Pub Date : 2025-02-10DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2025.103872
Alexander V. Prazukin , Yuriy K. Firsov , Alexander A. Latushkin
Seagrasses establish highly productive ecosystems within shallow coastal regions of tropical and temperate seas and modify optical and hydrodynamic conditions with their canopies. This study aims to elucidate the vertical distributions of water temperature, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and water mobility within the canopy of Zostera noltei Hornemann 1832, in the Black Sea and correlate these findings with biomass distribution of the seagrass in the water column. In absence of significant directed water flow, Z. noltei exhibits a unimodal biomass distribution, peaking in the lower half of the canopy. This distribution, primarily dictated by the plant's morphology and growth dynamics, optimally aligns with PAR distribution across the canopy. Furthermore, diurnal assessments indicate variability in temperature and PAR intensity profiles within the Z. noltei canopy. Additionally, water mobility, assessed via plaster ball measurements, exhibits a parabolic decline with increasing canopy depth. The discussion emphasizes the modulatory role of seagrasses in these processes.
{"title":"Zostera noltei Hornemann seagrass as the modulator of habitat within its canopy","authors":"Alexander V. Prazukin , Yuriy K. Firsov , Alexander A. Latushkin","doi":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2025.103872","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2025.103872","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Seagrasses establish highly productive ecosystems within shallow coastal regions of tropical and temperate seas and modify optical and hydrodynamic conditions with their canopies. This study aims to elucidate the vertical distributions of water temperature, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and water mobility within the canopy of <em>Zostera noltei</em> Hornemann 1832, in the Black Sea and correlate these findings with biomass distribution of the seagrass in the water column. In absence of significant directed water flow, <em>Z. noltei</em> exhibits a unimodal biomass distribution, peaking in the lower half of the canopy. This distribution, primarily dictated by the plant's morphology and growth dynamics, optimally aligns with PAR distribution across the canopy. Furthermore, diurnal assessments indicate variability in temperature and PAR intensity profiles within the <em>Z. noltei</em> canopy. Additionally, water mobility, assessed via plaster ball measurements, exhibits a parabolic decline with increasing canopy depth. The discussion emphasizes the modulatory role of seagrasses in these processes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8273,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Botany","volume":"199 ","pages":"Article 103872"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143437095","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-02-07DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2025.103870
Ying Wang, Dong-Ying Yan, Zhi-Zhong Li
Myriophyllum, a representative submerged genus within the family Haloragaceae, serves as a key material for investigating terrestrial-to-aquatic evolutionary transitions. Despite its ecological significance, studies on the mitogenome of this genus remain limited. In this study, we utilized HiFi sequencing data of M. ussuriense to assemble into circular mitogenome and plastome, measuring 765,982 bp and 158,484 bp, respectively. A total of 234 SSRs and 367 long dispersed repeats were identified, which likely contributed to the mitogenome expansion relative to other Saxifragales species. Furthermore, 23 mitochondrial-to-plastid transfer sequences (MTPTs) were detected, potentially driven by the abundance of long dispersed repeats. Compared to terrestrial plants within Saxifragales, the M. ussuriense mitogenome displayed a significantly reduced number of RNA editing sites (215), possibly reflecting the stability of aquatic environments. However, three nad genes (nad1, nad4, and nad7) exhibited an increased number of RNA editing sites, likely supporting adaptation to hypoxic conditions. In addition, most mitochondrial protein-coding genes (PCGs) were subject to purifying selection, although positive selection signals were detected in ccmB and atp4, suggesting their involvement in aquatic adaptation. In conclusion, our findings will offer new insights into the mitogenomic characteristics and aquatic adaptation of Myriophyllum, providing a valuable foundation for further evolutionary and ecological studies.
