Organic enrichment of sediments reduces arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in oligotrophic lake plants

1. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) commonly colonise isoetid species inhabiting oxygenated sediments in oligotrophic lakes but are usually absent in other submerged plants. We hypothesised that organic enrichment of oligotrophic lake sediments reduces AMF colonisation and hyphal growth because of sediment O₂ depletion and low carbon supply from stressed host plants. 2. We added organic matter to sediments inhabited by isoetids and measured pore‐water chemistry (dissolved O₂, inorganic carbon, Fe²⁺ and ), colonisation intensity of roots and hyphal density after 135 days of exposure. 3. Addition of organic matter reduced AMF colonisation of roots of both Lobelia dortmanna and Littorella uniflora, and high additions stressed the plants. Even small additions of organic matter almost stopped AMF colonisation of initially un‐colonised L. uniflora, though without reducing plant growth. Mean hyphal density in sediments was high (6 and 15 m cm^?3) and comparable with that in terrestrial soils (2–40 m cm^?3). Hyphal density was low in the upper 1 cm of isoetid sediments, high in the main root zone between 1 and 8 cm and positively related to root density. Hyphal surface area exceeded root surface area by 1.7–3.2 times. 4. We conclude that AMF efficiently colonise isoetids in oligotrophic sediments and form extensive hyphal networks. Small additions of organic matter to sediments induce sediment anoxia and reduce AMF colonisation of roots but cause no apparent plant stress. High organic addition induces night‐time anoxia in both the sediment and the plant tissue. Tissue anoxia reduces root growth and AMF colonisation, probably because of restricted translocation of nutrient ions and organic solutes between roots and leaves. Isoetids should rely on AMF for P uptake on nutrient‐poor mineral sediments but are capable of growing without AMF on organic sediments.     

Influence of quantity and lability of sediment organic matter on the biomass of two isoetids,Littorella uniflora and Echinodorus repens

1. Despite real improvement in the water quality of many previously eutrophic lakes, the recovery of submerged vegetation has been poor. This lack of recovery is possibly caused by the accumulation of organic matter on the top layer of the sediment, which is produced under eutrophic conditions. Hence, our objective was to study the combined effects of quantity and lability of sediment organic matter on the biomass of Echinodorus repens and Littorella uniflora and on the force required to uproot plants of L. uniflora. 2. Lake sediments, rich in organic matter, were collected from four lakes, two with healthy populations of isoetids and two from which isoetids had disappeared. The four lake sediments were mixed with sand to prepare a range of experimental sediments that differed in quantity and lability of sediment organic matter. Two isoetid species, E. repens and L. uniflora, were grown in these sediments for 8 weeks. Sediment quality parameters, including elemental composition, nutrient availability and mineralisation rates, were determined on the raw sources of sediment from the lakes. Porewater and surface water were analysed for the chemical composition in all mixtures. At the end of the experiment, plants were harvested and their biomass, tissue nutrient concentration and (for L. uniflora) uprooting force were measured. 3. For both species, all plants survived and showed no signs of stress on all types of sediment. The biomass of E. repens increased as the fraction of organic matter was increased (from 6 to 39% of organic content, depending upon sediment type). However, in some of the sediment types, a higher fraction of organic matter led to a decline in biomass. The biomass of L. uniflora was less responsive to organic content and was decreased significantly only when the least labile sediment source was used to create the gradient of organic matter. The increase in shoot biomass for both species was closely related to higher CO₂ concentrations in the porewater of the sediment. The force required to uproot L. uniflora plants over a range of sediment organic matter fitted a Gaussian model; it reached a maximum at around 15% organic matter and declined significantly above that. 4. Increasing organic matter content of the sediment increased the biomass of isoetid plants, as the positive effects of higher CO₂ production outweighed the negative effects of low oxygen concentration in more (labile) organic sediments. However, sediment organic matter can adversely affect isoetid survival by promoting the uprooting of plants.     

