{"title":"Sediment hardening changes the physicochemical characteristics and microbial diversity of sediment and has potential effects on submerged macrophytes","authors":"Chuanxin Chao, Xiaorong Chen, Shen Gong, Feng Li, Zhengmiao Deng, Yeai Zou, Yonghong Xie","doi":"10.1007/s11104-024-07113-8","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Background and aims</h3><p>The intensification of climate change and increases in dam construction have altered the inherent hydrological rhythms of river-connected lakes and led to the formation of a new feature of lake sediment known as sediment hardening. However, changes in sediment characteristics caused by sediment hardening and their potential effects on submerged macrophytes remain unclear.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Methods</h3><p>A field investigative study and mesocosm experimental study were performed in Dongting Lake to provide evidence on how variations in sediment hardening affect the physical, chemical, and microbial properties of sediments and subsequently impact the health of submerged macrophytes.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Results</h3><p>Sediment hardening mainly changes the characteristics of the 0–20 cm sediment layer by increasing the proportion of macroaggregates, decreasing the bulk density (BD) and pH, and increasing the contents of sediment total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and organic carbon (SOC). Sediment type (hardened and unhardened) and depth (0–5, 10–15, and 20–25 cm) significantly influenced the richness indices of bacteria and fungi, with sediment type having the greatest effect on the fungal community composition and sediment depth having the greatest effect on the bacterial community composition. The combination of high water depth and sediment hardening resulted in shorter root systems in submerged macrophytes that are not conducive to growth.</p><h3 data-test=\"abstract-sub-heading\">Conclusion</h3><p>Our study is the first to establish a link between sediment hardening and the growth and development of submerged macrophytes. Moreover, it highlights the potential role of sediment hardening and water level interactions in regulating the development and growth of submerged macrophytes in river-connected lakes.</p>","PeriodicalId":20223,"journal":{"name":"Plant and Soil","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9000,"publicationDate":"2024-12-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Plant and Soil","FirstCategoryId":"97","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-024-07113-8","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"AGRONOMY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background and aims
The intensification of climate change and increases in dam construction have altered the inherent hydrological rhythms of river-connected lakes and led to the formation of a new feature of lake sediment known as sediment hardening. However, changes in sediment characteristics caused by sediment hardening and their potential effects on submerged macrophytes remain unclear.
Methods
A field investigative study and mesocosm experimental study were performed in Dongting Lake to provide evidence on how variations in sediment hardening affect the physical, chemical, and microbial properties of sediments and subsequently impact the health of submerged macrophytes.
Results
Sediment hardening mainly changes the characteristics of the 0–20 cm sediment layer by increasing the proportion of macroaggregates, decreasing the bulk density (BD) and pH, and increasing the contents of sediment total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and organic carbon (SOC). Sediment type (hardened and unhardened) and depth (0–5, 10–15, and 20–25 cm) significantly influenced the richness indices of bacteria and fungi, with sediment type having the greatest effect on the fungal community composition and sediment depth having the greatest effect on the bacterial community composition. The combination of high water depth and sediment hardening resulted in shorter root systems in submerged macrophytes that are not conducive to growth.
Conclusion
Our study is the first to establish a link between sediment hardening and the growth and development of submerged macrophytes. Moreover, it highlights the potential role of sediment hardening and water level interactions in regulating the development and growth of submerged macrophytes in river-connected lakes.
期刊介绍:
Plant and Soil publishes original papers and review articles exploring the interface of plant biology and soil sciences, and that enhance our mechanistic understanding of plant-soil interactions. We focus on the interface of plant biology and soil sciences, and seek those manuscripts with a strong mechanistic component which develop and test hypotheses aimed at understanding underlying mechanisms of plant-soil interactions. Manuscripts can include both fundamental and applied aspects of mineral nutrition, plant water relations, symbiotic and pathogenic plant-microbe interactions, root anatomy and morphology, soil biology, ecology, agrochemistry and agrophysics, as long as they are hypothesis-driven and enhance our mechanistic understanding. Articles including a major molecular or modelling component also fall within the scope of the journal. All contributions appear in the English language, with consistent spelling, using either American or British English.