{"title":"First report on the mitogenome of the aquatic plant Myriophyllum ussuriense in Haloragaceae and its implications for aquatic adaptation","authors":"Ying Wang, Dong-Ying Yan, Zhi-Zhong Li","doi":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2025.103870","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2025.103870","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Myriophyllum</em>, a representative submerged genus within the family Haloragaceae, serves as a key material for investigating terrestrial-to-aquatic evolutionary transitions. Despite its ecological significance, studies on the mitogenome of this genus remain limited. In this study, we utilized HiFi sequencing data of <em>M. ussuriense</em> to assemble into circular mitogenome and plastome, measuring 765,982 bp and 158,484 bp, respectively. A total of 234 SSRs and 367 long dispersed repeats were identified, which likely contributed to the mitogenome expansion relative to other Saxifragales species. Furthermore, 23 mitochondrial-to-plastid transfer sequences (MTPTs) were detected, potentially driven by the abundance of long dispersed repeats. Compared to terrestrial plants within Saxifragales, the <em>M. ussuriense</em> mitogenome displayed a significantly reduced number of RNA editing sites (215), possibly reflecting the stability of aquatic environments. However, three <em>nad</em> genes (<em>nad1</em>, <em>nad4</em>, and <em>nad7</em>) exhibited an increased number of RNA editing sites, likely supporting adaptation to hypoxic conditions. In addition, most mitochondrial protein-coding genes (PCGs) were subject to purifying selection, although positive selection signals were detected in <em>ccmB</em> and <em>atp4</em>, suggesting their involvement in aquatic adaptation. In conclusion, our findings will offer new insights into the mitogenomic characteristics and aquatic adaptation of <em>Myriophyllum</em>, providing a valuable foundation for further evolutionary and ecological studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8273,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Botany","volume":"198 ","pages":"Article 103870"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143369654","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-02-06DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2025.103871
Guilherme Sampaio Cabral , Ronaldo Souza Silva , Francieli F. Bomfim , Leandro Juen , Lilian Casatti , Luciano Montag , Karina Dias-Silva , José Max Barbosa Oliveira-Junior , Thaisa Sala Michelan
Natural landscapes have been altered due to the increasing demand for natural resources, leading to changes in physicochemical characteristics and species composition of several systems, including the aquatic. This study identified the streams and species that contributed the most to macrophyte beta diversity within and surrounding the Amazon National Park. We also investigated the factors (local, spatial, and land-use) influencing the community structure. Biological and environmental data were obtained by field sampling in 29 streams (17 within the park and 12 outside). Land-use data were obtained by remote sensing (satellite imagery). The highest species contribution to beta diversity was observed in species with a high frequency of occurrence. The greater local contribution to beta diversity (LCBD) and the highest species richness were observed outside the park. Habitat integrity, fine substrate, and spatial components (i.e., geographic distance) negatively influenced LCBD, highlighting the effect of environmental filtering and dispersion processes on stream macrophytes. Land use variables did not significantly affect macrophytes LCBD. Our findings provide an important snapshot of how different factors (local, spatial, and land use changes) interact in determining macrophyte beta diversity in streams within and around the Amazon National Park. The study also underscores the importance of conservation units to preserve stream ecosystems' natural characteristics and habitat integrity.
{"title":"Macrophyte species uniqueness is driven by habitat integrity, sediment structure, and spatial components in streams around the Amazon National Park","authors":"Guilherme Sampaio Cabral , Ronaldo Souza Silva , Francieli F. Bomfim , Leandro Juen , Lilian Casatti , Luciano Montag , Karina Dias-Silva , José Max Barbosa Oliveira-Junior , Thaisa Sala Michelan","doi":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2025.103871","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2025.103871","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Natural landscapes have been altered due to the increasing demand for natural resources, leading to changes in physicochemical characteristics and species composition of several systems, including the aquatic. This study identified the streams and species that contributed the most to macrophyte beta diversity within and surrounding the Amazon National Park. We also investigated the factors (local, spatial, and land-use) influencing the community structure. Biological and environmental data were obtained by field sampling in 29 streams (17 within the park and 12 outside). Land-use data were obtained by remote sensing (satellite imagery). The highest species contribution to beta diversity was observed in species with a high frequency of occurrence. The greater local contribution to beta diversity (LCBD) and the highest species richness were observed outside the park. Habitat integrity, fine substrate, and spatial components (i.e., geographic distance) negatively influenced LCBD, highlighting the effect of environmental filtering and dispersion processes on stream macrophytes. Land use variables did not significantly affect macrophytes LCBD. Our findings provide an important snapshot of how different factors (local, spatial, and land use changes) interact in determining macrophyte beta diversity in streams within and around the Amazon National Park. The study also underscores the importance of conservation units to preserve stream ecosystems' natural characteristics and habitat integrity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8273,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Botany","volume":"198 ","pages":"Article 103871"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143321815","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-30DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2025.103869
Brittany M. Chesser , Todd D. Sink
Small waterbodies, including ponds, constitute a significant proportion of freshwater area globally, exceeding in number the more frequently studied waterbodies, such as lakes. They support diverse communities of aquatic plants, which are influenced by environmental factors, such as physicochemical conditions, and pressures, such as nearby land use. While these systems are recognized for their high biodiversity, they are frequently used in agricultural activities like crop irrigation and livestock watering. Private landowners and organizations tasked with the management of these ecosystems may not exhibit the fundamental knowledge to incorporate environmental concerns into their management decisions. Although extension initiatives have been documented since the early nineteenth century, the implementation of extension services varies globally due to political status, agricultural crops or production systems, and funding. In this manuscript, we use the state of Texas to showcase extension education models and their role in guiding freshwater pond management, emphasizing the importance of outreach for effective aquatic vegetation management.
