DISTRIBUTION OF DIURNAL ACID METABOLISM IN THE GENUS ISOETES

Previous studies have revealed a crassulacean acid metabolism-like pathway in the submerged aquatic Isoetes howellii (Isoetaceae). A survey of 11 other species in this largely aquatic genus showed all had diurnal fluctuations in titratable acidity and malic acid concentration. The magnitude of the diurnal fluctuation in titratable acidity varied from 119 (μeq g^–1 fresh weight) for I. bolanderi to 44 for I. engelmanni. Although these species were grown under similar conditions in a greenhouse, it is questionable whether or not any significance can be attached to observed species specific differences in magnitude of diurnal acid fluctuation. This is suggested by a single species comparison of plants in the field with greenhouse grown plants which indicated nearly as much variation in magnitude of acid fluctuations as observed across all species in the greenhouse. Much of this variation may be due to seasonal differences. Substrate appears to have very little effect on magnitude of acid fluctuations. Since this survey covered most of the range of the latitudinal, elevational, habitat, and morphological variation in the genus, it is likely that diurnal acid metabolism will prove to be common in the genus Isoetes.     

Hydrostatic pressure and aquatic plant growth: a laboratory study

A method was tested for growing aquatic vascular plants at elevated hydrostatic pressure so that the influence of other factors will not mask the specific plant-pressure interaction. Eighteen species of submersed vascular plants, belonging to twelve families and several distinct growth forms, were subjected to series of hydrostatic pressures including those well in excess of those encountered by the species when growing at its normal depths in lakes. Under no circumstances was the form of the plant altered even at the highest pressures, equivalent to that at a water depth of 23 m. The removal of confounding extraneous factors depends upon controlling competing algae, on raising the pressure in a series of steps, on maintaining the pressure without fluctuations during the growing period, on suiting the light and temperature conditions to the species and maintaining aquasoil air spaces or allowing them to develop. These preliminary data suggest that the level of hydrostatic pressure in the depth distribution of aquatic plants cannot be either a necessary or a sufficient controlling factor.     

Intracellular pH stability in the aquatic resurrection plant Chamaegigas intrepidus in the extreme environmental conditions that characterize its natural habitat

Chamaegigas intrepidus Dinter (syn. Lindernia intrepidus (Dinter) Oberm.) is a poikilohydric aquatic plant that lives in rock pools on granitic outcrops in Central Namibia. The pools are only filled intermittently during the summer rains, and the plants can pass through 15–20 rehydration/dehydration cycles during a single wet season. Rehydrated plants also have to cope with substantial diurnal fluctuations in the pool pH as a result of photosynthetic CO₂ uptake. We have used in vivo ³¹P NMR spectroscopy to investigate the effect of external pH and dehydration (low water potential) on intracellular pH in the roots and submerged leaves of C. intrepidus . Increasing the external pH from 6 to 10 had no effect on the steady state cytoplasmic and vacuolar pH values of submerged leaves, but caused a slight alkalinization of the root cytoplasm. Similarly dehydration with PEG-600 at either pH 6 or pH 10 had no effect on the cytoplasmic pH of the leaves, but it did cause a small alkalinization of the leaf vacuoles at pH 10. These results imply an unusually effective regulation of intracellular pH, consistent with the adaptation of C. intrepidus to the extreme environmental conditions of its habitat. The NMR analysis also showed that dehydration had no effect on the inorganic phosphate and phosphocholine pools, and this was taken to indicate that the cell membranes were well protected from the effects of the low water potential.     

Circadian clock-dependent gating in ABA signalling networks

Plant growth and development are intimately attuned to fluctuations in environmental variables such as light, temperature and water availability. A broad range of signalling and dynamic response mechanisms allows them to adjust their physiology so that growth and reproductive capacity are optimised for the prevailing conditions. Many of the response mechanisms are mediated by the plant hormones. The hormone abscisic acid (ABA) plays a dominant role in fundamental processes such as seed dormancy and germination, regulation of stomatal movements and enhancing drought tolerance in response to the osmotic stresses that result from water deficit, salinity and freezing. Whereas plants maintain a constant vigilance, there is emerging evidence that the capacity to respond is gated by the circadian clock so that it varies with diurnal fluctuations in light, temperature and water status. Clock regulation enables plants to anticipate regular diurnal fluctuations and thereby presumably to maximise metabolic efficiency. Circadian clock-dependent gating appears to regulate the ABA signalling network at numerous points, including metabolism, transport, perception and activity of the hormone. In this review, we summarise the basic principles and recent progress in elucidating the molecular mechanisms of circadian gating of the ABA response network and how it can affect fundamental processes in plant growth and development.     

