Aquatic BotanyPub Date : 2024-11-15DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103835
Menno W.J. Bok , Janneke M.M. van der Loop , Hein H. van Kleef , Rob S.E.W. Leuven
{"title":"Fragment viability, regenerative capacity and protoplast isolation of invasive Australian swamp stonecrop (Crassula helmsii)","authors":"Menno W.J. Bok , Janneke M.M. van der Loop , Hein H. van Kleef , Rob S.E.W. Leuven","doi":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103835","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103835","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Australian swamp stonecrop (<em>Crassula helmsii</em>) is an amphibious plant native to Australasia and highly invasive in Europe. Managing the spread and impacts of this invader is challenging due to its ability to regenerate from small vegetative plant fragments. In several infested water systems in the Netherlands, the dispersal of this species is currently being prevented using water filters with a mesh size as small as 1 mm<sup>2</sup> in their outflows. However, it remains unclear whether these filters are truly capable of preventing the spread of small regenerative fragments. To identify potential shortcomings in the management of <em>C. helmsii</em> dispersal, we investigated the regeneration of detached vegetative fragments. A laboratory experiment was conducted to study the regenerative capacity of <em>C. helmsii</em> fragments of varying sizes (0.5–2 mm). We examined the growth performance (stem count, cumulative stem length) of fragments originating from nodes, leaves, shoots, roots, and meristem tissue cuts. All fragments originating from nodal tissue were able to successfully regenerate. Isolated meristem tissue of 0.5 mm was able to regenerate but exhibited malformed growth. Shoot tips demonstrated the best growth performance. While we successfully isolated protoplasts from <em>C. helmsii</em> node tissue, our cultures were compromised, and regeneration could not be assessed. Our research indicates regenerative potential from node fragments as small as a cluster of apical meristem cells. These findings suggest shortcomings in current measures for dispersal prevention of <em>C. helmsii</em>, as they do not prevent the dispersal of plant fragments with a length <2 mm. We recommend re-evaluating the effectiveness of various types of dispersal barriers currently applied in vulnerable natural areas to prevent the spread and subsequent regeneration of small vegetative fragments of <em>C. helmsii</em>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8273,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Botany","volume":"196 ","pages":"Article 103835"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142657492","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Aquatic BotanyPub Date : 2024-11-05DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103832
Eugeniusz Pronin , Marek Merdalski , Rafał Ronowski , Krzysztof Banaś
{"title":"Variation of carbon and nitrogen stable isotope composition in leaves and roots of Littorella uniflora (L.) Asch. in relation to water pH and nutrient availability","authors":"Eugeniusz Pronin , Marek Merdalski , Rafał Ronowski , Krzysztof Banaś","doi":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103832","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103832","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In a phytotron experiment, the effects of pH variation and eutrophication on isoetids plants from soft-water lakes specifically the submerged form of <em>Littorella uniflora</em> (L.) Asch. was investigated by analyzing stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes (<em>δ</em><sup>13</sup>C and <em>δ</em><sup>15</sup>N). Conducted in late October 2020, 200 specimens from Lake Zawiad, near Gdansk, Poland, were examined over 75 days. The study tested three pH levels (∼4.5, ∼7.0, and ∼8.5) and a detailed 12-step nutrient gradient (nitrogen: 0–10 mg/l; phosphorus: 0–0.3 mg/l). The analysis focused on isotopic composition in leaves and roots, revealing that acidic conditions favored higher <em>δ</em><sup>13</sup>C values (leaves: −22.67 ‰; roots: −23.23 ‰), suggesting a preference for lighter carbon forms in photosynthesis and intensive use of limited sources of CO<sub>2</sub>. The neutral pH variant showed the lowest <em>δ</em><sup>13</sup>C values (leaves: −25.53 ‰; roots: −25.47 ‰), indicating less optimal conditions. <em>δ</em><sup>15</sup>N values exhibited minimal fluctuation across pH levels, with slight variations in acidic and alkaline environments compared to neutral conditions. An observed decrease in <em>δ</em><sup>13</sup>C across all pH levels with increased nutrients, alongside a rise in <em>δ</em><sup>15</sup>N values, indicates a complex interaction between isotopic composition and environmental factors. Our findings suggest that <em>L</em>. <em>uniflora</em> shows a distinct isotopic response to varying pH levels, with higher <em>δ</em><sup>13</sup>C values under acidic conditions potentially indicating enhanced CO<sub>2</sub> uptake through a specialized carbon assimilation strategy. This highlights the species' adaptive mechanisms to environmental stressors, suggesting that the isotopic composition of aquatic vegetation can serve as a sensitive indicator of changes in lake ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8273,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Botany","volume":"196 ","pages":"Article 103832"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142657607","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Aquatic BotanyPub Date : 2024-10-28DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103831
