Release of metals and arsenic from various mine tailings by Eriophorum angustifolium

Previous investigations have found that plants grown on sulphide-rich mine tailings have phytostabilising effects on acid mine drainage (AMD) by decreasing the pH and preventing the release of metals. The possibility of similar effects on tailings containing other minerals was investigated here. The aim was to examine the effects of Eriophorum angustifolium on four water-covered mine tailings with different mineralogy – i.e. the plants’ effect on the release of elements from the tailings and the uptake of elements – to reveal if E. angustifolium is suitable for phytostabilisation in various tailings. Seeds of E. angustifolium were sown in different tailings amended with sewage sludge. Arsenic, Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn levels in the drainage water and in plant tissues were examined. pH, alkalinity, and organic acid concentrations were measured in drainage water, and redox potential and O₂ levels in the pore water. The effect of E. angustifolium on the release of metals from the tailings varied with the composition of the tailings. In tailings with a low buffering capacity and low element and sulphide levels, compared with the other tailings, E. angustifolium increased the release of metals, which was shown by the high concentrations of elements and low pH in the drainage water and high concentrations of elements in the shoots, thereby generating a bio-concentration factor (BCF) >1. In tailings with a high concentration of elements, the plants had little effect on the levels of the elements in the drainage water, likely due to the presence of buffering agents in the tailings (added prior to the experiment). In this case, the pH did not decrease in the presence of plants and the shoot BCF was <1.     

Accumulation properties of As,Cd, Cu,Pb and Zn by four wetland plant species growing on submerged mine tailings

Plants may reduce element leakage from submerged mine tailings by phytostabilisation. However, high shoot concentrations of elements might disperse them and could be harmful to grazing animals. The aim of this investigation was to find out which of the three properties; low-accumulation, root accumulation or shoot accumulation of elements, occur in four of the most common wetland species growing on an old submerged mine tailings and if their properties can be determined by a hydroponic experiment. Above- and below-ground parts of Salix (mixed tissue from S. phylicifolia and S. borealis), Carex rostrata, Eriophorum angustifolium, and Phragmites australis were sampled and analysed for Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb and As. Differences in uptake and translocation properties of the same plant species were observed between field-grown plants and plants grown in hydroponics. These differences were probably due to processes in the soil–root interface. Thus, hydroponic screening studies should not be used to find suitable species for vegetation of wet-covered mine tailings. Most species were found to have restricted translocation of elements to the shoot, i.e. they were root accumulators, and only the shoot concentrations of Salix for Cd and Zn and E. angustifolium for Pb might be toxic to grazing animals. Thus, plant establishment on submerged tailings can be a safe method to stabilise the metals.     

A field study of constructed wetlands for preventing and treating acid mine drainage

The formation of acid mine drainage (AMD) from mine tailings is a severe environmental problem associated with tailings impoundments. The study evaluated the ability of wetlands built on tailings impoundments to prevent AMD formation and to treat already formed AMD, with special emphasis on the role of wetland plants in the remediation process. Four small-scale surface-flow wetlands of different designs, containing either mine tailings or sand, an inflow of AMD or unpolluted water, and with or without emergent plants (Phragmites australis, Carex rostrata, and Eriophorum angustifolium), were constructed at the Kristineberg mine tailings impoundment in northern Sweden in 2004. Water samples were collected every month in 2006 at inflow and outflow in order to analyse metals, sulphate, pH, and redox potential. At the end of 2006, plant and sediment samples were collected to enable the analysis of metal concentrations. The concentrations of Fe, Zn, Cd, and sulphate and pH did not change after passage through the wetlands treating AMD. However, the Cu concentration decreased by 36–57%, with the decrease higher in the presence than in the absence of plants. The study of AMD prevention indicated that metal concentrations in impoundment water tend to decrease as the water passes through the wetland. However, sulphate concentrations increase and the pH decreases in the water, suggesting sulphide oxidation of the mine tailings. On the other hand, wetland plants increased the pH, decreased the redox potential, and increased the metal concentrations in the substrate, despite the fact that metal uptake in the studied wetland plants accounted for only 0.002–2.9% of the annual metal loading into the wetlands, suggesting that plants promote metal sedimentation and adsorption. Emergent plants and the wetlands constructed in this study were thus inadequate to treat the very harsh AMD at the Kristineberg mine site.     