{"title":"Information & education: Extension models used to manage aquatic vegetation in ponds","authors":"Brittany M. Chesser , Todd D. Sink","doi":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2025.103869","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2025.103869","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Small waterbodies, including ponds, constitute a significant proportion of freshwater area globally, exceeding in number the more frequently studied waterbodies, such as lakes. They support diverse communities of aquatic plants, which are influenced by environmental factors, such as physicochemical conditions, and pressures, such as nearby land use. While these systems are recognized for their high biodiversity, they are frequently used in agricultural activities like crop irrigation and livestock watering. Private landowners and organizations tasked with the management of these ecosystems may not exhibit the fundamental knowledge to incorporate environmental concerns into their management decisions. Although extension initiatives have been documented since the early nineteenth century, the implementation of extension services varies globally due to political status, agricultural crops or production systems, and funding. In this manuscript, we use the state of Texas to showcase extension education models and their role in guiding freshwater pond management, emphasizing the importance of outreach for effective aquatic vegetation management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8273,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Botany","volume":"198 ","pages":"Article 103869"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143321816","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-17DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2025.103868
Takashi Asaeda , Katharina Wilfert , Jonas Schoelynck
Submerged macrophytes in natural streams and stagnant waters are exposed to various abiotic stressors, including solar radiation, temperature fluctuations, and mechanical stress caused by water flow. During photosynthesis, carbohydrates are synthesized using electrons produced by absorbed solar radiation. However, surplus electrons, either due to excessive insufficient consumption, often caused by a lack of carbon dioxide (CO2) or inorganic carbon, can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to an increase in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentrations. Consequently, the intensity of these stressors is often measured by the concentration of H2O2 in plant tissues. It's important to note that H2O2 production is not necessarily linked to a single stressor but can result from a combination of environmental factors. The primary objective of the tests was to determine how Myriophyllum spicatum responds to stress and produces H2O2 in reaction to flow patterns in streams and to high photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) in stagnant water. Observations were made at six stream sites. At each site, the flow velocity of the unidirectional mean flow (MV) and the turbulence velocity (TV) were measured within M. spicatum patches. In stagnant water, observations were conducted both in a moat where M. spicatum patches were located and in outdoor experimental tanks, where the plants were grown under controlled water temperatures and natural sunlight. Myriophyllum spicatum samples were collected alongside PAR measurements, and the H2O2 concentration in plant leaves was analyzed using the TiSO4 method. In streams, H₂O₂ concentrations were high in areas with very low turbulence. When turbulence reached sufficient levels, concentrations initially declined, then increased with further rising turbulence. In stagnant water, H₂O₂ concentrations, which were higher at elevated temperatures, increased proportionally with PAR intensity. In both scenarios, H₂O₂ levels decreased under extremely high stress, likely due to the deterioration of plant shoots. These results suggest that surplus electrons, arising from either limited electron consumption due to a restricted carbon source for synthesizing organic carbon or an excessive electron supply driven by strong PAR intensity, elevate H₂O₂ concentrations. However, with a sufficient carbon source available, H₂O₂ concentrations increase under heightened turbulence, likely as a result of mechanical stress.