Nomcebo T. Mngomezulu , Anusha Rajkaran , Dimitri A. Veldkornet
{"title":"The influence of physicochemical variables on plant species richness and distribution in the coastal salt marshes of the Berg River Estuary, South Africa","authors":"Nomcebo T. Mngomezulu , Anusha Rajkaran , Dimitri A. Veldkornet","doi":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103831","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103831","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The continuous distribution of coastal salt marsh habitats along an elevation gradient can be disrupted by tidal creeks running through them. Tidal creeks wind through salt marshes and create different environmental conditions for adjacent habitats. While studies have emphasized the importance of tidal creeks as links facilitating interactions in salt marshes, few have studied plant communities and physiochemical conditions associated with tidal creeks. This study determined the influence of creek physicochemical variables on the diversity and distribution of coastal salt marsh plants. Six transects in the lower reaches of the Berg River Estuary, South Africa were sampled over two seasons at sites with either the presence or absence of creeks. Species composition and abundance were analysed by replicate quadrats and paired with physicochemical variables (groundwater and sediment). The k-means of 20 species in 334 quadrats revealed four distinct clusters of salt marsh habitats, creeks, intertidal salt marsh, supratidal salt marsh and reeds. Species richness was higher along transects with creeks (16) compared to those with no creeks (5). The physiochemical variables, groundwater temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and sediment variables (redox potential, organic content, percentage silt and percentage sand), significantly influenced the abundance of creek species. This study highlights the importance of tidal creeks in forming unique vegetation communities in salt marshes, where they act as refugia for intertidal species. It is suggested that tidal creek communities should be included in salt marsh vegetation descriptions and monitored in association with physicochemical variables in response to climate change.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8273,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Botany","volume":"196 ","pages":"Article 103831"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142657606","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Aquatic BotanyPub Date : 2024-10-24DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103830
Pilar Díaz-Tapia , Nerea Alvite , Rafael Bañón , Rodolfo Barreiro , Sara Barrientos , María Bustamante , Sara Carrasco , Javier Cremades , Silvia Iglesias , María del Carmen López Rodríguez , Nahiara Muguerza , Cristina Piñeiro-Corbeira , Endika Quintano , F. Javier Tajadura , Isabel Díez
{"title":"Multiple introduction events expand the range of the invasive brown alga Rugulopteryx okamurae to northern Spain","authors":"Pilar Díaz-Tapia , Nerea Alvite , Rafael Bañón , Rodolfo Barreiro , Sara Barrientos , María Bustamante , Sara Carrasco , Javier Cremades , Silvia Iglesias , María del Carmen López Rodríguez , Nahiara Muguerza , Cristina Piñeiro-Corbeira , Endika Quintano , F. Javier Tajadura , Isabel Díez","doi":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103830","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103830","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The brown alga <em>Rugulopteryx okamurae</em> is one of the most recent and aggressive marine invaders known, with a non-native range that spans from the western Mediterranean to the southern Iberian Peninsula, and the European Macaronesian archipelagos. Here, we provide the first record of its presence at three disjunct areas from northern Spain, supported by morphological and molecular evidence. <em>Rugulopteryx okamurae</em> was discovered in the port of Bilbao in the northeastern Atlantic of Spain, more than 1200 km away from the nearest invaded location previously known. It was also found at two separate areas in northwestern Spain: San Amaro, a small inlet at the entrance of the port of A Coruña, and Monteferro-Playa América, a site close to the port of Vigo. In two areas, <em>R. okamurae</em> was found to cover up to 100 % of the bottom, suggesting that it may behave as an aggressive invader in northern Spain. Our findings confirm the propensity of <em>R. okamurae</em> for long-distance dispersal and reveal that this invader is expanding its range northwards along the European Atlantic coast.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8273,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Botany","volume":"196 ","pages":"Article 103830"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142561214","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Aquatic BotanyPub Date : 2024-10-19DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103828