Seasonality/aseasonality of aquatic macrophytes in Southern Hemisphere inland waters

The term aseasonality is used in this paper to describe environmental conditions which either lack annual seasonal change or have periodicities of change which are longer or shorter than the seasons. Environmental factors act on plants either as stresses or disturbances and changes in environment can signal the onset of conditions which are favourable or unfavourable to plant growth and reproduction. Plant life-histories are thus adapted to these environmental factors and respond to them with both seasonal and aseasonal periodicities, depending on their manner of occurrence and effect on the plants. A review of pertinent studies from the Southern Hemisphere shows that plants of the same life-form (submerged, floating, emergent) might differ in the types of adaptation and response to environmental conditions according to latitude but that the periodicity of response could be seasonal or aseasonal regardless of latitude. The concept of seasonality versus aseasonality is therefore misleading and an oversimplification of the variety of periodicities with which the environment acts on plant genotypes. Limnological principles of the Northern Hemisphere are applicable to aquatic macrophytes in the Southern Hemisphere but there is a particular need for research into the effects of biotic variables and water level fluctuations on aquatic plants and communities in the latter.     

蓝藻堆积和螺类牧食对苦草生长的影响

设计了双因素四组处理(对照组,加螺组,加藻组,螺藻组)的室外受控实验,模拟湖泊沿岸带水华蓝藻的堆积以及底栖螺类的牧食活动对沉水植物苦草生长的影响。结果表明:蓝藻堆积(水体叶绿素a浓度为220μg/L)对苦草的生长具有明显的抑制作用,和对照组以及加螺组相比,加藻组和螺藻组中苦草的相对生长率分别下降了40.9%和36.4%,分株数也分别下降了56.4%和64.1%,分析认为蓝藻在水体表层堆积所产生的遮光可能是抑制底层苦草生长的主要原因。然而,环棱螺能在一定程度上促进苦草的生长,加螺组和螺藻组中苦草的相对生长率和分株数分别要明显高于对照组和加藻组,这可能要归因于螺类的牧食去除了沉水植物表面附着生物。实验中蓝藻堆积和螺类牧食对苦草的各项生长指标均无显著的交互作用,但蓝藻对苦草生长的抑制作用要远大于螺类对植物生长的促进作用。研究证实了在富营养浅水湖泊中,水华蓝藻在湖泊沿岸带的堆积会严重胁迫沉水植物的生长,而底栖螺类的牧食活动则能在一定程度上提高植物在不良环境下的生存能力。     

Effects of environmental factors on gross caloric values of three life-forms aquatic plants on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau,China

Aims Gross caloric value (GCV) reflected plants’ capability of converting solar energy. It provided a reliable indicator of plants’ adaptations to environments in perspective of energy conversion and fixation. The aims of this study were (1) to illustrate the characteristics of GCV of aquatic plants on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, (2) to explore the geographical and environmental patterns and (3) to discuss the underlying mechanisms in forming the patterns.
Methods In July and August 2015, we collected 533 samples of aquatic plants’ leaves in 143 field sites on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, and measured their GCV using SDACM-4000 oxygen bomb calorimeter. Together with mean annual temperature (MAT) of climatic factor and properties of water body, this study compared the differences of GCV among submerged, emergent and floating-leaved plants by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s HSD. We further regressed GCV of submerged and emergent plants against geographical and climatic factors and properties of water body by simple regression to explore the relative effects of environmental factors on GCV.
Important findings On the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, the mean GCV was (15.95 ± 3.90) kJ·g^-1. Among the three life forms, the rank of GCV was the emergent plants (18.10 kJ·g^-1) > the floating-leaved plants (16.77 kJ·g^-1) > the submerged plants (14.31 kJ·g^-1). With an increasing latitude, the GCV of emergent and submerged plants increased. Only GCV of emergent plants decreased with increasing altitude and temperature. The GCV of emergent and submerged plants increased with increased water salinity. Dissolved oxygen had significant negative effects on emergent plants, while pH value had no significant effects.     

