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This dataset is an enhanced snapshot of the legacy data captured in the decommissioned NatureScot's Standing Water Database. These point data include links to the UK Lakes Data Portal via linked WBID and to the macrophyte species data accessioned from the database to the NBN. These data also include updated links to the original survey pdfs. As it is a snapshot it contains limited attributes but links to related tables for NVC types, macrophyte species DAFOR scale of abundance, herbarium number and geological substrate.

The statutory nature conservation agencies in Scotland, England and Wales have a long history of carrying out routine aquatic plant (macrophyte) surveys of lakes. This involves identifying and estimating the abundance of emergent, submerged, floating-leaved, and free-floating macrophytes that grow in or near the water. The Standing Waters Database contains macrophyte data that were collected during the NCC/SNH Scottish Loch Survey Project. Botanical surveys were carried out in over 3,000 lochs in Scotland, and some data are also stored for lakes in England and Wales.

The database contains macrophyte species lists for each surveyed lake; mainly vascular plants but also charophytes and filamentous algae. At each lake, macrophytes were recorded on a DAFOR scale of abundance (dominant, abundant, frequent, occasional or rare), and sketch maps were drawn to show the distribution of macrophytes around the lake. (These sketch maps are stored within the database as PDF files.) Surveyors also took a water sample providing water chemistry data for pH, alkalinity and conductivity. Other details such as surface area, altitude and links to designated site information are also provided.

Using this dataset, a classification of British lakes has also been developed, based upon the composition of their macrophyte communities. Eleven distinct lake groups (A-J) have been indentified, and full descriptions of these are available on the Lake Group page.

The first comprehensive classification scheme for British lakes was published in 1992. This analysis produced a series of 'Palmer lake types' (1-10), grouping sites with similar macrophyte community characteristics. These types show a general trend of increasing nutrient status from dystrophic (Type 1), to mesotrophic (Type 5) and eutrophic (Type 10). Since then, the availability of a larger dataset (as presented in the Standing Waters Database) led to the development of a revised classification scheme (Duigan et al., 2006). Eleven distinct lake groups (A-J) have been indentified. A large number of lakes fall into Group C, which is sub-divided into Groups C1 and C2 on the basis of macrophyte species richness. Full details about the classification and each lake group are published in:

Duigan, C., Kovach, W. & Palmer, M. 2006. Vegetation communities of British lakes: a revised classification links to an external site. Peterborough, Joint Nature Conservation Committee.

Lake Group - Description - Summary

Lake Group A -Small, predominantly northern dystrophic peat or heathland pools, dominated by Sphagnum spp.

Lake Group B -Widespread, usually low-lying acid moorland or heathland pools and small lakes, with a limited range of plants, especially Juncus bulbosus, Potamogeton polygoniofolius, and Sphagnum spp.

Lake Group C1 -Northern, usually small to medium-sized, acid, largely mountain lakes, with a limited range of plants, but Juncus bulbosus and Sparganium angustifolium constant.

Lake Group C2 -North western, predominantly large, slightly acid upland lakes, supporting a diversity of plant species, Juncus bulbolus constant, often with Littorella uniflora and Lobelia dortmanna, in association with Myriophyllum alterniflorum.

Lake Group D -Widespread, often large, mid-altitude circumneutral lakes, with a high diversity of plants including Littorella uniflora, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Callitriche hamulata, Fontinalis antipyretica and Glyceria fluitans.

Lake Group E -Northern, often large, low altitude and coastal, above-neutral lakes with a high diversity of plant species including Littorella uniflora, Myriophyllum alterniflorum, Potamogeton perfoliatus and Chara spp.

Lake Group F -Widespread, usually medium sized, lowland, above neutral lakes, with a limited range of species, but typified by water lillies and other floating-leaved vegetation.

Lake Group G -Central and eastern, above neutral, lowland lakes with Lemna minor, Elodea canadensis, Potamogeton natens and Persicaria amphibia.

Lake Group H -Northern, small, circumneutral, lowland lakes, with low species diversity characterised by the presence of Glyceria fluitans and Callitriche stagnalis.

Lake Group I -Widespread, mostly moderately large, base rich lowland lakes, with Chara spp., Myriophyllum spicatum and a diversity of Potamogeton species.

Lake Group J -Northern, coastal, brackish lakes, with Potamogeton pectinatus, Enteromorpha spp., Ruppia maritima and Fucoid algae.