Karine Matos Magalhães , Thomaz Henrique Arruda Lima , Roberto Lima Barcellos , Ana Maria Costa Souza
{"title":"Halophila baillonii's hidden distribution range: Rediscovery and conservation of a rare seagrass in the Tropical Atlantic","authors":"Karine Matos Magalhães , Thomaz Henrique Arruda Lima , Roberto Lima Barcellos , Ana Maria Costa Souza","doi":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103828","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103828","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study characterizes a population of the rare seagrass species <em>Halophila baillonii</em>, rediscovered over 130 years after its initial record on the Brazilian coast. Historical and current global distribution and species traits were reviewed to investigate population expansion and compare worldwide populations. Generally, seagrass traits of this new population showed no significant differences compared to previously studied populations, including those within Marine Protected Areas. However, a global lack of population data for the species was identified. Thirteen populations were recognized within the Tropical Atlantic Bioregion, with most in multispecific meadows. In these multispecific meadows, <em>H. baillonii</em> leaves were wider. The recent rediscovery of this population raises the question: are we observing a genuine expansion of its distribution range, or have we simply overlooked its presence in certain areas?</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8273,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Botany","volume":"196 ","pages":"Article 103828"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142533820","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Aquatic BotanyPub Date : 2024-10-16DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103827
Kalmi Siridewa , Wasana De Silva , R.M.C.S. Ratnayake , Siril Wijesundara , Dinum Perera , Renuka N. Attanayake
{"title":"Species identification and pollination biology of an economically important true halophyte, Salicornia brachiata Roxb.","authors":"Kalmi Siridewa , Wasana De Silva , R.M.C.S. Ratnayake , Siril Wijesundara , Dinum Perera , Renuka N. Attanayake","doi":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103827","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103827","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Members of the genus <em>Salicornia</em> have gained a global attraction due to their ability to thrive under high saline conditions and as potential candidates in saline agriculture. However, it has been a taxonomically challenging genus for decades since the members show plastic responses to extreme environmental conditions and due to incongruences between morphological and molecular identification methods. While only a handful of commercially grown <em>Salicornia</em> species are fully described, most of the species including <em>S. brachiata</em>, a native species in the Indian sub-continent, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka are poorly described. With the potentials in adapting <em>S. brachiata</em> in saline agriculture, the aim of this study was to establish a morphology and DNA barcode-based species delineation system and to study pollination biology for future crop improvement projects. Tentatively identified <em>S. brachiata</em> plant samples were collected from two populations in Sri Lanka and completely described. GenBank lacked authenticated barcode data for <em>S. brachiata</em> except for one chloroplast genome to which the matK sequence obtained in the present study matched with 100 % identity. For the first time, well defined sequences of three barcode regions, ITS, ETS and matK, of <em>S. brachiata</em> were made available for accurate species identification. Reproductive dynamics in different parts of the inflorescence was studied. A facultative xenogamous mating system was recorded for the first time in the genus and while the lower florets in the cladode showed a preference towards outcrossing, the upper florets displayed adaptations for selfing. Data could be effectively utilized in future <em>Salicornia</em> breeding programs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8273,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Botany","volume":"196 ","pages":"Article 103827"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142577842","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Aquatic BotanyPub Date : 2024-10-16DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103829
Gidon Winters , Hung Manh Nguyen , Moran Kaminer
