纹沼螺对苦草生长的影响

在室外受控实验条件下,研究了不同密度(0,150,450个/m2)纹沼螺(Parafossarulus striatulus)对沉水植物苦草(Vallisneria spiralis)生长的影响。结果表明,螺类牧食活动促进了苦草生长,与无螺对照组相比,低密度螺处理组中苦草的相对生长率、株高均增加了20%;高密度组中苦草的相对生长率、叶片数和株高分别增加了28%、15%和27%。分析表明,纹沼螺通过牧食活动降低植物叶片上附着生物干重,从而促进了苦草生长。丰富了螺-草互利关系的研究内容,有助于加深理解水生态系统中生物之间的生态关系。     

螺类牧食与沉积物类型对苦草生长的影响

在室外实验条件下,研究了螺类牧食与沉积物类型对苦草生长的影响。结果表明:椭圆萝卜螺的牧食对苦草生长有显著影响,牧食损害使苦草的相对生长率明显降低、块茎数量及重量下降。沉积物类型对苦草生长也有明显影响,苦草的相对生长率在营养盐相对丰富的湖泥处理组中要远高于岸泥处理组,而根须数与块茎重量在湖泥处理组中显著低于岸泥处理组。螺类牧食与沉积物类型对苦草的各项生长指标无明显交互作用。     

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。     

“螺-草”的互利关系

水生态系统中存在螺-草互利现象。然而,植食性螺类与水生植物之间是否存在这种互利关系目前尚无定论。椭圆萝卜螺（肺螺亚纲）与铜锈环棱螺（前腮亚纲）是常见的淡水螺类,其中,椭圆萝卜螺能牧食多种水生植物的活体。通过室外实验,研究了这两种螺类在不同密度条件下对沉水植物（苦草）生长的影响。实验结果表明,低密度的椭圆萝卜螺促进了苦草的生长,螺、草之间存在明显的互利关系,高密度时螺类对苦草植株本身的大量牧食则显著限制了植物的生长。对铜锈环棱螺而言,不同密度的螺类均明显促进了受附生生物胁迫的苦草的生长,螺-草互利关系成立。分析认为,螺-草互利关系的存在是有其限制条件的,对植食性螺类而言,只有在较低的螺类密度条件下才存在这种互利关系。     

基质类型对两种沉水植物种间关系的影响

以外来种伊乐藻与土著种苦草为实验生物,通过室外受控实验研究了基质类型对2种水生植物种间关系的影响.结果表明:伊乐藻在2种不同营养水平的基质中均具有明显竞争优势.植物竞争(混栽伊乐藻)对低密度苦草的生长影响不明显,对密度高苦草抑制显著,然而基质类型对低密度苦草的生长影响显著,对高密度苦草无明显影响.同样,植物竞争(混栽苦草)对低密度伊乐藻的生长无明显影响,对密度高伊乐藻抑制显著,然而,无论种植密度高低,基质类型对伊乐藻的生长均有极大影响.本文还对伊乐藻与苦草的种间竞争关系机理进行了探讨,其研究结果对分析外来种入侵后水生植被的演变规律以及湖泊水生植被的管理有一定参考价值.     

椭圆萝卜螺Radix swinhoei (H. Adams) 对三种沉水植物的牧食选择

报道了2005年7～9月在太湖试验基地进行的椭圆萝卜螺对沉水植物牧食的实验结果.结果表明,椭圆萝卜螺对3种沉水植物的平均牧食率为7.87mg·g-1·d-1,其中对苦草的牧食率最高(13.63 mg·g-1·d-1),马来眼子菜次之(9.66mg·g-1·d-1),轮叶黑藻最低(0.31mg·g-1·d-1),且牧食率与螺规格呈显著负相关.椭圆萝卜螺对沉水植物的牧食具有选择性,喜食苦草而较少选食其他两种沉水植物.椭圆萝卜螺的食物选择性能力与其规格有关,随着生长对沉水植物的选择性加强.探讨了椭圆萝卜螺对沉水植物的选食机理.     

