The Invasion of Lake Taupo by the Submerged Water Weed Lagarosiphon major and Its Impact on the Native Flora
The waterweed Lagarosiphon major (Hydrocharitaceae) was first recorded in Lake Taupo in 1966, and by 1979 it had occupied most, if not all, the potentially colonisable sites in the lake. The aim of this study was to examine the distribution, abundance and growth forms of L. major in Lake Taupo and to assess the effects of this plant on the native aquatic vegetation. Studies involved underwater mapping of the 161 km length of littoral zone of the lake and detailed analyses at 42 sites around the lake at which L.