the incoming sediment, so that the water becomes shallower.

Decomposing dead plant and animal matter provides food for

detritivores and increases the nutrients in the water. This promotes
plant growth.

Stage 4. Reed Swamp Stage or Swamp:

These plants tend to have tall, flexible spear-shaped leaves. This
allows the plants to cope with large fluctuations in water level; always
retaining some portion of the leaves above the water for effective
photosynthesis. Also called amphibious stage and plants like Typha,
Sagittaria, Scripus, etc., replace the floating plants.

These plants produce abundant amount of organic wastes and

lose huge amounts of water by transpiration. Addition of organic matter
raises the substratum of the pond and becomes unsuitable for growth of
amphibious plants. The water in swamp areas teems with invertebrate
life. It also provides an ideal place for rooted plants.

By this stage, the water may be too shallow to support fully

submerged plants. Iris pseudacorus, Sparganium erectum and Typha
latifolia grow rapidly. Besides these plants such as Phragmites, Typha
and Zizania to form a reed-swamp .These plants have creeping rhizomes
which knit the mud together to produce large quantities of leaf litter.
This litter is resistant to decay and reed peat builds up, accelerating the
autogenic change. The surface of the pond is converted into water-
saturated marshy land

The leaf bases of the swamp plants are extremely effective at

retaining incoming silt, particularly in the winter when the leaves have
died back. Rotting plant material progressively builds up, which also
raises the ground level.
Stage 5. Sedge-Meadow Stage or Marsh:
These damp areas provide a wonderful transition habitat for
newly emerged from the water. At this point they are very small and
extremely vulnerable to drying out. The lush wet vegetation provides an
ideal hiding place. Successive decreases in water level and changes in
substratum help members of Cyperaceae and Poaceae such as Carex spp.
and Juncus to establish them-selves.

They form a mat of vegetation extending towards the center of the

pond. The above water leaves transpire water to lower the water level
further and add additional leaf litter to the soil. Eventually the sedge peat
accumulates above the water level and soil is no longer totally
waterlogged. Plants which grow equally well in swamp or marsh
conditions, will continue to grow.

The habitat becomes suitable for invasion of herbs (secondary

species) such as Mentha aquatica, Caltha, Iris, and Galium which grow
luxuriantly and bring further changes to the environment. Tree
seedlings, such as willow, which favour wet soil conditions, will become
well-established and begin to grow up. Swamp plants which are adapted
to grow in partially submerged conditions, will gradually die out as the
marsh floor progressively rises above the water level.
 Sedge-meadow has a very high transpiration rate, transferring
large quantities of water from the sediment into the atmosphere.
Together with the silt-trapping effect of the marsh plants, this greatly
increases the rate at which the marsh dries out.

Stage 6. Alder or Willow Carr Stage:

The soil is still wet, but no longer completely water-logged and
anaerobic. The willow has grown up and dominates the ground. Many of
the marsh plants will have been shaded out by the trees.

They are replaced by a variety of woodland floor plants

including sedges, rushes, ferns and small flowering herbs which are
adapted to low light levels and which flourish in wet conditions. Plants
like Carex echinata and Chrysosplenium oppositifolium grow rapidly.
Along with the seeded plant fungi like Mitrula palludosa also grow from
the soil like miniature lollipops. Fruiting Bodies of Mitrula palludosa in
drier areas, increasingly aerobic decomposition will accelerate nutrient
recycling, elevating the humus and nutrient content of the soil.
Stage 7. Wood Land Stage:
First the peripheral part of the area is invaded by some shrubby
plants, which can tolerate bright sunlight and water logged conditions.
Plants that grow are Cornus, Cephlanthus etc. Further fall in the water
table, along with mineralization and soil buildup favours the arrival of
plants for next seral community.

The soil now remains drier for most of the year and becomes
suitable for development Xerophyte vegetation or of wet woodland. It is
invaded by shrubs and trees such as Salix (willow), Alnus and Populus
etc. These plants react upon the habitat by producing shade, lower the
water table still further by transpiration, build up the soil, and lead to the
accumulation of humus with associated microorganisms. This type of
wet woodland is also known as carr.

Stage 8. Climax Woodland:

Climax tree species include Oak, Ash and Beech. They are
slow-growing, but because they are also tall and long-lived, in time, they
will come to dominate an area. The particular climax tree species which
eventually dominates the woodland will depend on soil type and other
environmental conditions.

The number of species making up the woodland community is very

dependent on the structure of the wood and on how much light gets
through to the woodland floor. Where the ground is not too heavily
shaded, herbs such as Wood Anemone and Wild Garlic will flourish. The
living trees are also hosts for a variety of mycorrhizal fungi, such as the
Fly Agaric, which is associated with birch