Responses of morphological and physiological traits to herbivory by snails of three invasive and native submerged plants

3种入侵和本地沉水植物形态和生理性状对螺类牧食的响应 沉水植物水盾草(Cabomba caroliniana)已成为中国太湖流域的优势入侵水生植物。与外来物种的原产地环境相比,引入地新环境中存在的专食性天敌较少。外来物种可能会逃避其原产地环境中的天敌牧食,又因为它们的适口性相对较差,从而导致在引入地外来物种通常比本地物种遭受的牧食者影响更低(天敌逃逸假说)。本研究的目的是比较水盾草与共生的本地沉水植物对本地牧食者的响应。我们进行了一个中宇宙尺度实验,研究了水盾草和两种共生的本地沉水植物黑藻(Hydrilla verticillata)和穗花狐尾藻(Myriophyllum spicatum)对两种本地广食性腹足纲螺类萝卜螺(Radix swinhoei)和环棱螺(Sinotaia quadrata)的牧食响应。记录了它们的形态性状指标(总生物量、冠根比和相对生长率)和生理性状指标(叶片总非结构性碳、木质素和纤维素)。研究结果表明,环棱螺对3种沉水植物性状指标的影响较少。随着本地广食性螺类萝卜螺数量的增加,黑藻和穗花狐尾藻大部分植物性状发生了改变,而水盾草的植物性状表现出相对稳定的趋势。水盾草对萝卜螺的牧食更具抵抗力,这与天敌逃逸假说的假设一致。这一发现说明牧食性螺类促进了水盾草的入侵,这可能会改变沉水植物群落中的物种组成。     

不同初始螺类密度对沉水植物刺苦草Vallisneria spinulosa Yan及其附着藻类的影响

大型水生植物及其附着藻类是浅水湖泊中的重要初级生产者。淡水螺类作为重要的初级消费者,其密度对沉水植物及其附着藻类的影响存在争议。本研究设置4种初始螺类密度（0、40、80、240 ind·m^-2）,研究淡水螺类（椭圆萝卜螺Radix swinhoei H.Adams）对刺苦草（Vallisneria spinulosa Yan）及其附着藻类的直接牧食作用和螺类种群的变化。结果显示,在添加螺处理中,刺苦草和人工基质表面附着藻类的生物量显著降低,同时沉水植物的生长显著增加,在较高初始密度螺类处理中刺苦草产生更多的分株。到实验结束时,螺类的死亡率较高,但3个有螺处理间螺类鲜重无显著差异,而高初始密度螺类条件下的最终密度仍较高,同时个体重量（均重）也较小。在中富营养条件下淡水螺类可以直接牧食沉水植物叶片,但对植物生长的抑制作用不显著,有可能是因为沉水植物并不能作为唯一的食物来源维持螺类种群,同时螺类的种群结构受到水体营养水平等因素的制约。     

外来种克氏原螯虾(Procambarus clarkii)对3种沉水植物的牧食研究

为探讨外来种克氏原螯虾(Procambarus clarkii)对沉水植物牧食的偏好性和牧食强度, 采用投喂实验的方式, 研究了3种沉水植物刺苦草(Vallisneria spinulosa)、轮叶黑藻(Hydrilla verticillata)和伊乐藻(Elodea nuttallii)的适口性。结果表明, 克氏原螯虾对轮叶黑藻的取食速率最大(7.24±0.24 mg·d-1), 其次是苦草(3.70±1.14 mg·d-1), 伊乐藻最小(0.60±0.12 mg·d-1), 说明伊乐藻的适口性最差, 轮叶黑藻的适口性最好, 苦草的适口性居中。3种沉水植物的纤维素、多酚含量和氮含量都没有显著性差异, 而伊乐藻却具有更高的碳(C)含量和更高的碳氮比(C:N)。总体来说, 3种沉水植物的物理结构、碳(C)含量和碳氮比(C:N)在外来种克氏原螯虾对沉水植物的牧食中具有重要的作用。     

椭圆萝卜螺Radix swinhoei (H. Adams)对三种沉水植物的牧食选择

报道了2005年7～9月在太湖试验基地进行的椭圆萝卜螺对沉水植物牧食的实验结果。结果表明,椭圆萝卜螺对3种沉水植物的平均牧食率为7.87mg•g^－１•d^－１,其中对苦草的牧食率最高（13.63 mg•g^－１•d^－１）,马来眼子菜次之（9.66mg•g^－１•d^－１）,轮叶黑藻最低（0.31mg•g^－１•d^－１）,且牧食率与螺规格呈显著负相关。椭圆萝卜螺对沉水植物的牧食具有选择性,喜食苦草而较少选食其他两种沉水植物。椭圆萝卜螺的食物选择性能力与其规格有关,随着生长对沉水植物的选择性加强。探讨了椭圆萝卜螺对沉水植物的选食机理。      

Density-dependent effects of snail grazing on the growth of a submerged macrophyte,Vallisneria spiralis