{"title":"The identification of abiotic stress by hydrogen peroxide concentration in submerged macrophyte tissues","authors":"Takashi Asaeda , Katharina Wilfert , Jonas Schoelynck","doi":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2025.103868","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2025.103868","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Submerged macrophytes in natural streams and stagnant waters are exposed to various abiotic stressors, including solar radiation, temperature fluctuations, and mechanical stress caused by water flow. During photosynthesis, carbohydrates are synthesized using electrons produced by absorbed solar radiation. However, surplus electrons, either due to excessive insufficient consumption, often caused by a lack of carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) or inorganic carbon, can generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to an increase in hydrogen peroxide (H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>) concentrations. Consequently, the intensity of these stressors is often measured by the concentration of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> in plant tissues. It's important to note that H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> production is not necessarily linked to a single stressor but can result from a combination of environmental factors. The primary objective of the tests was to determine how <em>Myriophyllum spicatum</em> responds to stress and produces H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> in reaction to flow patterns in streams and to high photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) in stagnant water. Observations were made at six stream sites. At each site, the flow velocity of the unidirectional mean flow (MV) and the turbulence velocity (TV) were measured within <em>M. spicatum</em> patches. In stagnant water, observations were conducted both in a moat where <em>M. spicatum</em> patches were located and in outdoor experimental tanks, where the plants were grown under controlled water temperatures and natural sunlight. <em>Myriophyllum spicatum</em> samples were collected alongside PAR measurements, and the H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> concentration in plant leaves was analyzed using the TiSO<sub>4</sub> method. In streams, H₂O₂ concentrations were high in areas with very low turbulence. When turbulence reached sufficient levels, concentrations initially declined, then increased with further rising turbulence. In stagnant water, H₂O₂ concentrations, which were higher at elevated temperatures, increased proportionally with PAR intensity. In both scenarios, H₂O₂ levels decreased under extremely high stress, likely due to the deterioration of plant shoots. These results suggest that surplus electrons, arising from either limited electron consumption due to a restricted carbon source for synthesizing organic carbon or an excessive electron supply driven by strong PAR intensity, elevate H₂O₂ concentrations. However, with a sufficient carbon source available, H₂O₂ concentrations increase under heightened turbulence, likely as a result of mechanical stress.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8273,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Botany","volume":"198 ","pages":"Article 103868"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143146859","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-06DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2025.103867
Neamat H. El-Tablawy , Olfat M.A. Salem , Lenka Štenclová , Jan Mareš , Arthur Yu. Nikulin , Maha Abdullah Alwaili , Fauzeya M. Albalwe , Amr Elkelish , Marco Cantonati , Abdullah A. Saber
As a part of our extensive survey on macroalgal distribution along the Egyptian-Mediterranean coasts, a green-tide-forming filamentous Ulva was collected from Alexandria city, and identified as Ulva tepida by a combined integrative approach, including a multilocus sequence dataset of the chloroplast–encoded rbcL gene, the nuclear–encoded SSU rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer (ITS), and state-of-the-art morphotaxonomy. The species features are consistent with the original description, i.e. tube-like thalli with radial branching in the basal region, chloroplasts covering the outer cell wall, and 1–5 pyrenoids. Biochemical assessment (primary metabolites) showed that the species is rich of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, phenolics, and flavonoids. Additionally, it has high antioxidant activity and DPPH˙ (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging % value. The fatty acid profile, characterized by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), revealed high concentrations of palmitic (C16:0) and oleic (C18:1, ω–9) fatty acids (30 % and 24 %, respectively), pointing to the biodiesel-production potential of this species. This is the first record of U. tepida, likely originated from the Indo-Pacific, from the African-Mediterranean coastal waters. Stricter regulations and regular water-quality monitoring, particularly in areas exposed to strong nutrient inputs, are required for this green-tide-forming species. Rapid biological invasions and climate change will significantly alter the native Mediterranean-Sea algal flora, and we believe that U. tepida will be reported as an alien invasive species in other Mediterranean countries.