{"title":"Expansion of Halophila stipulacea in parallel with declines of native seagrasses in the eastern Mediterranean Sea","authors":"Gidon Winters , Hung Manh Nguyen , Moran Kaminer","doi":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103829","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103829","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Seagrasses native to the Mediterranean Sea are anticipated to be adversely affected by climate warming, while the invasive tropical seagrass species <em>Halophila stipulacea</em> is projected to proliferate and alter the region's underwater seascape. Despite the significant implications of this transition, it is surprisingly rare to include <em>H. stipulacea</em> in long-term monitoring programs across the Mediterranean. In July 2023, we conducted a follow-up study at a seagrass meadow in Limassol, Cyprus, which in 2017 was home to two native seagrass species, <em>Cymodocea nodosa</em> and <em>Posidonia oceanica</em>, alongside the invasive <em>H. stipulacea</em>. We assessed the seagrass cover of all present species and examined the characteristics of the <em>H. stipulacea</em> meadow, comparing our findings with data from 2017. Our results indicated a total loss of both native seagrass species, while <em>H. stipulacea</em> nearly doubled its coverage and exhibited substantial increases in shoot density, as well as above- and below-ground biomasses. Although our study is limited in scope, it supports earlier predictions regarding the anticipated transformations in the eastern Mediterranean's underwater landscape. This study highlights the urgent need to incorporate <em>H. stipulacea</em> into long-term seagrass monitoring efforts in the Mediterranean.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8273,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Botany","volume":"196 ","pages":"Article 103829"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142533819","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Aquatic BotanyPub Date : 2024-10-10DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103826
Carlo Nike Bianchi , Carla Morri
{"title":"Different rhodolith assemblages host distinct associated species but similar ecological groups: A case study in NW Mediterranean Sea","authors":"Carlo Nike Bianchi , Carla Morri","doi":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103826","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103826","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Rhodolith beds represent the most widespread and studied facies of the coastal detrital bottoms characterized by macroids of living encrusting organisms. In the Mediterranean Sea, four rhodolith facies have been described: i) boxwork rhodoliths; ii) maërl; iii) pralines; and iv) unattached Peyssonneliales. Although lists of species associated with Mediterranean rhodolith beds have been published, no comparison among the species associated with different rhodolith facies are available. This paper compares the species associated with the four above-mentioned rhodolith facies sampled in the Tuscan Archipelago (Italy). These facies shared most of the 12 rhodolith species identified (10 Corallinales and 2 calcified Peyssonneliales), but with different abundances. Only three associated species (out of 377) were common to all four rhodolith assemblages, which however were all characterized by the abundance of the ecological group of the species characteristic of the biocoenosis of the Coastal Detrital bottoms. Therefore, rhodolith facies were better described in terms of ecological groups rather than species composition. Similar studies in other sectors of the Mediterranean Sea are needed to generalize this result, and the comparative study of other macroid facies, namely coralliths and bryoliths, would also be of interest.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8273,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Botany","volume":"196 ","pages":"Article 103826"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142445197","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Aquatic BotanyPub Date : 2024-10-10DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103825
Ludwig Triest , Laura Bossaer , Abebe Beyene Hailu , Helle Mäemets , Taita Terer , Viktor R. Tóth , Tim Sierens
{"title":"A Pleistocene legacy of gene pools, ecodemes and admixtures of Stuckenia pectinata (L.) Börner as evidenced from microsatellites, complete chloroplast genomes and ribosomal RNA cistron (Europe, Africa)","authors":"Ludwig Triest , Laura Bossaer , Abebe Beyene Hailu , Helle Mäemets , Taita Terer , Viktor R. Tóth , Tim Sierens","doi":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103825","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103825","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Stuckenia pectinata</em> (L.) Börner is a widely distributed submerged plant well-studied for its ecology, distribution, and molecular diversity. Globally, various genotypic lineages and hybrids of <em>Stuckenia</em> species have been identified using nuclear <em>rRNA</em> (<em>ITS</em>) and chloroplast sequences (notably <em>rpl20–5’rps12</em> and <em>trnT-trnL</em>). These studies