Interactive effects of light and nutrients on phytoplankton stoichiometry

The stoichiometric composition of autotrophs can vary greatly in response to variation in light and nutrient availability, and can mediate ecological processes such as C sequestration, growth of herbivores, and nutrient cycling. We investigated light and nutrient effects on phytoplankton stoichiometry, employing five experiments on intact phytoplankton assemblages from three lakes varying in productivity and species composition. Each experiment employed two nutrient and eight irradiance levels in a fully factorial design. Light and nutrients interactively affected phytoplankton stoichiometry. Thus, phytoplankton C:N, C:P, and N:P ratios increased with irradiance, and slopes of the stoichiometric ratio versus irradiance relationships were steeper with ambient nutrients than with nutrients added. Our results support the light–nutrient hypothesis, which predicts that phytoplankton C:nutrient ratios are functions of the ratio of available light and nutrients; however, we observed considerable variation among lakes in the expression of this relationship. Phytoplankton species diversity was positively correlated with the slopes of the C:N and C:P versus irradiance relationships, suggesting that diverse assemblages may exhibit greater flexibility in the response of phytoplankton nutrient stoichiometry to light and nutrients. The interactive nature of light and nutrient effects may render it difficult to generate predictive models of stoichiometric responses to these two factors. Our results point to the need for future studies that examine stoichiometric responses across a wide range of phytoplankton communities.     

C:N:P stoichiometry in soil: is there a “Redfield ratio” for the microbial biomass?

Well-constrained carbon:nitrogen:phosphorus (C:N:P) ratios in planktonic biomass, and their importance in advancing our understanding of biological processes and nutrient cycling in marine ecosystems, has motivated ecologists to search for similar patterns in terrestrial ecosystems. Recent analyses indicate the existence of “Redfield-like” ratios in plants, and such data may provide insight into the nature of nutrient limitation in terrestrial ecosystems. We searched for analogous patterns in the soil and the soil microbial biomass by conducting a review of the literature. Although soil is characterized by high biological diversity, structural complexity and spatial heterogeneity, we found remarkably consistent C:N:P ratios in both total soil pools and the soil microbial biomass. Our analysis indicates that, similar to marine phytoplankton, element concentrations of individual phylogenetic groups within the soil microbial community may vary, but on average, atomic C:N:P ratios in both the soil (186:13:1) and the soil microbial biomass (60:7:1) are well-constrained at the global scale. We did see significant variation in soil and microbial element ratios between vegetation types (i.e., forest versus grassland), but in most cases, the similarities in soil and microbial element ratios among sites and across large scales were more apparent than the differences. Consistent microbial biomass element ratios, combined with data linking specific patterns of microbial element stoichiometry with direct evidence of microbial nutrient limitation, suggest that measuring the proportions of C, N and P in the microbial biomass may represent another useful tool for assessing nutrient limitation of ecosystem processes in terrestrial ecosystems.     

Fish as sources and sinks of nutrients in lakes

1. The release of total phosphorus (TP) and nitrogen (N in ammonium) was measured for the five most abundant fish species (>85% of biomass) in Mouse and Ranger Lakes, two biomanipulated, oligotrophic lakes in Ontario. 2. The specific release rate of both nutrients was significantly related to fish mass; log₁₀ TP release rate (μg h^?1) = 0.793 (±0.109) [log₁₀ wet mass (g)] + 0.7817 (±0.145), and log₁₀ N release rate (μg h^?1) = 0.6946 (±0.079) [log₁₀wet mass (g)] + 1.7481 (±0.108). 3. When fish nutrient release was standardized for abundance (all populations, 1993–95) and epilimnetic volume, fish were estimated to contribute 0.083 (±0.061) μg TP L^?1 day^?1, and 0.41 (±0.17) μg N L^?1 day^?1 in Mouse L., and 0.062 (±0.020) μg TP L^?1 day^?1 and 0.31 (±0.08) μg N L^?1 day^?1 in Ranger L. 4. In comparison, concurrent rates of total planktonic P regeneration were 1.02 (±0.45) μg L^?1 day^?1 (Mouse L.) and 0.85 (±0.19) μg L^?1 day^?1 (Ranger L.). Fish represented 8% of planktonic P release in Mouse L. and 7% in Ranger L. 5. Fish dry mass had mean elemental body compositions of 39.3% carbon, 10.9% nitrogen, and 4.0% phosphorus (all fish combined), with a mean molar C : N : P ratio of 27 : 6 : 1. This comprised about 55% and 23% of the total epilimnetic particulate P and N respectively. 6. Turnover times of P and N in fish were approximately 103 and 48 days respectively. In comparison, planktonic turnover times of particulate P in Mouse and Ranger Lakes were 4.3 and 4.4 days respectively. Given their high P content and low turnover rates, fish appear to be important P sinks in lakes.     

