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Mass development of macrophytes in freshwater ecosystems is today considered a worldwide problem and substantial resources are spent on macrophyte removal each year. By removing the dominant primary producer, however, this management practice radically changes the ecosystem overnight. Here, we studied short-term effects of the removal of a mass development of free-floating (Pontederia crassipes), submerged (Elodea nuttallii) and emergent (mix of Ludwigia grandiflora and L. peploides) macrophytes on fluxes of CH₄ and CO₂ in three lakes. In our field experiment, we assigned an impact site, where macrophytes were removed, and a control site where vegetation remained. Before and after removal, diffusive fluxes of CO₂ and CH₄ were determined in lakes dominated by P. crassipes and E. nuttallii, whereas total emission of CH₄ was determined in all three case study lakes. Additionally, plant …