{"title":"Morphotaxonomic, phylogenetic and phytochemical study of the invasive, green-tide-forming macroalga Ulva tepida (Chlorophyta) firstly recorded from the African-Mediterranean coastal waters","authors":"Neamat H. El-Tablawy , Olfat M.A. Salem , Lenka Štenclová , Jan Mareš , Arthur Yu. Nikulin , Maha Abdullah Alwaili , Fauzeya M. Albalwe , Amr Elkelish , Marco Cantonati , Abdullah A. Saber","doi":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2025.103867","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2025.103867","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As a part of our extensive survey on macroalgal distribution along the Egyptian-Mediterranean coasts, a green-tide-forming filamentous <em>Ulva</em> was collected from Alexandria city, and identified as <em>Ulva tepida</em> by a combined integrative approach, including a multilocus sequence dataset of the chloroplast–encoded <em>rbc</em>L gene, the nuclear–encoded SSU rRNA gene and internal transcribed spacer (ITS), and state-of-the-art morphotaxonomy. The species features are consistent with the original description, i.e. tube-like thalli with radial branching in the basal region, chloroplasts covering the outer cell wall, and 1–5 pyrenoids. Biochemical assessment (primary metabolites) showed that the species is rich of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, phenolics, and flavonoids. Additionally, it has high antioxidant activity and DPPH˙ (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging % value. The fatty acid profile, characterized by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), revealed high concentrations of palmitic (C16:0) and oleic (C18:1, ω–9) fatty acids (30 % and 24 %, respectively), pointing to the biodiesel-production potential of this species. This is the first record of <em>U. tepida</em>, likely originated from the Indo-Pacific, from the African-Mediterranean coastal waters. Stricter regulations and regular water-quality monitoring, particularly in areas exposed to strong nutrient inputs, are required for this green-tide-forming species. Rapid biological invasions and climate change will significantly alter the native Mediterranean-Sea algal flora, and we believe that <em>U. tepida</em> will be reported as an alien invasive species in other Mediterranean countries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8273,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Botany","volume":"198 ","pages":"Article 103867"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143146468","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-06DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2025.103866
Nompumelelo Catherine Baso , Martin Patrick Hill , Angela Bownes , Julie Angela Coetzee
The Enemy Release Hypothesis (ERH) argues that escape from natural enemies allows exotic plants to become invasive in new habitats. This study provides a critical review of this hypothesis in aquatic plant ecosystems using a meta-analytic approach, considering diverse growth forms, multiple performance parameters, and various study methodologies. The key question posed is whether exotic macrophytes in freshwater ecosystems experience decreased enemy pressure compared to native species, and whether this translates to increased performance parameters. We hypothesize that plant growth form influences ERH expression, with the strongest effects in submerged macrophytes, and that ecological complexity obscures enemy release detection in biogeographical and community studies. A search term based on the key question was formulated and yielded 243 studies. Effects from manipulative experiments revealed significant support for the ERH under abiotic stressors such as eutrophication and temperature change, highlighting the dynamic nature of ecological interactions. However, the 53 community level effects showed contrasting findings, suggesting that native species may outperform invasive conspecifics in more stable environments. The evident complexity of ecological factors considered in the studies used here challenges the theoretical expectations of the ERH, demanding further exploration of alternative mechanisms, such as disturbance, biotic resistance, mutualism, and climate suitability.
{"title":"Systematic review and meta-analysis of the Enemy Release Hypothesis as applied to aquatic plants","authors":"Nompumelelo Catherine Baso , Martin Patrick Hill , Angela Bownes , Julie Angela Coetzee","doi":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2025.103866","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2025.103866","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Enemy Release Hypothesis (ERH) argues that escape from natural enemies allows exotic plants to become invasive in new habitats. This study provides a critical review of this hypothesis in aquatic plant ecosystems using a meta-analytic approach, considering diverse growth forms, multiple performance parameters, and various study methodologies. The key question posed is whether exotic macrophytes in freshwater ecosystems experience decreased enemy pressure compared to native species, and whether this translates to increased performance parameters. We hypothesize that plant growth form influences ERH expression, with the strongest effects in submerged macrophytes, and that ecological complexity obscures enemy release detection in biogeographical and community studies. A search term based on the key question was formulated and yielded 243 studies. Effects from manipulative experiments revealed significant support for the ERH under abiotic stressors such as eutrophication and temperature change, highlighting the dynamic nature of ecological interactions. However, the 53 community level effects showed contrasting findings, suggesting that native species may outperform invasive conspecifics in more stable environments. The evident complexity of ecological factors considered in the studies used here challenges the theoretical expectations of the ERH, demanding further exploration of alternative mechanisms, such as disturbance, biotic resistance, mutualism, and climate suitability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8273,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Botany","volume":"198 ","pages":"Article 103866"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143146466","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-01-04DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103865
Olga C. Delange , Gianmarco Minuti , Iris Stiers
Invasive Alien Aquatic Plants (IAAPs) are recognised as one of the major threats to aquatic biodiversity globally. Because of their high growth rate and ability to form dense mats, these plants strongly impact biodiversity and the conservation status of aquatic ecosystems. In Belgium, the invasive water primroses Ludwigia spp. are listed on the Invasive Alien Species watchlist, and conventional management actions (manual or mechanical removal) have been carried out, but successful control stories are underreported. Although seed production has not been reported for L. grandiflora in Belgium, local managers suspect it has occurred over the last five to ten years. We studied seed germination of 18 populations within Belgium by growing collected seeds in Petri dishes under a 12|12 h light regime and 14|24°C temperature regime in growth chambers. Results showed that 14 L. grandiflora populations produced germinating seeds, with final germination percentages ranging from 4 % to 77 % at the end of the study. Time to reach 50 % of germination ranged from 12 to 27 days. These results stress the need to implement control measures for seed production of L. grandiflora populations in the management schemes, especially considering the fast emergence and the high number of seeds produced for some populations. The potential germination could hinder management actions by increasing follow-up control efforts and its associated costs. It is thus in the best interest to prevent seeds ripening by removing the vegetative biomass early in new infestations, and by managing the potential soil seed bank in already established ones.