Resorption of foliar nutrients in a regenerating southern Appalachian forest

Summary Leaves were sampled in a successional, southern Appalachian forest to estimate autumn foliar nutrient dynamics. Resorption of N and P in a successional forest equaled, or exceeded, resorption estimates for a more mature control forest. Foliar nutrient leaching was not sufficient to account for changes in autumn leaf N, P, Ca and Mg concentrations. The resorption process conserves nutrients by reducing nutrient losses from leaching and litter-fall, thereby closing the nutrient cycle in successional forests. We hypothesize that rapid recovery of primary productivity early in forest regeneration is the result of maximum nutrient resorption of limiting nutrients. Implications of these results for successional nutrient cycling theory are discussed.     

Nitrogen versus phosphorus limitation of phytoplankton growth in Ten Mile Creek, Florida, USA

Ten Mile Creek (TMC) is a major tributary of the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), one of the largest and most ecologically diverse estuaries of the east coast of Florida. Recent algal blooms within the IRL have focused attention on the role of different watersheds playing in the supply of growth-limiting nutrients. The goal of this study was to determine the nutrient-limiting status of the TMC outflow, which is influenced by both agricultural input and urban development. Four laboratory experiments were conducted with water samples from TMC, adding different concentrations of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) under controlled conditions. The results showed that turbidity and phytoplankton biomass (in terms of chlorophyll a concentration) in TMC water samples were responsive to N additions. Turbidity and phytoplankton biomass increased with addition of available N, but were not affected by addition of reactive P. The results indicate that available N is the limiting nutrient for the growth of phytoplankton in the TMC. Handling editor: L. Naselli-Flores     

The relative importance of sediment and water column supplies of nutrients to the growth and tissue nutrient content of the green macroalga Enteromorpha intestinalis along an estuarine resource gradient

Large blooms of opportunistic green macroalgae such as Enteromorpha intestinalis are of ecological concern in estuaries worldwide. Macroalgae derive their nutrients from the water column but estuarine sediments may also be an important nutrient source. We hypothesized that the importance of these nutrient sources to E. intestinalis varies along a nutrient-resource gradient within an estuary. We tested this in experimental units constructed with water and sediments collected from 3 sites in Upper Newport Bay estuary, California, US, that varied greatly in water column nutrient concentrations. For each site there were three treatments: sediments + water; sediments + water + Enteromorpha intestinalis (algae); inert sand + water + algae. Water in units was exchanged weekly simulating low turnover characteristic of poorly flushed estuaries. The importance of the water column versus sediments as a source of nutrients to E. intestinalis varied with the magnitude of the different sources. When initial water column levels of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) were low, estuarine sediments increased E. intestinalis growth and tissue nutrient content. In experimental units from sites where initial water column DIN was high, there was no effect of estuarine sediments on E. intestinalis growth or tissue N content. Salinity, however, was low in these units and may have inhibited growth. E. intestinalis growth and tissue P content were highest in units from the site with highest initial sediment nutrient content. Water column DIN was depleted each week of the experiment. Thus, the water column was a primary source of nutrients to the algae when water column nutrient supply was high, and the sediments supplemented nutrient supply to the algae when water column nutrient sources were low. Depletion of water column DIN in sediment + water units indicated that the sediments may have acted as a nutrient sink in the absence of macroalgae. Our data provide direct experimental evidence that macroalgae utilize and ecologically benefit from nutrients stored in estuarine sediments.     

