The ecology and distribution of papyrus swamps are briefly reviewed together with the ecology, distribution structure and growth characteristics of Cyperus papyrus. Three age-classes of culm are recognized and girth and density of each are recorded along transects through mree swamps in the Upemba Basin of Zaïre. A regression of culm-unit biomass on culm girth, developed for Ugandan swamps, is used to convert Upemba measurements into biomasses. It is shown that simple measurements, taken at only a single point in time, yield much information on both the structure and the dynamics of papyrus populations. It is suggested that the standing-crops of such populations are determined by available light, and by local temperature regimes, and are therefore constant, irrespective of site quality (nutrient status), for any particular climatic zone. Culm-duration (life-time) is not significantly influenced by climate and the ratio culms/rhizomes provides a useful indicator of comparative productivity. Unlike community biomass, productivity can be limited by site quality.
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Thompson et al. (1979) studied this question.
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