Water‐level fluctuations affect sediment properties,carbon flux and growth of the isoetid Littorella uniflora in oligotrophic lakes

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Nutrient concentrations in a Littorella uniflora community at higher CO2 concentrations and reduced light intensities

1. Oligotrophic softwater lakes represent a special type of aquatic ecosystem with unique plant communities where generalisations from other aquatic plant communities to rising CO₂ in the water column may not apply. 2. In the present study, we set up large in situ mesocosms and supporting laboratory experiments with isoetid vegetation (Littorella uniflora) where water column CO₂ and light could be manipulated in order to test whether (i) light and CO₂ availability affect nutrient concentrations in isoetid vegetation, and (ii) if changes in light and CO₂ climate affect fluxes of inorganic nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from sediment to water column, which potentially could result in increased growth of epiphytic algae. 3. The results showed that the standing stocks of phosphorus and nitrogen in the L. uniflora vegetation were significantly influenced by CO₂ concentration and light intensity. Both standing stocks of P and N were significantly higher in the mesocosm treatments with high CO₂ concentration than in those at low CO₂ concentration. Similarly, standing stocks of P and N enhanced with increasing light intensity. 4. Measurements of nutrient fluxes both in the field and the laboratory did not show any significant release of nutrients to the water column from plants or sediments at any of the light or CO₂ treatments. However, mats of epiphytic algae developed from the beginning of June to late September and caused a light reduction for the isoetid vegetation. 5. Increasing CO₂ concentrations in the water column may over time potentially result in a change in soft water plant communities.     

Influence of sediment organic enrichment and water alkalinity on growth of aquatic isoetid and elodeid plants

1. Lake eutrophication has increased phytoplankton blooms and sediment organic matter. Among higher plants, small, oligotrophic rosette species (isoetids) have disappeared, while a few tall, eutrophic species (elodeids) may have persisted. Despite recent reduction of nutrient loading in restored lakes, the vegetation has rarely regained its former composition and coverage. Patterns of recovery may depend on local alkalinity because HCO₃^? stimulates photosynthesis of elodeids and not of isoetids. In laboratory growth experiments with two isoetids (Lobelia dortmanna and Littorella uniflora) and two elodeids (Potamogeton crispus and P. perfoliatus), we test whether organic enrichment of lake sediments has a long‐lasting influence by: (i) reducing plant growth because of oxygen stress on plant roots and (ii) inhibiting growth more for isoetids than elodeids. We also test whether (iii) increasing alkalinity (from 0.17 to 3.20 meq. L^?1) enhances growth and reduces inhibition of organic sediment enrichment for elodeids but not for isoetids. 2. In low organic sediments, higher oxygen release from roots of isoetids than elodeids generated oxic conditions to greater sediment depth for Lobelia (4.3 cm) and Littorella (3.0 cm) than for Potamogeton species (1.6–2.2 cm). Sediment oxygen penetration depth fell rapidly to 0.4–1.0 cm for all four species at even modest organic enrichment and oxygen consumption in the sediments. Roots became shorter and isoetid roots became thicker to better supply oxygen to apical meristems. 3. Growth of elodeids was strongly inhibited across all levels of organic enrichment of sediments being eight‐fold lower at the highest enrichment compared to the unenriched control. Leaf biomass of isoetids increased three‐fold by moderate organic enrichment presumably because of greater CO₂ supply from sediments being their main CO₂ source. At higher organic enrichment, isoetid biomass was reduced, leaf chlorophyll declined up to 10‐fold, root length declined from 7 to <2 cm and mortality rose (up to 50%) signalling high plant stress. 4. Lobelia was not affected by HCO₃^? addition in accordance with its use of sediment CO₂. Biomass of elodeids increased severalfold by rising alkalinity from 0.17 to 3.20 meq. L^?1 in accordance with their use of HCO₃^? for photosynthesis, while the negative impact of organically enriched sediments remained. 5. Overall, root development of all four species was so strongly restricted in sediments enriched with labile organic matter that plants if growing in situ may lose root anchorage. Other experiments demonstrate that this risk is enhanced by greater water content and reduced consolidation in organically rich sediments. Therefore, formation of more muddy and oxygen‐demanding sediments during eutrophication will impede plant recovery in restored lakes while high local alkalinity will help elodeid recovery.     