Lake Kinneret phytoplankton: Response to N and P enrichments in experiments and in nature

A series of water samples from Lake Kinneret was supplemented with 100 µM N (as NH₄ or as NO₃ and/or 10 µM orthophosphate-P. The yield of phytoplankton both as chlorophyll and in cell numbers of major species was determined after a two-week incubation. During these experiments, some of the algae present initially never multiplied (e.g. Peridinium and Peridiniopsis spp. Cryptomonas spp., Rhodomonas spp. and Crysochromulina parva); others e.g. Anomoeoneis exilis, Synedra sp., Chlamydomonas sp., Elakatothrix gelatinosa), undetected in the original sample, grew out during the incubation. Chlorophyte species (the majority of commonly observed forms in the lake) responded most readily to added nutrients.The results of these enrichment experiments were related to the long-term record of phytoplankton populations observed in the lake and suggest that through summer and fall, when ambient levels of both P and N are minimal, P was generally, but not always, the most limiting nutrient for algal growth. In the spring, after the decline of the Peridinium bloom, P appeared to be limiting the growth of Chlorophyta. Although most algal species grew equally well on NH₄ or NO₃, some species appeared to respond preferentially either to the former (Coelastrum, Chodatella) or to the latter (Chroococcus, Anomoeoneis) source of N.     

菜地和一般农田土壤主要养分累积的差异

选取不同类型菜地和一般农田 ,测定了 0～ 2 0 0cm土壤剖面的有机质、全氮、硝态氮、铵态氮、速效磷、速效钾等主要养分含量及其分布 .结果表明 ,菜地土壤中养分大量累积 ,其中硝态氮和速效磷累积程度较高 .大棚和露天菜地 0～ 2 0 0cm土层的硝态氮累积总量分别为 15 2 0 .9kg·hm-2 和 135 8.8kg·hm-2 ,比农田高出 5 .2和 4.5倍 ;速效磷分别为 978.1kg·hm-2 和 5 0 3.3kg·hm-2 ,比农田高出 6 .2和 2 .7倍 .而其它养分增加相对较少 .有机质累积总量分别为 2 80 .5Mg·hm-2 和 2 6 9.3Mg·hm-2 ,比一般农田高出 12 .5 %和 8.0 % ;全氮分别为 37.5Mg·hm-2 和 32 .7Mg·hm-2 ,比农田高出 36 .2 %和 18.6 % ;铵态氮分别为 2 11.5kg·hm-2 和 197.8kg·hm-2 ,比农田高出 2 9.6 %和 2 1.2 % ;速效钾分别为 6 5 6 7.8kg·hm-2 和 5 5 2 3 .6kg·hm-2 ,比农田高出 30 .6 %和 9.8% .此外 ,菜地土壤中累积的养分不仅分布在表层 ,在深层土壤也大量存在 ,说明菜地存在严重的养分淋溶现象 .     

Effects of leaf longevity and retranslocation efficiency on the retention time of nutrients in the leaf biomass of different woody species

Summary A study was made of the retention times of N and P in the leaf biomass and their relationship with the retranslocation percentages and the leaf longevities in some woody species in Central Spain. The retention times of both nutrients were strongly related to the nutrient status of each species. These results suggest that a prolonged retention time is a way of increasing nutrient use efficiency in conditions of low nutrient availability. Plants can increase the retention time of nutrients in their leaf biomass by means of an increase in leaf longevity and/or by means of an increase in retranslocation efficiency. However, the effect of the retranslocation efficiency on retention times was almost negligible compared with the effect of leaf longevity. This suggests that an increase in leaf longevity is probably the best adaptation for increasing efficiency in the use of nutrients.     

Effects of fire recurrence in Quercus coccifera L. shrublands of the Valencia Region (Spain): II. plant and soil nutrients

The consequences of fire recurrence (1, 2 and 3 fires in 16 years) on plant and soil C, N, P and K from Quercus coccifera garrigues were analysed in the Valencia Region (E Spain). Plant and forest floor (L horizon) nutrient concentrations either changed weakly or showed no change with fire recurrence. At the soil surface (0-2.5 cm), soil potential mineralisable nitrogen increased and available P decreased after an initial increase, whereas exchangeable K was not affected by successive fires. However, the significance of those observed trends for N and P was site-dependent. Despite the rapid formation of the L soil horizon, fire recurrence did not permit the development of the whole forest floor profile observed in the unburned garrigues. These organic layers contained a great proportion of the total nutrient pool, especially for N. Forest-floor and aboveground plant combustion by fire may produce significant losses of N and P compared with those available in mineral soil, whereas soil exchangeable K is large enough to replace these losses. Belowground nutrient reserves may account for the quick recovery of the Quercus coccifera aboveground biomass although successive fires could deplete these reserves and produce a loss of biomass and productivity in this species.     