Age and growth,reproduction and diet of a sublittoral population of the rock goby Gobius paganellus (Teleostei,Gobiidae)

Colonisation of extremely acidic waters (pH 3) by aquatic angiosperms occurs widely, but is poorly documented. Unlike acid rain affected and other naturally acidic aquatic ecosystems, waters with pH 3 usually have a high conductivity, with high concentrations of SO₄ ^2- and often high concentrations of Fe³⁺, other heavy metal ions and Al³⁺. Where Fe³⁺ concentration is high, as in many mine waters, it provides a strong buffering system. In such waters, the biogeochemical Fe cycle exerts over water chemistry and the availability of nutrients and carbon for organisms. Biological activity is limited by low concentrations of phosphorus and inorganic carbon (DIC), which in this pH range is essentially all in the form of dissolved CO₂. A number of angiosperms grow in such waters including Phragmites australis, Typha spp. and Juncus bulbosus, though the last is the only one reported to grow totally submerged in waters with pH 3 . J. bulbosus occurs in many lignite mining lakes in Lusatia (north eastern Germany) with pH 3. The characteristics and possible survival strategies for this and other species are discussed.     

Cadmium and copper uptake and accumulation by Sesbania rostrata seedling, a N-fixing annual plant: implications for the mechanism of heavy metal tolerance

Sesbania rostrata, an annual tropical legume, has been found to be tolerant to heavy metals, with an unknown mechanism. It is a promising candidate species for revegetation at mine tailings. In this study, sequential extractions with five buffers and strong acids were used to extract various chemical forms of cadmium and copper in S. rostrata, with or without Cd or Cu treatments, so that the mechanisms of tolerance and detoxification could be inferred. Both metals had low transition rates from roots to the aboveground of S. rostrata. The transition ratio of Cd (4.00%) was higher than that of Cu (1.46%). The proportion of NaCl extracted Cd (mostly in protein-binding forms) increased drastically in Cd treated plants from being undetectable in untreated plants. This suggests that Cd induced biochemical processes producing protein-like phytochelatins that served as a major mechanism for the high Cd tolerance of S. rostrata. The case for Cu was quite different, indicating that the mechanism for metal tolerance in S. rostrata is metal-specific. The proportion of water-insoluble Cu (e.g. oxalate and phosphate) in roots increased significantly with Cu treatment, which partially explains the tolerance of S. rostrata to Cu. However, how S. rostrata copes with the high biotic activity of inorganic salts of Cu, which increased in all parts of the plant under Cu stress, is a question for future studies. Sesbania rostrata is among the very few N-fixing plants tolerant to heavy metals. This study provides evidence for the detoxification mechanism of metals in Sesbania rostrata.     

Phytoremediation of textile effluents containing azo dye by using Phragmites australis in a vertical flow intermittent feeding constructed wetland

An azo dye, acid orange 7 (AO7), was selected to study the role of Phragmites australis (P. australis) peroxidases (POD) activity in its degradation in a vertical flow constructed wetland (VFCW). Crude plant extract was found to degrade AO7 and its aromatic amines, after 120 h in contact with H₂O₂, and removals of were obtained for 40 mg_AO7 l⁻¹ ().The VFCW was found to be suitable to treat an effluent containing an azo dye. For influent concentrations of 130 mg_AO7 l⁻¹ POD activity increased 2.1-, 4.3- and 12.9-fold for leaves, stems and roots, respectively. At 700 mg_AO7 l⁻¹, inhibition of POD activity occurred immediately, but it returned to the previous levels after only 2 days. An AO7 organic load of 21 up to 105 g COD m² day⁻¹, revealed non-toxicity, being expectable to achieve removals of 11 up to 67 g COD m² day⁻¹. Both [AO7] and TOC removal efficiencies were found to be similar (approximately 70%), which is indicative of AO7 mineralization. A 3 h cycle was found to be sufficient to degrade AO7 and a system buffering capacity from 5 to 25 min cycle⁻¹ was demonstrated by flooding level control.     

