Journal of Ecology and Rural Environment ›› 2017, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (4): 341-348.doi: 10.11934/j.issn.1673-4831.2017.04.007

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Growth and Photosynthetic Fluorescence Characteristics Responses of Four Submersed Macrophytes to Rising Water Level

GAO Fen1, ZHANG Yi-min2, YANG Fei2, MA Meng-jie1, GAO Yue-xiang2, WU Dan2, DING Yi-rui1   

  1. 1. School of Environmental and Safety Engineering, Changzhou University, Changzhou 213164, China;
    2. Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministy of Environmental Protection, Nanjing 210042, China
  • Received:2016-05-17 Online:2017-04-25 Published:2017-04-01

Abstract:

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the plant growth and photosynthetic fluorescence characteristics of four submersed macrophytes by simulating the rising of water level. The water depth was controlled to be 1 m at the first with the corresponding water level of 2.6 m. The water levels increased sharply in two days. On the 32nd day, the water level arrived at 2.6, 3.0, 3.4 and 3.8 m to simulate constant water level, low water level, medium water level and high water level. The water level remained to the end of experiment for 70 days. The results show that the plant growth of the four species was significantly increased by raising water level (P<0.05). Canopy species, such as Myriophyllum spicatum and Potamogeton malaianus, tended to increase biomass. Biomass of erect species, such as Hydrilla verticillata, decreased significantly in high water level (P<0.05). With the rising water level increased, the biomass of rosette species, such as Vallisneria denseserrulata, followed the trend of decline. According to the water level of Gehu Lake, rising water levels weakened the root performances of canopy species and erect species and strengthened the root performances of rosette species. Rapid light curves of canopy species also reflected the result of the experiment. The results show that different submerged macrophytes on rising water level has different physiological and biochemical characteristics. Rising water level promoted the growth of canopy species. High water level is not conducive to the growth of Hydrilla verticillata. Rising water level inhibited the growth of Vallisneria denseserrulata. Canopy species (Myriophyllum spicatum and Potamogeton malaianus) is more suitable for the historical water level rising of Gehu Lake on the morphological response and the ability of photosynthesis. The results can provide reference for recovery of submersed macrophytes in lakes and rivers.

Key words: water level, submersed macrophyte, growth, photosynthesis

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