Stoichiometric differences in food quality: impacts on genetic diversity and the coexistence of aquatic herbivores in a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Daphnia</Emphasis> hybrid complex

The maintenance of genetic and species diversity in an assemblage of genotypes (clones) in the Daphnia pulex species complex (Cladocera: Anomopoda) in response to variation in the carbon:phosphorus ratio (quantity and quality) of the green alga, Scenedesmus acutus, was examined in a 90-day microcosm competition experiment. Results indicated that mixed assemblages of seven distinct genotypes (representing clonal lineages of D. pulex, D. pulicaria and interspecific hybrids) showed rapid loss of genetic diversity in all treatments (2 × 2 factorial design, high vs. low quantity, and high vs. low quality). However, the erosion of diversity (measured as the effective number of clones) was slowest under the poorest food conditions (i.e., low quantity, low quality) and by the conclusion of the experiment (90 days) had resulted in the (low, low) treatment having significantly greater genetic diversity than the other three treatments. In addition, significant genotype (clone) × (food) environment interactions were observed, with a different predominant species/clone found under low food quality versus high food quality (no significant differences were detected for the two food quantities). A clone of D. pulex displaced the other clones under low food quality conditions, while a clone of D. pulicaria displaced the other clones in the high food quality treatments. Subsequent life-history experiments were not sufficient to predict the outcome of competitive interactions among members of this clonal assemblage. Our results suggest that genetic diversity among herbivore species such as Daphnia may be impacted not only by differences in food quantity but also by those in food quality and could be important in the overall maintenance of genetic diversity in natural populations. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

磷氮在水田湿地中的迁移转化及径流流失过程

水稻田湿地系统是我国东南部高产农业区的主要土地利用类型,是我国特有的景观结构．在巢湖六叉河小流域进行的野外实验结果表明,这一湿地系统的水塘、水沟和水稻田都能有效地截留来自村庄、森林地和旱地的磷氮非点源污染物．实验同时研究了磷氮物质从水稻田中的径流流失方式和机理,结果发现磷氮物质从水稻田中的径流流失量与水稻田持水量、施肥量、降雨量、水稻生长过程和水稻田排水堰高度等因素有关,并提出了一个模型计算磷氮径流流失量,表明在施肥情况下的磷氮流失量分别高达０．６９和１１．２ｋｇ·ｈｍ－２,是最大的潜在非点源污染．     

The role of microorganisms in mediating and facilitating the uptake of plant nutrients from soil

Summary No root systems in nature are without a microbial population. These may be freeliving or symbiotic.The incidence and nutrition of the freeliving microorganisms is discussed. Shortage of substrate makes it unlikely that the N-fixers in the population can fix useful amounts of N. There is a possibility that P supply is improved, but an analysis of possible processes shows them to be rather unlikely, and evidence for them to be poor. Manganese and iron uptake can be altered by microbial activity. Growth of plants can be affected by non-nutritional bacterial effects.The ecology of Rhizobium in the soil is briefly discussed, and the varying needs of different identified strains is stressed.Mycorrhizal infection of plants leads to large growth increases in appropriate conditions. This is almost always linked to increased P uptake, but zinc and copper nutrition can also be improved. The processes involved are briefly discussed. Rapid and extensive infection is important; it is very sensitive to temperature. New modelling methods are now becoming available to measure the behaviour of the fungal infections. The microorganisms require C compounds from the plant, and new measurements of this cost are discussed. The possibility of practical use of mycorrhizal fungi seem to be improving.Keynote address     

Response of phytoplankton and bacteria to nutrients and zooplankton: a mesocosm experiment