have shown intraspecific variability in <em>S. pectinata</em>, with two gene pools (<em>'genotype 1a'</em> and <em>'1b'</em>) reported for Europe and Africa. Moreover, former isozyme research suggested distinct freshwater and brackish water gene pools. Therefore, our primary objective was to determine whether these ecodemes correspond to either <em>'genotype 1a'</em> or <em>'1b'</em>. Using fifteen nuclear microsatellite loci, complete chloroplast genome sequences (156,677 bp), and the rRNA cistron (7178 bp), we analyzed the genetic identity of 313 <em>S. pectinata</em> samples (representing 124 unique clones) from 12 populations in Europe and Africa. Chloroplast genomes of three African Rift lake populations corresponded to <em>‘genotype 1b’</em>, while those of nine European populations to <em>‘genotype 1a’</em>. Microsatellites also clearly distinguished <em>‘genotype 1a’</em> from <em>‘1b’</em> in an individual PCoA and STRUCTURE analysis, whereas incomplete homogenization of <em>5S-rRNA</em> sequences suggested either ongoing differentiation or intraspecific hybridization between <em>‘genotype 1a’</em> and <em>‘1b’</em>. Haplotype lineages, rRNA cistron mutations, and microsatellites revealed an additional subdivision within <em>‘genotype 1a’</em>, potentially distinguishing a freshwater gene pool from a brackish water one. Approximate Bayesian computation analyses using nuclear microsatellites supported a demographic expansion model and a time of divergence, for the African Rift lake populations as well as for the European freshwater and brackish water populations, dating back to the Late Pleistocene. Divergent chloroplast lineages appeared to be already present during the Last Glacial Maximum. <em>Stuckenia pectinata</em> from Lake Hora (Ethiopia), Lake Balaton (Hungary) and the Camargue (France) each harbored two distinct maternal haplotypes, from Selinunte (Italy) indicated F1 hybrids whereas from Lake Peipsi (Estonia), amongst others, showed incomplete rRNA homogenization. It is hypothesized that contemporary <em>S. pectinata</em> populations, especially in Europe, retained a legacy of ancient gene pool differentiation despite a history of hybridization, admixture, and chloroplast capture. It is recommended that studies on the ecology and reproductive strategies of this seemingly common and widespread species should take into account its genetic identity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8273,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Botany","volume":"196 ","pages":"Article 103825"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142433655","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Aquatic BotanyPub Date : 2024-10-10DOI: 10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103823
Tressia Chikodza , Martin P. Hill , David Kinsler , Julie A. Coetzee
{"title":"Biological control alters competition between Pontederia crassipes Mart. (Pontederiaceae) and Salvinia minima Baker (Salviniales: Salviniaceae) in a eutrophic waterbody","authors":"Tressia Chikodza , Martin P. Hill , David Kinsler , Julie A. Coetzee","doi":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103823","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquabot.2024.103823","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Pontederia crassipes</em> remains a highly invasive weed globally, posing significant threats to aquatic ecosystems. <em>Megamelus scutellaris</em>, a biological control agent released in South Africa effectively manages this weed, even at eutrophic, and high-elevation cool sites. Biological control of <em>P. crassipes</em> at Hartbeespoort Dam, a hypertrophic system in South Africa plagued by nuisance macrophyte growth, was followed by the invasion of an aquatic fern, <em>Salvinia minima</em>. This study explains the population dynamics of <em>P. crassipes</em> and <em>S. minima</em> at Hartbeespoort Dam, as a function of <em>M. scutellaris</em> herbivory to <em>P. crassipes</em>. Competition and herbivory effects on both species were evaluated using an additive series analysis in mesocosms. Multiple regression analyses indicated that in the absence of herbivory on <em>P. crassipes</em>, its interspecific competition coefficient was 4 times greater than that of <em>S. minima</em>. The competitive vigour of <em>S. minima</em> more than doubled in the presence of herbivory on <em>P. crassipes</em>. Consequently, in the presence of the biological control agent, no statistically significant difference in interspecific competition for both species could be found. These results highlight how biological control of one species can alter the population dynamics between two competing species. While biological control of <em>S. minima</em> is under consideration in South Africa, in the absence of nutrient remediation, the system will remain vulnerable to further invasion.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8273,"journal":{"name":"Aquatic Botany","volume":"196 ","pages":"Article 103823"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142442086","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}