太湖藻型富营养化对水生高等植物的影响及植被的恢复

太湖的五里湖是典型的藻型富营养化湖泊,水质污染严重,水生高等植物消失。在该湖的物理生态工程围区内外,用盆吊繁殖试验、壮芽直播试验及人工水生植物群落套种栽培试验,研究藻型富营养化湖泊中影响水生高等植物生长、繁殖的主要水环境因子。结果表明,水体透明度是制约沉水植物和浮叶植物幼苗成活及生长的主要因子。在水体透明度较低、水下光照不足时,沉水植物生长受水下光照的影响大于浮叶植物,水下光照严重不足时,沉水植物的幼苗大量死亡。１９９５～１９９７年,在围区内成功地组建了包括漂浮植物、浮叶植物及沉水植物的１５个不同的水生高等植物群落。恢复和重建的水生高等植物群落能够有效地净化富营养化水体。     

Limnological features of glacier-fed rivers in the Southern Tibetan Plateau, China

We describe the limnological features of six glacier-fed rivers located at an altitude of over 4,000?m in Southern Tibetan Plateau, China, based on diurnal observations of the water environment and biota in the summer of 2010. The rivers showed significant diurnal changes in water level, temperature, and turbidity; clear and cool streams in the morning changed to cloudy rapid flow in the afternoon, and water temperature was elevated under strong light conditions where riparian forest did not cover the surface of the water. On the other hand, the pH and dissolved oxygen saturation did not show any diurnal fluctuations, which indicates low periphytic algal productivity. The aquatic insect communities were poor both in diversity and density, and the dominant life forms (from a functional feeding group perspective) were collectors, which depend on allochthonous organic matter; scrapers, which depend on autochthonous algal production, were scarce. We therefore suggest that diurnal or seasonal high waters transport products from marginal pools along dried riverbeds or from ponds on flood plains, and may serve as the source of organic matter in glacier-fed rivers.     

Aquatic adventitious root development in partially and completely submerged wetland plants Cotula coronopifolia and Meionectes brownii

Background and Aims

A common response of wetland plants to flooding is the formation of aquatic adventitious roots. Observations of aquatic root growth are widespread; however, controlled studies of aquatic roots of terrestrial herbaceous species are scarce. Submergence tolerance and aquatic root growth and physiology were evaluated in two herbaceous, perennial wetland species Cotula coronopifolia and Meionectes brownii.

Methods

Plants were raised in large pots with ‘sediment’ roots in nutrient solution and then placed into individual tanks and shoots were left in air or submerged (completely or partially). The effects on growth of aquatic root removal, and of light availability to submerged plant organs, were evaluated. Responses of aquatic root porosity, chlorophyll and underwater photosynthesis, were studied.

Key Results

Both species tolerated 4 weeks of complete or partial submergence. Extensive, photosynthetically active, aquatic adventitious roots grew from submerged stems and contributed up to 90 % of the total root dry mass. When aquatic roots were pruned, completely submerged plants grew less and had lower stem and leaf chlorophyll a, as compared with controls with intact roots. Roots exposed to the lowest PAR (daily mean 4·7 ± 2·4 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹) under water contained less chlorophyll, but there was no difference in aquatic root biomass after 4 weeks, regardless of light availability in the water column (high PAR was available to all emergent shoots).

Conclusions

Both M. brownii and C. coronopifolia responded to submergence with growth of aquatic adventitious roots, which essentially replaced the existing sediment root system. These aquatic roots contained chlorophyll and were photosynthetically active. Removal of aquatic roots had negative effects on plant growth during partial and complete submergence.     