Carbon for nutrient exchange between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and wheat varies according to cultivar and changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) form symbioses with most crops, potentially improving their nutrient assimilation and growth. The effects of cultivar and atmospheric CO₂ concentration ([CO₂]) on wheat–AMF carbon‐for‐nutrient exchange remain critical knowledge gaps in the exploitation of AMF for future sustainable agricultural practices within the context of global climate change. We used stable and radioisotope tracers (¹⁵N, ³³P, ¹⁴C) to quantify AMF‐mediated nutrient uptake and fungal acquisition of plant carbon in three wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars. We grew plants under current ambient (440 ppm) and projected future atmospheric CO₂ concentrations (800 ppm). We found significant ¹⁵N transfer from fungus to plant in all cultivars, and cultivar‐specific differences in total N content. There was a trend for reduced N uptake under elevated atmospheric [CO₂]. Similarly, ³³P uptake via AMF was affected by cultivar and atmospheric [CO₂]. Total P uptake varied significantly among wheat cultivars and was greater at the future than current atmospheric [CO₂]. We found limited evidence of cultivar or atmospheric [CO₂] effects on plant‐fixed carbon transfer to the mycorrhizal fungi. Our results suggest that AMF will continue to provide a route for nutrient uptake by wheat in the future, despite predicted rises in atmospheric [CO₂]. Consideration should therefore be paid to cultivar‐specific AMF receptivity and function in the development of climate smart germplasm for the future.     

Rapid oxygen exchange across the leaves of Littorella uniflora provides tolerance to sediment anoxia

1. Littorella uniflora and Lobelia dortmanna are prominent small rosette species in nutrient‐poor, soft‐water lakes because of efficient root exchange of CO₂ and O₂. We hypothesise that higher gas exchange across the leaves of L. uniflora than of L. dortmanna ensures O₂ uptake from water and underlies its greater tolerance to sediment anoxia following organic enrichment. 2. We studied plant response to varying sediment O₂ demand and biogeochemistry by measuring photosynthesis, gas exchange across leaves and O₂ dynamics in plants during long‐term laboratory and field studies. Frequent non‐destructive sampling of sediment pore water was used to track changes in sediment biogeochemistry. 3. Addition of organic matter triggered O₂ depletion and accumulation of , Fe²⁺ and CO₂ in sediments. Gas exchange across leaf surfaces was 13–16 times higher for L. uniflora than for L. dortmanna. Oxygen in the leaf lacunae of L. uniflora remained above 10 kPa late at night on anoxic sediments despite organic enrichment. Leaf content of N and P of L. uniflora remained sufficient to keep up photosynthesis despite prolonged sediment anoxia, whereas nutrient content was too low for long‐term survival of L. dortmanna. 4. High gas exchange across L. uniflora leaves improves its performance and survival on anoxic sediments compared with L. dortmanna. Lobelia dortmanna uses the same gas‐tight leaves in air and water, which makes it highly susceptible to sediment anoxia but more cost‐effective in ultra‐oligotrophic environments because of slow leaf turnover.     

Molecular analysis of AMF diversity in aquatic macrophytes: A comparison of oligotrophic and utra-oligotrophic lakes

This study aimed to assess AMF diversity in various plant species in lakes with low and relatively high P concentrations to elucidate possible correlations with environmental factors in order for better understanding the functioning of mycorrhizal fungi in submerged plants. A considerable diversity of AMF communities was observed in the lakes with low dissolved P concentrations, especially in the roots of Littorella uniflora. Glomus group A, Archaeospora and Acaulospora were the most frequent and diverse AMF lineages with eight, seven and four phylotypes at Littorella uniflora in at least six lakes with low dissolved P concentrations. In theses lakes, AMF were for the first time observed in the roots of J. bulbosus, a member of a family previously thought to be non-mycorrhizal. In the lakes with relatively high dissolved P concentrations, the frequency decreased from Acaulospora, found at three locations, to Archaeospora at two locations and Glomus group A and Paraglomus at one location.All chemical parameters of the surface water layer, except pH, revealed significant (p ≤ 0.01) differences between the lakes with low and relatively high dissolved P concentrations. Mean Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, K⁺, NH₄⁺, CO₂, o-PO₄³⁻ and HCO₃⁻ were 3, 13.5, 15.7, 19.5, 31 and 42.6 times higher, respectively, in the lakes with relatively high dissolved P concentrations compared to the lakes with low dissolved P concentrations. AMF occurred more abundantly with low phosphate and high redox values in the lakes than with high phosphate and low redox values. The pH-value, the total-calcium and total-phosphorus concentrations were strongly correlated with the occurrence of Glomus phylotypes 4 and Archaeospora phylotypes 5 and 8, and a bit less with Acaulospora phylotype 4 and Archaeospora phylotype 3. In such lakes the presence of a diverse AMF community still enables the uptake of sufficient P for isoetid plant species despite the prevailing ‘ultra-oligotrophic’ conditions. As a consequence, macrophyte plant communities in lakes with relatively high dissolved P concentrations are less dependent on AMF colonization for their development.     

