Experimental determination of effects of water depth on Nymphaea odorata growth, morphology and biomass allocation

Richards, Jennifer H.; Troxler, Tiffany G.; Lee, David W.; Zimmerman, Michael S.

doi:10.1016/j.aquabot.2011.03.002

Cited by 25 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Previous studies have shown that the responses of macrophyte species to environmental gradients are characterised by physiological and morphological traits–environment relationships (Loreau et al ., ; Hooper et al ., ; Bornette & Puijalon, ). For example, most macrophyte species tend to increase shoot height and specific leaf area, but decrease root/shoot ratio with increasing water depth (Maberly, ; Strand & Weisner, ; Yang et al ., ; Richards et al ., ; Fu et al ., , ). The accumulation of work on macrophyte community dynamic and traits allows us to link traits to the processes structuring macrophyte communities along environmental gradients.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Trait‐based community assembly of aquatic macrophytes along a water depth gradient in a freshwater lake

Zhong

Yuan

et al. 2014

Freshwater Biology

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SUMMARY1. Trait-based approaches provide a framework for integrating the distribution of functional traits associated with ecological strategies into the responses of plant community dynamics along environmental gradients. We used a trait-based approach to unravel the processes governing macrophyte community assembly along a water depth gradient. We sampled 42 plots and 1513 individual plants and measured 12 functional traits and abundance of 17 macrophyte species. 2. The results showed significant evidences of habitat filtering (i.e. a significant reduction in the range and variance of trait values) and of niche differentiation (i.e. trait values distributed more evenly than expected), both of which affected the functional responses of macrophyte communities associated with different sets of traits in significant different patterns along the gradient. 3. Habitat filtering effects increased significantly for specific leaf area and leaf carbon content along the gradient. Niche differentiation effects increased significantly for leaf dry mass content, but decreased for ramet size, shoot height and leaf carbon content with increasing water depth, implying that the relative strength of biotic competition in a specific functional niche would vary with water depth. 4. Intraspecific trait variability promoted significantly the detection of habitat filtering effects on stem diameter, lamina thickness and stem dry mass content, and niche differentiation effects on specific leaf area, leaf dry mass content, shoot height, stem diameter, stem dry mass content and ramet size. 5. Community assembly processes shape the functional trait distribution within communities along environmental gradients through hierarchical effects of habitat filtering and niche differentiation. Our study highlights that niche differentiation plays a structuring role in macrophyte community assembly and that intraspecific trait variability is an important factor influencing macrophyte community dynamics.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Trait‐based community assembly of aquatic macrophytes along a water depth gradient in a freshwater lake

Zhong

Yuan

et al. 2014

Freshwater Biology

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“…Increased water depth reduces the amount of available light penetrating the leaf surface of submersed macrophytes (Spence et al 1973;Canfield et al 1985;Wersal et al 2006). Submersed macrophytes are highly plastic in morphology and biomass allocation in response to varying water depths, with adaptations including changes in the stem length, leaf length, branching pattern, specific leaf area, root:shoot biomass ratio and growth rate (Spence et al 1973;Barko and Smart 1981;Maberly 1993;Ni2001;Strand and Weisner 2001;Richards et al 2011). However, which traits are more responsive to varying water depths is dependent largely on the plant growth form (Chambers 1987;Chambers and Kalff 1987).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An alternative mechanism for shade adaptation: implication of allometric responses of three submersed macrophytes to water depth

Yuan

Cao

et al. 2012

Ecological Research

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Allometric scaling models describing sizedependent biological relationships are important for understanding the adaptive responses of plants to environmental variation. In this study, allometric analysis was used to investigate the biomass allocation and morphology of three submerged macrophytes (Potamogeton maackianus, Potamogeton malaianus and Vallisneria natans) in response to water depth (1.0 and 2.5 m) in an in situ experiment. The three macrophytes exhibited different allometric strategies associated with distinct adjustments in morphology and biomass allocation in response to varying water depths. In deeper water, after accounting for the effects of plant size, P. maackianus and P. malaianus tended to enhance light harvesting by allocating more biomass to the stem, increasing shoot height and specific leaf area. V. natans tended to allocate more biomass to the leaf than to the basal stem (rosette), showing a higher leaf mass ratio and shoot height in deeper water. The three species decreased biomass allocation to roots as water depth increased. The main effect of water depth treatments was reduced light availability, which induced plastic shoot or leaf elongation. This shows that macrophytes have evolved responses to light limitation similar to those of terrestrial plants.

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“…Our data show that C. jamaicense leaf detritus could contribute to this peat, but water lily peats must come from other parts of the plant, either roots or rhizomes. Water lily roots and rhizomes form ≥90% of plant dry weight, depending on water depth (Richards et al, 2011), so these parts of the plants are more probable sources of Everglades water lily peats.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant Decomposition in Wetlands: Effects of Hydrologic Variation in a Re-Created Everglades

2013

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The effects of water depth and flow on marsh plant litter decomposition and soil chemistry were measured in the Loxahatchee Impoundment Landscape Assessment (LILA) facility (Boynton Beach, FL), where macrocosms mimic Everglades ridge-and-slough landscape features. Experiments were conducted in two macrocosms that differed in flow but had ridge, shallow slough, and deep slough habitats that differed in water depth. Decomposition of three common Everglades species, Crantz, Torr., and Aiton, were measured using litter bags incubated in the macrocosms under both wet and dry conditions. Litter decomposition was similar among flow treatments and habitats but differed by species and between wet and dry conditions. Decomposition rates from fastest to slowest were > > litter had more total P than the other two species, confirming the importance of P availability in controlling decomposition in the Everglades. Planted species had no effect on soil nutrient content during the ~4 yr of plant growth. Average water velocities of ~0.5 cm s attained in the flow treatment had no effect on decomposition or soil chemistry. The plant species used in this study are major contributors to Everglades' organic soils, so their decomposition rates can be used to parameterize models for how restoration manipulations will affect soil-building processes and to predict the temporal sequence of landscape responses to these manipulations. The results suggest that longer periods and flows greater than studied here may be necessary to see restoration effects on soil building processes.

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Experimental determination of effects of water depth on Nymphaea odorata growth, morphology and biomass allocation

Cited by 25 publications

References 33 publications

Trait‐based community assembly of aquatic macrophytes along a water depth gradient in a freshwater lake

Trait‐based community assembly of aquatic macrophytes along a water depth gradient in a freshwater lake

An alternative mechanism for shade adaptation: implication of allometric responses of three submersed macrophytes to water depth

Plant Decomposition in Wetlands: Effects of Hydrologic Variation in a Re-Created Everglades

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