Changes in biotic communities developing from freshwater wetland sediments under experimental salinity and water regimes

1. Reduction in diversity of both freshwater aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems has been attributed to salinity increase and such increases are a symptom of changes to land use. Hydrological alteration to ground and surface water are likely to be associated with salinity increase and its influence on biodiversity. However the combined effects of salinity and hydrology on aquatic biodiversity have not been elucidated fully in either field or experimental situations. 2. The effect of salinity and water regime on the biota in sediments from seven wetlands from inland south‐eastern Australia was tested experimentally using germination of aquatic plant seeds (five salinity and two water levels) and emergence of zooplankton eggs (five salinity levels). Salinity levels were <300, 1000, 2000, 3000, 5000 mg L^?1 and water regimes were damp (waterlogged) and submerged. 3. Aquatic plant germination and zooplankton hatching was not consistent for all seven wetland sediments. Four of the wetland sediments, Narran Lakes, Gwydir Wetlands, Macquarie Marshes and Billybung Lagoon showed similar responses to salinity and water regime but the other three wetland sediments from Lake Cowal, Great Cumbung Swamp and Darling Anabranch did not. 4. As salinity increased above 1000 mg L^?1 there was a decrease in the species richness and the abundance of biota germinating or hatching from sediment from four of the wetlands. 5. Salinity had a particularly strong effect in reducing germination from sediments in damp conditions when compared to the flooded conditions. In parallel, salts accumulated in the sediment in damp conditions but did not in flooded conditions. 6. There is potential for increasing salinity in freshwater rivers and wetlands to decrease the species richness of aquatic communities and thus of the wetland community as a whole, resulting in loss of wetland biodiversity. This reduction in diversity varies between wetlands and is at least partly related to hydrology. For aquatic plants the reduction in diversity will be more marked for plants germinating from seed banks at the edges of wetlands where plants are not completely submerged than for the same seed bank germinating in submerged conditions.     

Daily malate fluctuations in Sedum dasyphyllum L.

Abstract

Sedum dasyphyllum L. leaves of well-watered plants kept outdoors and under controlled conditions show diurnal malic acid fluctuations. In well-watered plants growing outdoors the malate accumulation undergoes seasonal variations and seems to be inhibited by short photoperiod and/or by low temperature. The seasonal variations of CAM activity correspond to seasonal variations of mesophyll succulence. Water stress markedly depressed CAM activity. In fact, plants of S. dasyphyllum show, under controlled conditions, a decrease of malate accumulation as relative water content decreases. Recovery from water stress is fairly slow. Water potential quickly increases during rewatering and exceeds the original value after few days, suggesting a consumption of osmotic compounds during the water stress period.     

不同基质中水鳖对共存的穗花狐尾藻和金鱼藻的影响

研究设置了营养水平不同的3种基质,在有或无浮水植物水鳖共存的情况下,混合种植营养吸收方式不同的两种沉水植物（仅从水中吸收营养的金鱼藻和从水和基质都能吸收营养的穗花狐尾藻）,探讨在不同的基质中浮水植物对沉水植物的影响。结果显示:实验中水鳖的存在均未对共存的两种沉水植物的生长产生抑制作用。当水鳖覆盖水面时,与无根的金鱼藻竞争光照和水体营养,促使其增加分枝数和茎长,并增加叶生物量的分配,最终导致水鳖的共存促进了金鱼藻的生物量积累。但与金鱼藻不同,有根的穗花狐尾藻可通过基质吸收营养,与共存的水鳖之间只存在光照竞争,使穗花狐尾藻仅以改变植株形态来适应浮水植物的表层覆盖,生物量积累并未发生显著变化。与沙处理相比,水鳖在营养水平较高的泥处理和泥沙混合处理中生长更旺盛,基质没有显著影响沉水植物的生物量和分株数。因此,在退化湿地生态系统中恢复水生植物时,为了提高群落的物种多样性,可以将沉水植物与少量的浮水植物组合配置,少量的浮水植物不会对沉水植物的生长带来负面影响。     