Adult plants facilitate their conspecific seedlings by enhancing arbuscular mycorrhizae in a saline soil

Aims

We tested the hypothesis that adult plants can help their conspecific (i.e. an organism belonging to the same species as another organism) seedlings develop symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), thereby increasing seedling nutrient uptake and growth in a saline soil.

Methods

Using the halophytic shrub Tamarix chinensis as a model plant, we conducted two field experiments and a greenhouse experiment. Field experiment 1 assessed the importance of below-ground effects of adult neighbor. Field experiment 2 determined the involvement of AMF in neighbor effects by applying fungicide benomyl to obtain AMF suppressed treatment. The greenhouse experiment tested whether neighbor effects were influenced by AMF hyphal connection between adults and seedlings by using 25 μm and 0.45 μm nylon mesh to allow and prevent the AMF hyphae pass through respectively.

Results

Adult neighbor increased shoot biomass and nutrient of target seedlings and the below-ground effects mediated by AMF was facilitative under high soil salinity level. Field experiment 1 showed that adult neighbors reduced soil salinity, increased soil organic matter, and provided AMF spores for target seedlings via whole plant effects or below-ground effects alone. Field experiment 2 showed that shoot biomass and AMF colonization of target seedlings were greater with an adult neighbor when AMF were not suppressed treatment than in AMF were suppressed or there were no neighbors. In the greenhouse experiment, adult neighbors with AMF hyphal connection increased shoot biomass, AMF colonization, and ¹⁵N content of target seedlings under the high salinity level.

Conclusion

The results support our hypothesis that adult plants can promote the growth and nutrient uptake of their conspecific seedlings in a saline soil by helping them to develop AMF symbiosis. These findings highlight the roles of adult neighbor plants on seedlings regeneration through rhizospheric symbiosis in stressful environments.

     

Groundwater seepage stimulates the growth of aquatic macrophytes

1. The impact of groundwater seepage on the growth of submerged macrophytes was investigated in experiments on the isoetid Littorella uniflora and the elodeid Myriophyllum alterniflorum both in the laboratory and in the field. Isoetids rely mostly on sediment‐derived CO₂ and nutrients via root uptake, whereas elodeids acquire their inorganic carbon and nutrients from the water column. We thus hypothesised that L. uniflora would respond positively to seeping ground water as it should improve both CO₂ and nutrient supply. 2. Laboratory experiments were conducted by percolating vegetated cores containing natural sediment or technical sand with artificial ground water of high CO₂ concentrations and with either high or low levels of nutrients. Field experiments were conducted in the oligotrophic Lake Hampen, Denmark, with custom‐built seepage‐growth chambers that permitted a near‐natural flow‐through of seeping ground water. Chambers with a solid bottom, and thus no flow‐through of seeping ground water, served as controls in both laboratory and field experiments. In the field, seepage chambers were installed at a site with relatively high seepage fluxes (ground water from forest catchment), at a site with much lower seepage fluxes but with higher nutrient concentrations (ground water from agricultural catchment) and at a reference site with no net discharge or recharge of ground water. 3. Positive growth responses were observed in the field at transects with high groundwater discharge compared to the control chambers with no seepage. No growth response was observed at the reference transect with low or alternating direction of groundwater seepage. The growth rates of L. uniflora in the field were significantly higher in seepage treatments compared to control treatments, and final plant mass was up to 70% higher than that for plants where seepage was excluded. In areas with high groundwater discharge, a strong positive correlation was found between groundwater seepage fluxes, growth rates, and final plant mass for L. uniflora, while there was no such relationship at the reference transect. The growth of M. alterniflorum was also significantly affected by groundwater seepage, but to a lesser degree than L. uniflora. Laboratory experiments generally showed the same trend for both L. uniflora and M. alterniflorum, and the positive influence of seeping ground water was apparently related to increased inorganic carbon supply and, to a lesser degree, improved nutrient availability. 4. Groundwater discharge results in enhanced growth of isoetids and to some extent elodeids inhabiting a groundwater‐fed softwater lake. We propose that the shallow dense vegetation present where most of the discharge takes place acts as a biological filter that retains nutrients that otherwise would end up in the water column and could result in increased algal growth.     