In order to better understand the role of herbivorous snails in freshwater ecosystems, we conducted experiments investigating food preference of the snail Radix swinhoei on leaves of the submerged plant Vallisneria spiralis with and without periphyton coverage. The effects of snail grazing on the growth of V. spiralis were assessed in a no-snail control and at three snail densities (80, 160, 240 individuals m^?2). Results showed that the snails chose preferentially leaves covered by periphyton. Grazing activity at low snail density (80 individuals m^?2) was found to stimulate V. spiralis growth, but at higher snail density (240 individuals m^?2), plant growth was apparently suppressed. An increase observed in nutrient concentrations in water column with increasing snail density may be attributed to nutrient release by snails. This study suggests that the nature of the relationship between herbivorous snails and macrophytes in freshwater ecosystems depends on the abundance of the snails. At low snail density, the relationship may be a mutualistic one, but at high density snail herbivory may impact negatively on macrophyte biomass in lakes.     

Interactive effects of light and snail herbivory rather than nutrient loading determine early establishment of submerged macrophytes

Submerged macrophytes play a key role in maintaining a clear‐water phase and promoting biodiversity in shallow aquatic ecosystems. Since their abundance has declined globally due to anthropogenic activities, it is important to include them in aquatic ecosystem restoration programs. Macrophytes establishment in early spring is crucial for the subsequent growth of other warm‐adapted macrophytes. However, factors affecting this early establishment of submerged macrophytes have not been fully explored yet. Here, we conducted an outdoor experiment from winter to early spring using the submerged macrophytes Potamogeton crispus and Vallisneria spinulosa to study the effects of shading, nutrient loading, snail herbivory (Radix swinhoei), and their interactions on the early growth and stoichiometric characteristics of macrophytes. The results show that the effects strongly depend on macrophyte species. Biomass and number of shoots of P. crispus decreased, and internode length increased during low light conditions, but were not affected by nutrient loading. P. crispus shoot biomass and number showed hump‐shaped responses to increased snail biomass under full light. In contrast, the biomass of the plant linearly decreased with snail biomass under low light. This indicates an interaction of light with snail herbivory. Since snails prefer grazing on periphyton over macrophytes, a low density of snails promoted growth of P. crispus by removing periphyton competition, while herbivory on the macrophyte increased during a high density of snails. The growth of V. spinulosa was not affected by any of the factors, probably because of growth limitation by low temperature. Our study demonstrates that the interaction of light with snail herbivory may affect establishment and growth of submerged macrophytes in early spring. Macrophyte restoration projects may thus benefit from lowering water levels to increase light availability and making smart use of cold‐adapted herbivores to reduce light competition with periphyton.     

Competition and facilitation within and between a snail and a mayfly larva and the effect on the grazing process

We studied the competitive effects within and between two taxonomically distant freshwater herbivores, a snail and a mayfly, common in Swedish lakes, Lymnaea peregra and Cloeon dipterum, respectively, and their effect on grazing in a laboratory experiment. The experimental set-up consisted of 2-l aquaria, each containing a periphyton covered tile. Intra- and interspecific effects were tested by increasing the density of one species at a time in four different treatments, (1) snails (intraspecific treatment), (2) mayflies (intraspecific treatment), (3) mixed-snails (interspecific treatments, snails kept constant) and (4) mixed-mayflies (interspecific treatments, mayflies kept constant). Intraspecific competition affected both snails and mayflies negatively, i.e. increasing mortality with increasing con-specific density. Furthermore, there was a decrease in snail growth with increasing snail density. In the mixed-species treatments both species changed their microhabitat use indicating interspecific competition. Despite this, we also found a positive effect of mayfly density on snail growth, most likely due to indirect commensalism. No density-dependent effect of grazing on periphyton was found, probably due to interference competition between grazers. However, there was a significant difference in periphyton biomass, due to species composition of grazers. Irrespective of their densities, if they co-existed, the two grazer species decreased the periphyton biomass significantly compared with both single-species treatments. We considered this as a joint action of facilitation and interaction. Our results suggest that competition can be an important structuring factor in macroinvertebrate communities and that species composition can be significant for ecosystem processes within lentic environments.     