正交试验法分析环境因子对苦草生长的影响

苦草(Vallisneria natans),是我国长江中下游淡水水体中常见的沉水植物种类。通过室内模拟正交试验的方法,研究不同光照强度、温度和总氮浓度(3光照×3温度×3总氮浓度)对苦草生长的影响。结果表明:(1)苦草在5320lx光照强度、10℃、2—4mg/L水体总氮浓度的条件下生长良好。实验所设100%(12000lx)和50%(5320lx)光照条件下苦草均可正常生长;但对于30℃的高温胁迫耐受性较差;苦草在总氮浓度为4mg/L的水体中各生长指标达到最大值,2mg/L或8mg/L的总氮浓度均会抑制其生长。(2)5320lx的光照强度和10℃的温度对苦草光合色素的合成较为有利;而单纯总氮浓度的变化对苦草光合色素的合成影响不大。(3)苦草的生理活性在高于12000lx或低于1025lx的光强、高于30℃的温度以及8mg/L的总氮浓度下均会受到一定程度的抑制。(4)方差分析结果显示,苦草生长发育的过程中,光照强度和温度是主效环境因子;上述3个环境因子对苦草光合色素的合成均有极显著的影响,并且光强与温度的交互作用对其也有显著影响;光照强度、温度以及这两个环境因子的交互作用为影响苦草生理活性的主效因子。苦草作为不能形成冠层的基生叶莲座型沉水植物,对光强要求不高,对低温的耐受性较好,但较不耐高营养盐浓度,因此,在得到一定修复的富营养化水体中,可以作为秋、冬季水生植物恢复和重建的关键物种。     

巢湖崩岸湖滨基质-水文-生物一体化修复

湖滨带生态修复不是简单的水生植物移种,还必须提供其适于生存的基质、水文等外部物理条件。基质作为水生植被的载体,既需要适宜的柔度,也要求一定的刚度。在巢湖崩岸湖滨综合调查的基础上,系统分析了崩岸湖滨带生态退化的成因,研发了基质、水文、生物一体化修复技术,解决了水生植物在恢复生长时期受基质流失和水力切割影响的问题,为水生植物营造了适宜的水生环境。通过西北岸万年埠湖滨的示范工程建设,取得了良好的治理效果,为巢湖崩岸湖滨的生态修复提供一种生态型的、可工程化实施的技术方法。     

Influence of submergence on growth of seedlings of Scirpus lacustris and Phragmites australis

• 1 Seeds of Scirpus lacustris and Phragmites australis were germinated in early June, and twenty-four seedlings of each species were subsequently exposed to submerged conditions (eight seedlings at each of the water depths 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8m), in outdoor 500–1 tanks in southern Sweden. Weight and shoot length of the plants were measured in September.
• 2 The Phragmites seedlings did not show any significant growth when submerged. The Scirpus seedlings, however, developed submerged leaves and exhibited considerable submerged growth. One Scirpus plant, in shallow water (0.2m), had developed an aerial shoot by September. Shoot length of the remaining (submerged) Scirpus plants was positively related to plant weight within water depth treatments, and was higher, in relation to plant weight, in deeper water. Mean weight in September of the submerged Scirpus plants decreased with increased water depth.
• 3 In south Swedish lakes with a lowered water table, Scirpus often occupies large areas on the lakeward side of the reed belt, which is generally dominated by Phragmites. The differences between the two species, in performance of submerged seedlings, suggest that this zonation may be created through successful submerged seedling establishment of Scirpus on the lakeward side of Phragmites.

     

光强、温度、总氮浓度对黑藻生长的影响

为寻求沉水植物生长的主效环境因子,探求富营养化水体沉水植物的衰亡机理并选择治理富营养化的先锋植物,实验选择长江中下游常见沉水植物种黑藻(Hydrilla verticillata),利用正交试验设计,通过室内静态模拟实验研究三种主要环境因子光照强度、温度、总氮浓度及其互作对黑藻断枝生长的影响。结果表明:光照强度和温度为影响黑藻生长的主效环境因子,并且光强与温度的交互作用对黑藻生长有较为显著的影响,具体表现为黑藻的生长指标(株高、生物量、分枝数)、光合指标(叶绿素a+b浓度、叶绿素a/b、叶绿体总色素含量)和生理活性指标(根活力、可溶性糖含量、MDA含量)的变化均与这两个环境因子及其互作呈显著相关;总氮浓度的变化对黑藻生长影响不大,在2-8 mg/L的总氮浓度下,黑藻均可以正常生长。根据本实验黑藻生长指标、光合色素含量以及生理活性在不同环境因子组合的变化结果可知,黑藻在5320-12000 lx光照强度、20°C-30°C、4-8 mg/L水体总氮浓度的条件下生长良好,故推测黑藻可作为春夏季富营养化水体中恢复和重建沉水植被的先锋工具种。       