不同水分条件下混种密度对芦苇和反枝苋种间竞争的影响

与本地植物的种间竞争是影响外来植物能否成功入侵的关键因素之一,该研究通过受控模拟试验研究了本地植物芦苇(Phragmites australis)和外来入侵植物反枝苋(Amaranthus retroflexus)在淹水和干旱两种水分条件下混种密度(6∶2、4∶4和2∶6)对其种间竞争的影响。结果表明:(1)芦苇和反枝苋的相对产量与相对产量总和均小于1,即两种植物存在种间竞争。(2)种间竞争使芦苇和反枝苋的生长均受到了不同程度的抑制,表现在两者的株高和生物量均随着竞争者密度的增加而降低。(3)植株地上部分和地下部分的氮浓度表现出与株高和生物量相同的趋势,且在不同水分条件下存在差异。(4)芦苇和反枝苋分别在淹水和干旱环境下具有较强竞争力,但在各自较高混种密度下亦具有较强竞争力。可见,芦苇和反枝苋的种间竞争受到了水分和混种密度的影响。因此,在有反枝苋分布的湿地中,植物生长初期可通过增加土壤水分和/或增加芦苇等本地植物的种群密度以降低反枝苋的种群密度来限制其竞争能力,防止反枝苋在湿地中生长建群和扩散入侵。     

芦苇腐解土中酚酸类化感物质的水分响应特性研究

芦苇和虉草均具有较强的去污能力,常作为湿地植物配置于同一人工湿地进行污水处理。芦苇作为一种强化感植物对虉草具有较强的化感作用,在自然湿地和人工湿地中均会出现芦苇代替虉草的现象,且这一现象的发生与土壤含水量存在一定联系,此外,芦苇腐解土对虉草的化感抑制效应与腐解土中总酚酸的量密切相关。为了研究芦苇腐解土中主要酚酸类物质的水分响应特性,筛选出其中对水分响应较为明显的酚酸物质种类,该研究采用高效液相色谱法,通过芦苇枯落物腐解土的制备,对不同水分环境下芦苇腐解土中酚酸类物质进行了分离和鉴定。结果表明:芦苇腐解土中可分离出没食子酸、香豆酸、香草酸、丁香酸、对香豆酸、阿魏酸、水杨酸和苯甲酸等8种酚酸类物质,其中香豆酸、苯甲酸和阿魏酸等3种酚酸类物质含量较高。分离出的8种酚酸类物质的含量与腐解土的相对含水量均呈显著线性负相关关系,即随着腐解土相对含水量的上升,酚酸类物质的含量均呈现下降趋势,且各种酚酸类物质对水分的响应趋势均可用线性方程较好地拟合。其中,香豆酸、没食子酸和阿魏酸对芦苇腐解土的水分响应最为明显。因此,可将香豆酸、没食子酸和阿魏酸作为主要调控目标,通过调控湿地土壤中水分含量,削弱芦苇对虉草的化感抑制效应,从而维持人工湿地中虉草芦苇群落的长期稳定共存。     

Inhibition of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zizania latifolia</Emphasis> growth by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phragmites australis</Emphasis>: an experimental study

The influence of Phragmites australis on the growth of Zizania latifolia, and the morphological characteristics of both species, were investigated at two nutrient levels. The experiment was carried out over three growing seasons between May 2003 and December 2005. The experimental plot was longitudinally divided into two equal halves, one of which was planted with Zizania latifolia (Zizania zone) and the other one with Phragmites australis (Phragmites zone). Four weeks after transplantation, the plot was again divided horizontally, perpendicular to the previous division, and subject to low (LN) and high nutrient (HN) treatments. Measured growth indices of the two species were more developed in the HN than in the LN treatments. Both species were observed to invade each other’s zone, but Phragmites latifolia seemed to out-compete Zizania latifolia individuals. This was evident from the decrease in below ground biomass of Zizania latifolia in the third growing season and deterioration in above ground organs with time. It was concluded that Phragmites australis out-competes Zizania latifolia due to better developed root and rhizome system.     

Comparison of anaerobic mineralization processes in sediments between littoral reed and offshore sites in a shallow hypertrophic lake

During three complete annual cycles, chlorophyll a concentrations and primary production rates of algae epiphytic on Phragmites australis in eutrophic Lake Belau were determined. Primary production rates reached a peak during spring due to the growth of diatoms and filamentous green algae. The chlorophyll-specific rates of photosynthesis were significantly higher during periods of stratification and increased exponentially with an increase in water temperature. No photoinhibition was observed, even at high irradiances. I _k values were higher in summer than during periods of circulation.     

Iron nutrition and physiological responses to iron stress in Nitrosomonas europaea

Nitrosomonas europaea, as an ammonia-oxidizing bacterium, has a high Fe requirement and has 90 genes dedicated to Fe acquisition. Under Fe-limiting conditions (0.2 μM Fe), N. europaea was able to assimilate up to 70% of the available Fe in the medium even though it is unable to produce siderophores. Addition of exogenous siderophores to Fe-limited medium increased growth (final cell mass). Fe-limited cells had lower heme and cellular Fe contents, reduced membrane layers, and lower NH₃- and NH₂OH-dependent O₂ consumption activities than Fe-replete cells. Fe acquisition-related proteins, such as a number of TonB-dependent Fe-siderophore receptors for ferrichrome and enterobactin and diffusion protein OmpC, were expressed to higher levels under Fe limitation, providing biochemical evidence for adaptation of N. europaea to Fe-limited conditions.     