High resistance of oligotrophic isoetid plants to oxic and anoxic dark exposure

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Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Alter Fractal Dimension Characteristics of Robinia pseudoacacia L. Seedlings Through Regulating Plant Growth,Leaf Water Status,Photosynthesis, and Nutrient Concentration Under Drought Stress

The influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), Funneliformis mosseae and Rhizophagus intraradices, on plant growth, leaf water status, chlorophyll concentration, photosynthesis, nutrient concentration, and fractal dimension (FD) characteristics of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) seedlings was studied in pot culture under well-watered, moderate drought stress, and severe drought stress treatments. Mycorrhizal seedlings had higher dry biomass, leaf relative water content (RWC), and water use efficiency (WUE) compared with non-mycorrhizal seedlings. Under all treatments, AMF colonization notably enhanced net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate, but decreased intercellular CO₂ concentration. Leaf chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll concentrations were higher in AM seedlings than those in non-AM seedlings although there was no significant difference between AMF species. AMF colonization improved leaf C, N, and P concentrations, but decreased C:N, C:P, and N:P ratios. Mycorrhizal seedlings had a larger FD value than non-mycorrhizal seedlings. The FD value was positively and significantly correlated to the plant growth parameters, photosynthesis, RWC, WUE, and nutrient concentration but negatively correlated to leaf/stem ratio, C:N and C:P ratios, and intercellular CO₂ concentration. We conclude that AMF lead to an improvement of growth performance of black locust seedlings under all growth conditions, including drought stress via improving leaf water status, chlorophyll concentration, photosynthesis, and nutrient uptake. Moreover, FD technology proved to be a powerful non-destructive method to characterize the effect of AMF on the physiology of host plants during drought stress.     

Massive uprooting of Littorella uniflora (L.) Asch. during a storm event and its relation to sediment and plant characteristics

During spring storms massive uprooting of Littorella uniflora occurred in a shallow Dutch softwater lake. The aim of this study was to test whether changes in plant morphology and sediment characteristics could explain the observed phenomenon. Uprooting was expected to occur in plants having a high shoot biomass and low root to shoot ratio (R:S), growing on sediments with a high organic matter content. Normally, uprooting of the relative buoyant L. uniflora is prevented by an extensive root system, expressed as a high R:S. This was studied by sampling floating and still rooted L. uniflora plants, as well as sediment and sediment pore water, along a gradient of increasing sediment organic matter content. Increasing organic matter content was related to increasing L. uniflora shoot biomass and consequently decreasing R:S. Furthermore, the results indicated that uprooting indeed occurred in plants growing on very organic sediments and was related to a low R:S. The increased shoot biomass on more organic sediments could be related to increased sediment pore water total inorganic carbon (TIC; mainly CO₂) availability. Additionally, increased phosphorus availability could also have played a role. The disappearance of L. uniflora might lead to higher nutrient availability in the sediments. It is suggested that this could eventually promote the expansion of faster‐growing macrophytes.     

丛枝菌根真菌和施加不同形态氮肥对杉木幼苗养分吸收的影响

为了解丛枝菌根真菌(AMF)和不同形态氮对杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)生长和养分吸收的影响,以1 a生杉木幼苗接种摩西球囊霉(Glomus mosseae)和添加不同形态氮(NH₄⁺-N和NO₃^–-N),对其养分元素和生长状况的变化进行研究。结果表明,AMF显著提高了杉木的苗高和生物量,促进了杉木对N、P、K、Ca、Mg、Fe和Na的吸收,AMF对微量元素Fe、Na的促进作用总体上要强于大量元素K、Ca。与NO₃^–-N相比,AMF显著提高了NH₄⁺-N处理杉木的生物量、总C和N、Ca、Mg、Mn含量,而且这种显著性在叶中普遍高于根和茎。接种AMF可以促进杉木幼苗的生长和对养分元素的吸收,且添加NH₄⁺-N处理的促进作用要强于NO₃^–-N。     