{"title":"Germination of the invasive water primrose Ludwigia grandiflora in Belgium and potential implications for management","authors":"Olga C. Delange , Gianmarco Minuti , Iris Stiers","doi":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103865","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103865","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Invasive Alien Aquatic Plants (IAAPs) are recognised as one of the major threats to aquatic biodiversity globally. Because of their high growth rate and ability to form dense mats, these plants strongly impact biodiversity and the conservation status of aquatic ecosystems. In Belgium, the invasive water primroses <em>Ludwigia</em> spp. are listed on the Invasive Alien Species watchlist, and conventional management actions (manual or mechanical removal) have been carried out, but successful control stories are underreported. Although seed production has not been reported for <em>L. grandiflora</em> in Belgium, local managers suspect it has occurred over the last five to ten years. We studied seed germination of 18 populations within Belgium by growing collected seeds in Petri dishes under a 12|12 h light regime and 14|24°C temperature regime in growth chambers. Results showed that 14 <em>L. grandiflora</em> populations produced germinating seeds, with final germination percentages ranging from 4 % to 77 % at the end of the study. Time to reach 50 % of germination ranged from 12 to 27 days. These results stress the need to implement control measures for seed production of <em>L. grandiflora</em> populations in the management schemes, especially considering the fast emergence and the high number of seeds produced for some populations. The potential germination could hinder management actions by increasing follow-up control efforts and its associated costs. It is thus in the best interest to prevent seeds ripening by removing the vegetative biomass early in new infestations, and by managing the potential soil seed bank in already established ones.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8273,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Botany","volume":"198 ","pages":"Article 103865"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143146473","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-12-17DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103864
Daniela Glueck , Nina Feußner , Anne Herbst , Hendrik Schubert
Hard structures, such as breakwaters and revetments, while effective at mitigating coastal erosion, induce significant ecological alterations in terrestrial and aquatic environments. To study these effects, field investigations were performed along the Baltic Sea coast in Thiessow, Germany, highlighting breakwaters, a revetment and comparing them to an unprotected area. For this purpose, floristic mappings were carried out along transects on beach and dune. Algae scratch samples and sediment cores were taken, which were also used for nutrient analyses, each with a replicate number of n = 5. Sediment analysis revealed changes in grain size, sorting, water content, organic matter, and nutrient concentrations in areas influenced by breakwaters and revetments. These differences are less distinct on beach and dune. Finer sediments and increased organic content were observed in shallow waters near the breakwaters, while coarser sediments dominated near revetments. Vegetation surveys showed less dune plant species on the breakwater site and a pronounced shift towards ruderal plant species. Revetments eliminated terrestrial vegetation entirely due to their impermeable structure directly on the beach. The introduction of hard substrate in soft-bottom habitats in the shallow water favours the settlement of macroalgae, whereby there is only a weak zonation with regard to the distribution of species on the structures. Meanwhile, no seagrass meadows were recorded near the breakwater which could indicate supressing effects. These findings underscore the ecological consequences of hard coastal protection and emphasize the importance of integrating ecological considerations into coastal protection strategies to balance shoreline stabilization and preservation of natural habitats.