Strong growth limitation of a floating plant (Lemna gibba) by the submerged macrophyte (Elodea nuttallii) under laboratory conditions

1. The asymmetric competition for light and nutrients between floating and submerged aquatic plants is thought to be key in explaining why dominance by either of these groups can be stable and difficult to change. 2. Although the shading effect of floating plants on submerged plants has been well documented, the impact of submerged plants on floating plants has been poorly explored hitherto. 3. Here, we used laboratory experiments to examine how submerged plant (Elodea nuttallii) alter nutrient conditions in the water column and how this affects the growth of floating plants (Lemna gibba). 4. We demonstrate that, at higher nutrient concentrations, Lemna is increasingly likely to outcompete Elodea. 5. Under low nutrient concentrations (0.1–2 mg N L^?1) Elodea can strongly reduce the growth of Lemna. Growth of floating plants virtually stopped in some of the experiments with Elodea. 6. Extremely reduced tissue N, Mn, chlorophyll and elongated roots indicated that the growth inhibition of Lemna by Elodea was predominantly caused by the latter’s impact on the nutrient conditions for floating plants. 7. These results strengthen the hypothesis that submerged plants can prevent colonization of a lake by floating plants.     

湖泊水动力对水生植物分布的影响

水动力作为湖泊水生植物恢复的关键限制性因子,其对水生植物的影响机制是当前迫切需要关注的科学问题。从水动力作用下水生植物的分布、水生植物受力以及水生植物自身机械抗性3个方面系统梳理了当前的研究方法与结论。结果表明,水生植物在河流湖泊中的丰度、空间分布与水动力密切相关,各物种对水流胁迫表现出不同的响应;植物在水动力作用下的受力观测和研究主要依赖模拟试验,通过计算定量表征不同物理外型物种在水动力作用下的受力,明确了生物量和植物系数等影响受力的关键参数,为不同塑形物种受力的对比分析提供了研究方法;植物机械抗性主要基于测力装置观测,通过断裂应力、弯曲力等生物力学参数表征。在当前研究背景下,水生植物尤其是沉水植物在湖泊中的实际受力情况依然是研究难点,需要借助新的观测手段和研究方法来阐明植物在复杂的湖泊水动力环境下的实际受力特征。此外,还需要进一步开展水生植物在湖泊中的实际受力与植物自身机械抗性的耦合研究,这是开展水生植物响应湖泊水动力机理研究的关键。     

Effect of hypoxia and post-hypoxia on the fluctuations in contents of malate and citrate,the activity of malic enzyme,and on the intensity of gas exchange in moss gametophores

Mosses are plants of simple anatomical structure and as they occur in habitats characterised not only by major changes in the concentrations of carbon dioxide, they suffer the stress of periodic water shortages or submergence in water. The condition of hypoxia (submergence in water or CaCl₂ solution) prompted the increase in daily fluctuations in malate content, particularly in the gametophores of Polytrichum piliferum Hedw. No significant increases in daily fluctuations of citrate were found in the hypoxia and post-hypoxia conditions. Placing gametophores for 168 h in air with a concentration of CO₂ at ∼ 350 μmol mol⁻¹, and 21% of oxygen, after being submerged for 24 h in water, reduced the daily fluctuations of malate and citrate. Keeping the plants in these conditions for a long time (120–168 h) produced the increase in photosynthesis intensity in the gametophores of Mnium undulatum Hedw. and P. piliferum by 13% and 51%, respectively, when compared with plants submerged for 24 h. The intensity of respiration during post-hypoxia, however, was markedly lower compared with the intensity of the process recorded in hypoxia, particularly in the gametophores of P. piliferum. The increased daily fluctuations of malate and NAD(P)H in the studied species under hypoxia could constitute an important element of adaptive strategy to these conditions.