Although both nutrient inputs and zooplankton grazing are importantto phytoplankton and bacteria in lakes, controversy surroundsthe relative importance of grazing pressure for these two groupsof organisms. For phytoplankton, the controversy revolves aroundwhether zooplankton grazers, especially large cladocerans likeDaphnia, can effectively reduce phytoplankton populations regardlessof nutrient conditions. For bacteria, little is known aboutthe balance between possible direct and indirect effects ofboth nutrients and zooplankton grazing. However, there is evidencethat bacteria may affect phytoplankton responses to nutrientsor zooplankton grazing through direct or apparent competition.We performed a mesocosm experiment to evaluate the relativeimportance of the effects of nutrients and zooplankton grazingfor phytoplankton and bacteria, and to determine whether bacteriamediate phytoplankton responses to these factors. The factorialdesign crossed two zooplankton treatments (unsieved and sieved)with four nutrient treatments (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 µgphosphorus (P) l^–1 day^–1 together with nitrogen(N) at a N:P ratio of 20:1 by weight). Weekly sieving with 300µm mesh reduced the average size of crustacean zooplanktonin the mesocosms, decreased the numbers and biomass of Daphnia,and increased the biomass of adult copepods. Nutrient enrichmentcaused significant increases in phytoplankton chlorophyll a(4–5x), bacterial abundance and production (1.3x and 1.6x,respectively), Daphnia (3x) and total zooplankton biomass (2x).Although both total phytoplankton chlorophyll a and chlorophylla in the <35 µm size fraction were significantly lowerin unsieved mesocosms than in sieved mesocosms, sieving hadno significant effect on bacterial abundance or production.There was no statistical interaction between nutrient and zooplanktontreatments for total phytoplankton biomass or bacterial abundance,although there were marginally significant interactions forphytoplankton biomass <35 µm and bacterial production.Our results do not support the hypothesis that large cladoceransbecome less effective grazers with enrichment; rather, the differencebetween phytoplankton biomass in sieved versus unsieved zooplanktontreatments increased across the gradient of nutrient additions.Furthermore, there was no evidence that bacteria buffered phytoplanktonresponses to enrichment by either sequestering P or affectingthe growth of zooplankton.     

Dominance of phosphorus over nitrogen as the limiter to phytoplankton growth rate

Laboratory experiments with natural phytoplankton assemblages from three lakes (two mesotrophic and one oligotrophic) showed that added PO₄ predictably affected growth rate (μ, determined as P : B) while NO₃ had little effect even when the N P ratio approached one. The response to PO₄ followed the typical Monod-type function. The lack of effect of NO₃ on μ at such low N : P ratios is in striking contrast to the added effect of NO₃ Plus PO₄ on maximum biomass produced versus only PO₄ alone. Contribution No. 193 to the IBP-Coniferous Forest Biome. The work was supported in part by National Science Foundation Grant No. GB-20963 (IBP-Coniferous Forest Biome), and in part by Environmental Protection Agency Training Grant T900313-W P293-03,04. Contribution No. 193 to the IBP-Coniferous Forest Biome. The work was supported in part by National Science Foundation Grant No. GB-20963 (IBP-Coniferous Forest Biome), and in part by Environmental Protection Agency Training Grant T900313-W P293-03,04.     

Modeling the bacterial contribution to planktonic community respiration in the regulation of solar energy and nutrient availability

In planktonic ecosystems, algae and bacteria exhibit complex interrelationships, as algae provide an important organic matter source for microbial growth while microbial metabolism recycles limiting nutrients for algae in a loose commensalism. However, algae and bacteria can also compete for available nutrients if supplies of organic matter are sufficient to satisfy bacterial demand. We developed a stoichiometrically explicit model of bacteria–algae interactions that incorporated realistic assumptions about algal light and nutrient utilization, algal exudation of organic matter, and bacterial processing of organic matter and nutrients. The model makes specific predictions about how the relative balance of algae and bacteria should change in response to varied nutrient and light availability seen in lakes and oceans. The model successfully reproduces published empirical data and indicates that, under moderate nutrient supply, the bacterial percentage of total respiration should be maximal at intermediate light intensity.     

Site fertility and leaf nutrients of sympatric evergreen and deciduous species of Quercus in central coastal California

Leaf and soil nutrient levels interact with and may each influence the other. We hypothesize that to the extent soil fertility influences the nutritional state of trees, soil fertility should correlate with summer leaf nutrient levels, whereas to the extent that trees influence soil nutrient levels, the quality of leaf litterfall should correlate with soil fertility. We examined these correlations for five sympatric oak species (genus Quercus) in central coastal California. Soil fertility, including both nitrogen and especially phosphorus, correlated significantly with summer leaf nutrient levels. In contrast, phosphorus, but not nitrogen, in the leaf litterfall correlated positively with soil nutrients. These results suggest that soil nitrogen and phosphorus influence tree nutrient levels and that leaf phosphorus, but not leaf nitrogen, influence soil fertility under the trees. Feedback between the soil and the tree for phosphorus, but not nitrogen, is apparently significant and caused by species-specific differences in leaf quality and not by litterfall quality differences within a species. We also compared functional differences between the evergreen and deciduous oak species at our study site. There were no differences in soil nitrogen and only small differences for soil phosphorus between the phenological types. Differences in leaf nutrient concentration were much more pronounced, with the evergreen species having substantially lower levels of both nitrogen and phosphorus. Evergreen species conserved more phosphorus, but not more nitrogen, than the deciduous species, but there was no consistent relationship between retranslocation and either soil nitrogen or phosphorus. These results do not support the hypothesis that evergreenness is an adaptation to low soil fertility in this system.     