Snail communities increase submerged macrophyte growth by grazing epiphytic algae and phytoplankton in a mesocosm experiment

The relationships between producers (e.g., macrophytes, phytoplankton and epiphytic algae) and snails play an important role in maintaining the function and stability of shallow ecosystems. Complex relationships exist among macrophytes, epiphytic algae, phytoplankton, and snails. We studied the effects of snail communities (consisting of Radix swinhoei, Hippeutis cantori, Bellamya aeruginosa, and Parafossarulus striatulus) on the biomass of phytoplankton and epiphytic algae as well as on the growth of three species of submerged macrophytes (Hydrilla verticillata, Vallisneria natans, and one exotic submerged plant, Elodea nuttallii) in a 90‐day outdoor mesocosm experiment conducted on the shore of subtropical Lake Liangzihu, China. A structural equation model showed that the snail communities affected the submerged macrophytes by grazing phytoplankton and epiphytic algae (reduction in phytoplankton Chl‐a and epiphytic algal abundance), enhancing the biomass of submerged macrophytes. Highly branched macrophytes with high surfaces and morphologies and many microhabitats supported the most snails and epiphytic algae (the biomass of the snail communities and epiphytic algae on H. verticillata was greater than that on V. natans), and snails preferred to feed on native plants. Competition drove the snails to change their grazing preferences to achieve coexistence.     

Responses of four submerged macrophytes to freshwater snail density (Radix swinhoei) under clear‐water conditions: A mesocosm study

Macrophytes play a key role in stabilizing clear‐water conditions in shallow freshwater ecosystems. Their populations are maintained by a balance between plant grazing and plant growth. As a freshwater snail commonly found in shallow lakes, Radix swinhoei can affect the growth of submerged macrophytes by removing epiphyton from the surface of aquatic plants and by grazing directly on macrophyte organs. Thus, we conducted a long‐term (11‐month) experiment to explore the effects of snail density on macrophytes with distinctive structures in an outdoor clear‐water mesocosm system (with relatively low total nitrogen (TN, 0.66 ± 0.27 mg/L) and total phosphorus (TP, 36 ± 20 μg/L) and a phytoplankton chlorophyll a (Chla) range of 14.8 ± 4.9 μg/L) based on two different snail densities (low and high) and four macrophyte species treatments (Myriophyllum spicatum, Potamogeton wrightii, P. crispus, and P. oxyphyllus). In the high‐density treatment, snail biomass and abundance (36.5 ± 16.5 g/m² and 169 ± 92 ind/m², respectively) were approximately twice that observed in the low‐density treatment, resulting in lower total and aboveground biomass and ramet number in the macrophytes. In addition, plant height and plant volume inhabited (PVI) showed species‐specific responses to snail densities, that is, the height of P. oxyphyllus and PVI of M. spicatum were both higher under low‐density treatment. Thus, compared with low‐density treatment, the inhibitory effects of long‐term high snail density on macrophytes by direct feeding may be greater than the positive effects resulting from epiphyton clearance when under clear‐water conditions with low epiphyton biomass. Thus, under clear‐water conditions, the growth and community composition of submerged macrophytes could be potentially modified by the manual addition of invertebrates (i.e., snails) to lakes if the inhibitory effects from predatory fish are minor.     

Fish fauna and fisheries of large European rivers: examples from the Volga and the Danube

The role of herbivores in regulating aquatic plant dynamics has received growing recognition from researchers and managers. However, the evidence for herbivore impacts on aquatic plants is largely based on short-term exclosure studies conducted within a single plant growing season. Thus, it is unclear how long herbivore impacts on aquatic plant abundance can persist for. We addressed this knowledge gap by testing whether mute swan (Cygnus olor) grazing on lowland river macrophytes could be detected in the following growing season. Furthermore, we investigated the role of seasonal changes in water current speed in limiting the temporal extent of grazing. We found no relationship between swan biomass density in 1 year and aquatic plant cover or biomass in the following spring. No such carry-over effects were detected despite observing high swan biomass densities in the previous year from which we inferred grazing impacts on macrophytes. Seasonal increases in water velocity were associated with reduced grazing pressure as swans abandoned river habitat. Furthermore, our study highlights the role of seasonal changes in water velocity in determining the length of the mute swan grazing season in shallow lowland rivers and thus in limiting the temporal extent of herbivore impacts on aquatic plant abundance.     

螺类与着生藻类的相互作用及其对沉水植物的影响

浅水湖泊的富营养化常导致水生植被的退化与浮游藻类的爆发［１０,１８,２９］。可利用光通常是决定沉水植物分布、生物量和生产力的最重要因子,因此,伴随高营养负荷的浮游藻类繁殖,极大地削弱了沉水植物的光合能力［２０］。然而,Ｐｈｉｌｉｐｓ等人［２８］认为,...