江苏滨海湿地芦苇和互花米草光合特性对模拟增温的响应

滨海湿地生态系统具有较高的初级生产力,是地球生态系统主要的碳库之一。然而,气候变暖和外来物种入侵通过改变植物光合特征性能使这一碳库的稳定性存在诸多的不确定性。利用在江苏盐城芦苇湿地和互花米草湿地建设的两个增温观测站,采用便携式光合荧光测量系统研究了本土植物芦苇（Phragmites australis）和入侵物种互花米草（Spartina alterniflora）光合特性对模拟增温的响应特征和机制。光合作用日调查变化曲线显示,增温使芦苇的净光合速率（P_n）、气孔导度（G_s）、蒸腾速率（T_r）和水分利用效率（WUE）都发生了显著的下降,但互花米草的各同名参数却表现出相反的变化特征,表明增温使互花米草的生理机能增强,促进了光合作用;根据P_n和胞间CO₂浓度（C_i）的变化趋势推断互花米草和芦苇光合速率变化均为非气孔限制因素驱动。利用直角双曲线修正模型拟合的光响应曲线结果显示,芦苇增温组的光响应曲线位于对照组下方,互花米草增温组的光响应曲线位于对照组上方;增温降低了所研究植物的光补偿点（LCP）,表明增温可提高两种植物利用弱光的能力;增温增加了互花米草光补偿点（LCP）和光饱和点（LSP）间值域范围,从而揭示了增温可有效提高互花米草利用光合有效辐射的能力;增温降低了芦苇的暗呼吸速率（R_d）,芦苇受到增温的胁迫,在减缓新陈代谢的同时也减弱了光合作用,而互花米草表现出相反特征。由此推测增温条件下入侵植物互花米草同化大气CO₂的能力（即碳汇能力）优于本土植物芦苇,这也是互花米草成为入侵物种的主要原因之一。     

Oxygen and carbon dioxide exchanges in crassulacean-acid-metabolism-plants

The 24 h O₂ uptake and release together with the CO₂ balance have been measured in two CAM plants, one a non-succulent Sempervivum grandifolium, the other a succulent Prenia sladeniana. The O₂ uptake was estimated by the use of ¹⁸O₂. It was found that the mean hourly O₂ uptake in the light was 7 times that in the dark for Sempervivum and 5 times that for Prenia, after correction for the lightdark temperature difference. It was estimated that oxygen uptake in the light was 2.4 times greater than oxygen release (=net photosynthesis) in Sempervivum and 1.4 times greater in Prenia. In both plants there was a positive carbon balance over the 24 h period under the experimental conditions. It was estimated that malate formed during the night could, if completely oxidized to CO₂ and water, account for 74% of the light phase O₂ uptake in Sempervivum. In Prenia the O₂ uptake was more than sufficient to account for a full oxidation of malate.Abbreviations CAM Crassulacean acid metabolism - PAR photosynthetically active radiation - PEP phosphoenolpyruvate - RrBP ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate - TCA tricarboxylic acid cycle     

Comparisons of nutrient recovery and specific leaf area variation betweenCarex lasiocarpa var.occultans andCarex thunbergii var.appendiculata with reference to nutrient conditions and shading byPhragmites australis

The distribution of two sedge species was studied in two mires which differ in abiotic environments and in distribution ofPhragmites australis. Carex lasiocarpa var.occultans dominated in nutrient-poor valley mire, andCarex thunbergii var.appendiculata dominated in nutrient-rich flood plain subject to water fluctuations.Phragmites australis grew well in nutrient-rich conditions. The distribution ofC. lasiocarpa showed a strong negative correlation withP. australis coverage, whereasC. thunbergii coverage was not affected byP. australis. The leaf area per dry leaf mass (specific leaf area: SLA) ofC. thunbergii increased with shading byP. australis, but that ofC. lasiocarpa was stable. The SLA flexibility ofC. thunbergii to light interception might enable this species to invadeP. australis patches in nutrient-rich environments. The residual nutrient ratio of nitrogen and phosphorus (the ratio of the residual nutrient content at the end of the growing season to peak nutrient content) in the vegetative ramet ofC. thunbergii was 1.7 times higher than that ofC. lasiocarpa. This low residual ratio may indicate effective nutrient recovery to storage organs. The effective nutrient recovery inC. lasiocarpa might enable this species to grow even in nutrient-poor environments. However, it may be difficult forC. lasiocarpa to expand its habitat to nutrient-rich areas whereP. australis dominates as it is not shade tolerant.     