Impact of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and atmospheric CO2 concentration on the biomass production and partitioning in the forage legume alfalfa

The influence of mycorrhizal symbiosis, atmospheric CO₂ concentration and the interaction between both factors on biomass production and partitioning were assessed in nodulated alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) associated or not with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and grown in greenhouse at either ambient (392 μmol?mol^?1) or elevated (700 μmol?mol^?1) CO₂ air concentrations. Measurements were performed at three stages of the vegetative period of plants. Shoot and root biomass achieved by plants at the end of their vegetative period were highly correlated to the photosynthetic rates reached at earlier stages, and there was a significant relationship between CO₂ exchange rates and total nodule biomass per plant. In non-mycorrhizal alfalfa, the production of leaves, stems and nodules biomass significantly increased when plants had been exposed to elevated CO₂ concentration in the atmosphere for 4 weeks. Regardless CO₂ concentration at which alfalfa were cultivated, mycorrhizal symbiosis improved photosynthetic rates and growth of alfalfa at early stages of the vegetative period and then photosynthesis decreased, which suggests that AMF shortened the vegetative period of the host plants. At final stages of the vegetative period, AMF enhanced both area and biomass of leaves as well as the leaves to stems ratio when alfalfa plants were cultivated at ambient CO₂. The interaction of AMF with elevated CO₂ improved root biomass and slightly increased the leaves to stems ratio at the end of the vegetative growth. Therefore, AMF may favor both the forage quality of alfalfa when grown at ambient CO₂ and its perennity for next cutting regrowth cycle when grown under elevated CO₂. Nevertheless, this hypothesis needs to be checked under natural conditions in field.     

P uptake by arbuscular mycorrhizal hyphae: effect of soil temperature and atmospheric CO2 enrichment

Mycorrhizas are ubiquitous symbioses that may have an important role in the movement of C from air to soil. Studies on the effects of climate change factors on mycorrhizas have been concentrated on the effects of atmospheric [CO₂] whereas temperature effects have been neglected. Based on previous results showing no effect of varying atmospheric [CO₂] on the development and P uptake of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonizing plants growing in controlled conditions, we hypothesized that soil temperature would have a higher impact on AMF development and nutrient uptake than the effects of [CO₂] on the host plant. Pea plants were grown in association with either a single isolate of Glomus caledonium or AMF from field soil in factorial combination with the corresponding current (10 °C) or elevated (15 °C) soil temperatures at current (350 p.p.m) or elevated (700 p.p.m) atmospheric [CO₂]. ³³P uptake by extraradical AMF hyphae was measured independently from root P uptake in a root exclusion compartment. Intraradical colonization developed well at both soil temperatures and almost duplicated from 10 to 15 °C. Extraradical mycelium developed only at 15 °C in the root exclusion compartment and hyphal P uptake could therefore be studied at 15 °C only. Hyphal P uptake differed markedly between inoculum types, but was not altered by growing the host plants at two atmospheric [CO₂] levels. No significant [CO₂] × soil temperature interactions were observed. The results suggested that, in the system tested, AMF development and function is likely more influenced by the temperature component of climate change than by its [CO₂] component. We suggest that much more attention should be paid to temperature effects in future studies.     

Interferences between root plaque formation and phosphorus availability for isoetids in sediments of oligotrophic lakes

