n. pl. morÂ·pholÂ·oÂ·gies. 1. a. The branch of biology that deals with the form and structure of organisms without consideration of function. b. The form and structure of an organism or one of its parts: the morphology of a cell; the morphology of vertebrates. 2. Linguistics The study of the structure and form of words in language or a language, including inflection, derivation, and the formation of compounds.
Like algae, aquatic plants play a vital role in lake ecology because they provide cover, habitat, and food. However, too many plants can limit swimming, fishing, water skiing, boating, and aesthetic appreciation.
In many lakes and reservoirs in the world plants growing in the surface during spring and summer will die during autumn and sink to the bottom where they decompose. During spring and summer, lakes and reservoirs are often supersaturated with oxygen due to the amount of plants. The oxygen surplus is released to the atmosphere and no longer available to decompose organic matter.