{"title":"Ecological consequences of breakwater and revetment structures on the Baltic Sea Coast in Germany","authors":"Daniela Glueck , Nina Feußner , Anne Herbst , Hendrik Schubert","doi":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103864","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103864","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hard structures, such as breakwaters and revetments, while effective at mitigating coastal erosion, induce significant ecological alterations in terrestrial and aquatic environments. To study these effects, field investigations were performed along the Baltic Sea coast in Thiessow, Germany, highlighting breakwaters, a revetment and comparing them to an unprotected area. For this purpose, floristic mappings were carried out along transects on beach and dune. Algae scratch samples and sediment cores were taken, which were also used for nutrient analyses, each with a replicate number of n = 5. Sediment analysis revealed changes in grain size, sorting, water content, organic matter, and nutrient concentrations in areas influenced by breakwaters and revetments. These differences are less distinct on beach and dune. Finer sediments and increased organic content were observed in shallow waters near the breakwaters, while coarser sediments dominated near revetments. Vegetation surveys showed less dune plant species on the breakwater site and a pronounced shift towards ruderal plant species. Revetments eliminated terrestrial vegetation entirely due to their impermeable structure directly on the beach. The introduction of hard substrate in soft-bottom habitats in the shallow water favours the settlement of macroalgae, whereby there is only a weak zonation with regard to the distribution of species on the structures. Meanwhile, no seagrass meadows were recorded near the breakwater which could indicate supressing effects. These findings underscore the ecological consequences of hard coastal protection and emphasize the importance of integrating ecological considerations into coastal protection strategies to balance shoreline stabilization and preservation of natural habitats.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8273,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Botany","volume":"198 ","pages":"Article 103864"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143146471","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-12-14DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103853
Jordan A. Thomson, Benedikte Vercaemer, Melisa C. Wong
Estimating plant biomass reliably over large areas while minimizing impacts on sampled habitats is an important goal in plant ecology. Often, this is accomplished by first using a small number of harvested plants to quantify the relationship between plant biomass and less destructive predictor variables (e.g., height, cover), and then applying this relationship across larger spatial scales. However, the influence of environmental conditions on these relationships is often poorly understood. Here, we assess the impact of environmental variability on two biomass estimation functions for the seagrass Zostera marina in Atlantic Canada: the allometric leaf length-weight relationship and the relationship between percent cover and above-ground biomass (AGBM). First, we determined allometric and cover-AGBM regression relationships at the regional level using data from all sites pooled. We then investigated whether these models could be improved by including a site group covariate based on principal component analysis of site-level environmental data. At the regional level, allometric and cover-biomass models were both strongly significant, although uncertainty was high in the cover-AGBM model. Both models improved markedly when environmental variability (i.e., site group) was included: in warm, shallow conditions, eelgrass leaves were lighter for a given length, and AGBM increased at a slower curvilinear rate with percent cover. This indicates that environmental effects on eelgrass morphological traits not typically included in biomass models (e.g., leaf thickness, rigidity) can be important. Our study suggests that environmental effects on eelgrass biomass models should be considered, particularly when highly accurate estimates with low uncertainty are required.
{"title":"Non-destructive biomass estimation for eelgrass (Zostera marina): Allometric and percent cover-biomass relationships vary with environmental conditions","authors":"Jordan A. Thomson, Benedikte Vercaemer, Melisa C. Wong","doi":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103853","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103853","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Estimating plant biomass reliably over large areas while minimizing impacts on sampled habitats is an important goal in plant ecology. Often, this is accomplished by first using a small number of harvested plants to quantify the relationship between plant biomass and less destructive predictor variables (e.g., height, cover), and then applying this relationship across larger spatial scales. However, the influence of environmental conditions on these relationships is often poorly understood. Here, we assess the impact of environmental variability on two biomass estimation functions for the seagrass <em>Zostera marina</em> in Atlantic Canada: the allometric leaf length-weight relationship and the relationship between percent cover and above-ground biomass (AGBM). First, we determined allometric and cover-AGBM regression relationships at the regional level using data from all sites pooled. We then investigated whether these models could be improved by including a site group covariate based on principal component analysis of site-level environmental data. At the regional level, allometric and cover-biomass models were both strongly significant, although uncertainty was high in the cover-AGBM model. Both models improved markedly when environmental variability (i.e., site group) was included: in warm, shallow conditions, eelgrass leaves were lighter for a given length, and AGBM increased at a slower curvilinear rate with percent cover. This indicates that environmental effects on eelgrass morphological traits not typically included in biomass models (e.g., leaf thickness, rigidity) can be important. Our study suggests that environmental effects on eelgrass biomass models should be considered, particularly when highly accurate estimates with low uncertainty are required.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8273,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Botany","volume":"198 ","pages":"Article 103853"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-12-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143146469","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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