Freshwater isoetids exchanges a high proportion of the photosynthetically produced oxygen over the extensive root system and, therefore, they influence the redox potential (E_h) and phosphorus (P) availability in their sediments. Because isoetids rely on the sediment for P uptake, P may be a key element in controlling the distribution of isoetids. We investigated biomass and P availability to isoetids (Littorella uniflora and Isoetes lacustris) in a transect of five stations across the littoral zone in oligotrophic Lake Kalgaard, Denmark. At the two shallowest stations (0.6 and 1.0 m depth) the redox potential in the low organic rhizosphere sediment was high (>300 mV) and low concentrations of reduced exchangeable iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) compounds in the sediment and of precipitated Fe and Mn oxides on isoetid roots (plaques) were found. The concentration of sediment P pools was low and so was isoetid P content and isoetid biomass. At intermediate water depth (1.8 m) sediment E_h was high (300 mV) and isoetids showed low root plaque concentrations. However, higher concentration of P pools in the rhizosphere was found at 1.8 m and isoetids showed the highest P content and biomass. At deeper stations (2.8 and 4.6 m depth) E_h was low (<100 mV) in the high organic rhizosphere and high concentrations of plaques were found. The P content in the sediment was high, however, isoetids showed low biomass and low P content. We suggest that the low P content in isoetids growing on P rich organic sediments is partly due to inhibition of the P uptake because of adsorption of P to the oxidized Fe and Mn plaques. However, ratios between oxidized Fe and Fe-bound P, 150 for plaques and 40 for sediment, suggest the isoetids are able to access some of the P that is bound in the plaques. The pools of dissolved P in the porewater were 25–1100 times lower than the estimated annual P requirement for net growth of isoetids while solid fraction P pools were 20–260 times higher than the estimated annual P requirement. Clearly, the oxygen release from isoetid roots decreases the availability of P either by keeping the entire rhizosphere oxidized (low organic sediments) or by the formation of root plaques (high organic sediments).     

The relationships between relative growth rate,meristematic potential and compensatory growth of semiarid-land shrubs

The submersed macrophyte Vallisneria americana was grown for seven weeks in a greenhouse to test for differences in the ability of three different sediments to support growth stimulation in response to CO₂ enrichment at low pH. Plants accumulated 21- to 24-fold greater biomass at 10 × ambient CO₂ concentrations than at ambient CO₂ on all sediments. At both CO₂ levels, plants grown on sediment from an acidified lake accumulated ca. 81%, and those grown on oligotrophic lake sediment ca. 47% as much biomass as plants grown on alkaline lake sediment. Despite striking CO₂ and sediment effects on biomass accumulation, there was no significant interaction (using log-transformed data) between CO₂ and sediment effects, indicating that all sediments allowed similar proportionate growth responses to CO₂ enrichment. Plants grown on the less fertile sediments showed greater relative allocation to horizontal versus vertical growth by producing more rosette-bearing stolons in relation to plant height (leaf length) than plants grown on relatively fertile, alkaline lake sediment. Tissue analysis suggested that sediment effects on Vallisneria growth could be attributed neither to mineral putrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) limitation nor to aluminum toxicity in these low pH treatments. In any case, CO₂ availability can be an important regulator of submersed macrophyte growth at low pH on a variety of sediment types, including those from oligotrophic and acidic lakes.     

Competition between isoetids and invading elodeids at different concentrations of aquatic carbon dioxide

1. The growth of submerged macrophytes in softwater lakes is often assumed to be carbon limited. Isoetid species are well adapted to grow at low carbon availability and therefore commonly dominate the submerged macrophyte vegetation in softwater lakes. In many such lakes, however, large‐scale invasions of fast‐growing elodeid species, replacing the isoetid vegetation, have been observed. 2. In a laboratory experiment, we tested how rising aquatic carbon availability, in interaction with different densities of the isoetid Littorella uniflora, affected the growth (and thereby the potential invasion success) of the elodeid Myriophyllum alterniflorum. For this purpose, the growth of M. alterniflorum was determined at a combination of three concentrations of dissolved CO₂ (15, 90, 200 μmol L^?1) and three densities of L. uniflora (0, 553, 1775 plants m^?2). 3. At an ambient CO₂ of 15 μmol L^?1, M. alterniflorum could not sustain itself, whereas at raised CO₂ concentrations, growth became positive and increased with higher CO₂ availability. 4. The presence of L. uniflora, independent of its density, reduced the growth of M. alterniflorum by 50%. Whether this is related to nutrient availability or other factors is not clear. 5. Despite the growth reduction of M. alterniflorum by L. uniflora, at CO₂ ≥90 μmol L^?1, L. uniflora was still overgrown by M. alterniflorum. This may imply that, in field situations, M. alterniflorum can invade softwater systems with relatively high CO₂ availability, even in the presence of dense stands of L. uniflora.