A new species ofPlagiostoma (Ascomycota-diaporthales) with aPhomopsis anamorph isolated fromPhragmites leaves in Japan

A new ascomycete species,Plagiostoma phragmiticola inhabiting two reed plants,Phragmites australis andP. karka, is described and illustrated. This new species is characterized by having non-stromatic, solitary perithecia, laterally and obliquely protruding perithecial beaks, and relatively small asci and ascospores. Black zone-lines in colonized leaf tissues were not observed. Its anamorph belongs toPhomopsis.     

敦煌阳关湿地芦苇克隆构件空间拓展策略及其对土壤环境因子的响应

空间拓展是克隆植物响应环境的生态适应和权衡维度,以内陆盐沼湿地典型代表敦煌阳关国家级自然保护区内的芦苇(Phragmites australis)为研究对象,基于水库距离远近和芦苇种群的密度与盖度,设置了近水区(500 m)、过渡区(1500 m)、荒漠区(2500 m)3个不同的采样梯度,研究了环境异质条件下芦苇克隆构件空间拓展策略及其对土壤环境因子的响应。结果表明:(1)芦苇克隆构件在异质环境条件下差异显著,初级根茎条数、根茎节间长、间隔子长、分枝角度呈现"同增同涨"的协同进化关系(P0.01),而与分株数呈现"此消彼长"的权衡关系(P0.01)。(2)且随着种群的密度降低,芦苇在空间拓展过程中呈现从"密集型"转"游击型"的生存策略。(3)冗余分析显示土壤水分、pH值、盐分是克隆构件空间拓展的主要驱动力,其中各层土壤水分、深层土壤pH值和盐分是芦苇空间拓展最重要的环境因子。明晰内陆河湿地芦苇克隆构件空间拓展策略及主要的环境驱动力,能为干旱脆弱敏感区湿地保护和生态恢复提供借鉴意义。     

闽江口芦苇与短叶茳芏空间扩展对湿地土壤磷赋存形态的影响

选择闽江口鳝鱼滩的芦苇湿地、短叶茳芏湿地以及芦苇与短叶茳芏空间扩展形成的交错带湿地为对象，研究了不同湿地土壤磷赋存形态的分布特征及其主要影响因素。结果表明，不同湿地土壤中各形态磷含量整体表现为HCl-Pi > NaOH-Pi > Residual-P > NaHCO₃-Pi > NaOH-Po > Sonic-Pi > Resin-Pi > NaHCO₃-Po。其中，难分解态磷占TP的比例最高（Resin-Pi、NaHCO₃-Pi、NaHCO₃-Po），为48.3%-51.1%；中等易分解态磷次之（NaOH-Pi、NaOH-Po、Sonic-Pi、Sonic-Po），为37.4%-38.8%；而易分解态磷最低（HCl-P、Residual-P），为11.5%-12.9%。交错带湿地土壤中易分解态磷、中等易分解态磷和难分解态磷含量相对于纯群落湿地均发生了明显改变，其值相比芦苇湿地分别提高了10.6%、19.2%和22.6%，相比短叶茳芏湿地分别提高了1.6%、11.5%和16.6%，原因主要与二者空间扩展过程中交错带湿地土壤的理化性质特别是粒度组成、pH以及Fe、Al含量均较纯群落湿地发生明显改变有关。芦苇与短叶茳芏的空间扩展整体改变了湿地土壤的全磷（TP）含量和储量，相对于芦苇湿地和短叶茳芏湿地，交错带湿地土壤的TP含量分别增加了20.0%和7.1%，而磷储量分别增加了12.0%和18.0%。研究发现，芦苇与短叶茳芏的空间扩展不但改变了湿地土壤中磷的赋存状况，而且亦可能改变不同磷形态之间的转化。交错带湿地土壤磷赋存状况有助于缓解芦苇与短叶茳芏空间扩展过程中对磷养分的竞争压力，从而可能在一定程度上维持交错带湿地系统的相对稳定。     