Copper nutrition of wheat in relation to nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization

Summary In a pot culture study, copper addition to soil increased the crop yield only in presence of nitrogen. The latter increased the utilization of both native as well as applied copper but more that of applied. It also minimised the adverse effect of applied phosphorus on copper utilization. Phosphorus at the rate 45 ppm had the tendency of decreasing copper uptake by wheat if applied without nitrogen or with its low level.     

Effects of low nitrogen-phosphorus ratios in the phytoplankton community in Laguna de Bay, a shallow eutrophic lake in the Philippines

The effects of low nitrogen-phosphorus ratios on microalgae from a large eutrophic freshwater lake in the Philippines were investigated. Natural microalgal populations from Laguna de Bay, the largest lake in the Philippines, were cultured using three different nitrogen-phosphorus weight ratios (2N:1P; 6N:1P and 12N:1P) at two phosphorus concentrations (0.25 and 0.5 mg l^–1) in each case. The growth and genera composition of the cultures under the different treatments were followed for a 12-week period. Community level responses were assessed based on species richness (s), Shannon-Wiener Index (H), Simpson Index () and Evenness (J). Among the different microalgal groups, only the chlorophytes showed a significantly higher density in response to the 12N:1P treatment at the higher P concentration, indicating that the nutrient ratio had a significant interaction with the nutrient levels used in the experiments. The genera found in the different treatments were generally similar; however, the degree of dominance of some varied with treatment during the experiment. The succession of dominant genera also differed among the N:P treatments. The diatoms like Fragilaria, Aulacoseira (= Melosira) and Nitzschia dominated the lowest N:P. On the other hand, chlorophytes (Kirchneriella and Scenedesmus) dominated the highest N:P treatment, particularly from the second to the seventh week of the experiments with the diatoms becoming co-dominant only towards the eighth week until the end of the experimental. The 6N:1P treatment showed a mixed dominance between the diatoms and the chlorophyte genera. The various indices of diversity indicate significantly lower diversity only in the 12N:1P at 0.5 mg l^–1 P and not in 12N:1P at 0.25 mg l^–1 P.     

Biomass accumulations and nutrient uptake of plants cultivated on artificial floating beds in China's rural area

Focused on water pollution in China's rural area, taking Oenanthe javanica (Oj), Gypsophila sp. (Gy), Rohdea japonica (Rj), Dracaena sanderiana (Ds), Gardenia jasminoides Var. grandiflora (Gg), Gardenia jasminoides Var. prostrata (Gp), and Salix babylonica (Sb) as research objects, this paper investigated the growth characteristics and nutrient uptake of these seven species cultivated on artificial floating beds. The results indicated that after about 130 days’ acclimation, these seven species had different growth characteristics. The survival rates of each species were close to 100%. Dry matter biomass ranged from 33.7 to 307.1 g m⁻² in the following order: Sb > Gy > Oj > Ds > Gg > Gp > Rj. There were significant linear relationships between above-water and under-water biomass (R > 0.875); thus, the above-water biomass could best reflect the under-water biomass. N and P concentrations and distribution in the root, stem and leaf were quite different both within and between the species. N and P concentrations in plant body ranged from 15.31 to 23.15 g kg⁻¹ in the relationship Oj > Ds > Gy > Gp > Sb > Rj > Gg, and from 1.07 to 1.89 g kg⁻¹ in the relationship Rj > Gp > Oj > Gg > Gy > Sb > Ds, respectively. N and P accumulations ranged from 0.51 to 4.48 g m⁻² and from 0.062 to 0.331 g m⁻², respectively, in which plant nutrient uptake ability could be placed as follows: Sb > Gy > Oj > Ds > Gp/Gg > Rj. The outcomes also indicated that there were positive and significant linear relationships between N and P accumulations and plant biomass (R > 0.964), respectively; thus, plant harvest could be a means of taking N and P out of wastewater. Seven species, especially Sb, Gy, and Oj, had an ideal effect on TN and TP removal and could be widely utilized for the treatment of wastewater in rural areas.