Phosphorus concentration in sediment, water and tissues of␣three submerged macrophytes of Myall Lake, Australia

Abstract

Phosphorus content in sediment, water and tissues of three macrophyte species growing in Myall Lake, Australia were studied from January to November, 2004. The sites investigated were North-West (NW), North-East (NE), South-West (SW) bays and Central deep area of the lake (CL). The objective of this study was to investigate how total phosphorus (TP) in plant tissues relate to phosphorus pools and the role played by the aquatic macrophyte species under investigation in phosphorus recycling in the lake. Of the four investigated sites of the lake, TP in plant tissues were significantly higher in NorthWest and South-West bays compared to the rest. Najas marina had significantly higher TP content (e.g., 1.55 and 1.44 mg/g dw.; P < 0.05) for NW and SW respectively, than the other two species. N. marina is a rooted macrophyte while charophytes (C. fibrosa and Nitella hyalina) are pseudorooted macrophytes. Total phosphorus in the sediment and water column were significantly higher in Central deep area of the lake compared to the other three bays (P < 0.05, n 5). Soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) and total dissolved phosphorus (TDP) in sediment pore water correlated significantly with phosphorus content in the tissue of N. marina ( r 2 SRPÀN: marina ¼ 0:95; r 2 TDPÀN: marina ¼ 0:92) as well as TP in sediment ( r 2 SRPÀTP ¼ 0:90 and r 2 TDPÀTP ¼ 0:81). Using the two-compartmental uptake model, it was observed that, sediment was the main compartment through which Ni. hyalina obtained phosphorus while for the other two species, water column was the uptake route for the phosphorus. These correlations suggest that, water column and sediments are important pathways for phosphorus uptake in plants.

Proposal of a typology of Spanish mountain lakes and ponds using the composition of functional groups of macrophytes

“…Moreover, this functional group generally has fine roots and are considered even pseudo-rooted macrophytes (Granéli & Solander, 1988). In these cases, the aquatic plants obtain most of the nutrients from the water column (Thiebaut & Muller, 2000;Shilla et al, 2006). The type 4 bodies of water were characterized by the dominance of floatingleaved hydrophytes, and the aerial and underground biomass of this functional group, like that of the helophytes, are large compared with submerged vegetation (Granéli & Solander, 1988).…”

“…The coverage of the helophytes and the floatingleaved hydrophytes was higher in type 4 lakes than in the other types. Because the sediment is the primary compartment for phosphorus storage (Da Silva et al, 1994;Shilla et al, 2006), these macrophytes accumulate large amounts of phosphorus during the growing season, and when these macrophytes die, the decomposition process begins and releases the nutrients back into the water column, which increases the concentration (Howard-Williams & Allanson, 1981;Godshalk & Barko, 1985;Wetzel, 1996).…”

Biogenic silica in wetlands and their relationship with soil and groundwater biogeochemistry in the Southeastern of Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

“…Macrophytes strongly affect the dominant ecosystem processes; playing an important role in nutrient cycling, primary productivity and trophic transfer of substances (Takamura et al 2003;Shilla et al 2006;Baldy et al 2007). In addition, macrophytes are able to absorb large quantities of nutrients, thereby suppressing algal blooms, and they stabilize the sediment surface, reducing resuspension of detritus.…”

Stressed Response of Submerged <i>Elodea nattalii</i> under Eutrophication Growth Conditions

“…Lake eutrophication has become a global concern among limnologists and environmental scientists [1] . Nitrogen (N)-and phosphorus (P)-caused eutrophication are commonly found in lakes.…”

“…The N and P contents of submerged aquatic plants are closely related to the environment [1,15,16] . Baldy, et al [17] found that P concentration in shoots and roots of Berula erecta was correlated to P level in waters, while Wang & Ji.…”