Growth and Community Composition of Submerged Macrophytes in Lake Taihu (China): Assessment of Changes in Response to Sediment Characteristics

• Published in: Wetlands (Wilmington, N.C.) N.C.), 2017-04, Vol.37 (2), p.233-243
• Main Authors: Dong, Baili, Qin, Boqiang, Li, Wei, Gao, Guang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Algae; Aquatic ecosystems; Aquatic plants; Biomass; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Coastal Sciences; Community composition; Composition; Ecology; Environmental Management; Field investigations; Field tests; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Hydrogeology; Influence; Lakes; Landscape Ecology; Life Sciences; Macrophytes; Morphology; Original Research; Plant biomass; Plant growth; Plant species; Plants (botany); River networks; Sediment distribution; Sediments; Species diversity
• ISSN: 0277-5212; 1943-6246
• DOI: 10.1007/s13157-016-0861-5

The aim of this study was to investigate variation in biomass allocation and community composition of submerged macrophytes to elucidate the effect of sediment depth on the growth and species diversity of submerged macrophytes. Field investigations were conducted in 36 sampling sites located across Lake Taihu, China; six plant species were found and communities were dominated by Potamogeton malaianus and Vallisneria natans . The results showed that the plant–sediment distribution relationship was supported by a biological trait (biomass index) and a strong predictive power of sediment depth to plant biomass, and the occurrence selectivity of submerged macrophytes toward relatively firm bottoms could be demonstrated along the eastern shore. Root and stem biomass were strongly positively correlated to sediment depth over a range from 0.1 to 0.25 m ( p