不同生态型芦苇种群对盐胁迫的生长和光合特性

土壤盐渍化是影响我国土壤利用效率的主要因素之一,芦苇是改良土壤盐渍化的良好实验材料,但芦苇有着多种的生态型,比较各生态型芦苇的耐盐差异成为亟待解决的问题。通过设置淡水(0.00%)与加盐(质量浓度2.00%)处理控制实验,测量芦苇的生长指标和光合指标,比较河口型芦苇与内陆型芦苇耐盐性,寻找合适生态型的芦苇作为改良土壤盐渍化的生物材料。在实验中,与淡水条件相比,加盐(2.00%)处理条件下,河口型芦苇和内陆型芦苇的株高(height)、蒸腾速率(E)均显著性下降,但是两种生态型的芦苇的水分利用效率(WUE)明显提高;河口型的芦苇相对生长速率(RGR)和气孔导度(Gs)都明显高于内陆型芦苇。在淡水环境中,河口型芦苇的相对生长速率(RGR)和净光合速率(A)都显著性地高于内陆型芦苇。结果表明两种生态型的芦苇在进化过程中存在一定程度上的分化,盐胁迫会抑制两种芦苇的生长,两种生态型芦苇的相对生长速率和气孔导度在盐胁迫下出现明显地差异,表明两种生态型的芦苇对盐度的响应机制有所差异。相比于内陆型芦苇,河口型芦苇有着更强的耐盐性,内陆型及河口型芦苇的表型性状差异主要是由于其原生境的差异所决定的。     

Host habitat finding and host selection of theDrosophila parasitoidLeptopilina australis (Hymenoptera,Eucoilidae), with a comparison of the niches of EuropeanLeptopilina species

Summary Decaying petioles of giant hogweed,Heracleum mantegazzianum Sommier & Levier, are used as a breeding site by six species ofDrosophila and the drosophilidScaptomyza pallida. The most numerous parasitoid species associated with this community isLeptopilina australis. BecauseL. australis was previously unknown in western Europe, we present the characters to distinguish it form its close relativeL. clavipes. Experiments on host species selection and survival ofL. australis showed that this parasitoid mainly usesD. limbata as host. Olfactometer experiments showed thatL. australis is attracted by the odour of decaying hogweed stalks, especially when these contain larvae ofD. limbata. L. australis is also strongly attracted by the odour of stinkhorns, a habitat in which it has never been found in nature.D. phalerata is the dominant fly species in stinkhorns, and is not a host ofL. australis. We offer a possible functional explanation for this unexpected habitat choice, by showing thatD. transversa andD. kuntzei, both species found to breed in fungi, are also suitable hosts forL. australis. We also discuss habitat choice with regard to a proposed phylogeny of theLeptopilina species in temperate Europe. Finally, we discuss niche overlap ofL. australis with the otherLeptopilina species.     

Decomposition of four macrophytes in wetland sediments: Organic matter and nutrient decay and associated benthic processes

Decomposition rates of Phragmites australis, Carex riparia, Nuphar luteum and Salvinia natans and benthic processes were measured from December 2003 to December 2004 in a shallow wetland (Paludi di Ostiglia, Northern Italy) by means of litter bags and intact cores incubations. Decay rate was highest for N. luteum (k = 0.0152 d⁻¹), intermediate for S. natans (k = 0.0041 d⁻¹) and similar for P. australis (k = 0.0027 d⁻¹) and C. riparia (k = 0.0028 d⁻¹).Benthic metabolism followed a seasonal pattern with summer peaks of O₂ demand and TCO₂, CH₄ and NH₄⁺ efflux whilst soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) fluxes were negligible also under hypoxic conditions, indicating that P was mainly retained by sediment. The initial C:P ratio was similar in N. luteum and S. natans (170) and significantly lower than that of P. australis and C. riparia (360). During the detritus decay P was progressively lost by N. luteum and S. natans tissues, whereas, after an initial leaching, it was probably re-used during the microbial decomposition of the more refractory P. australis and C. riparia detritus. Nuphar luteum, P. australis and S. natans had comparable initial C:N mass ratio (15), significantly lower than that of C. riparia (26). The C:N ratio was rather constant for N. luteum (12.9 ± 1.5) and S. natans (14.6 ± 0.9), decreased slightly to below 20 for C. riparia and increased up to 30 for P. australis. Overall, differences among species were likely due to the recalcitrance of decomposing detritus, whilst process rates were controlled by limitation of microbial processes by nutrients and electron acceptor availability.