Leaf wettability and plant surface water storage for common wetland species of the Biebrza peatlands (northeast Poland)

Abstract

Wetlands play a crucial role in buffering the effects of climate change. At the same time, they are one of the most endangered ecosystems on the globe. The knowledge of the water cycle and energy exchange is crucial for the practical preservation and exploiting their capabilities. Leaf wettability is an important parameter characterising the plant's ability to retain water on its surface, and is linked to the ecosystems' hydrological and ecological functioning. This research investigates the relationship between leaves' wettability based on contact angle measurements and water storage capacity (interception) for wetland vegetation. We performed the study for ten common plant species collected from Biebrza peatlands (Poland). We used CAM100 goniometer for the wetting contact angle measurements on the leaves' surface, and the weighing method for the plant surface water storage determination. The wetland plants' initial contact angle values ranged from 64.7° to 139.5° and 62.4° to 134.0° for the leaves' adaxial and abaxial parts, respectively. The average plant surface water storage was equal to 0.31 g·g−1, and values ranged from 0.09 to 0.76 g·g−1. The leaf hydrophobicity contributes to the amount of retained water. With increasing average contact angle, the amount of water retained on the plant decreased.

Influence of Water Table and Peat Thickness on Dissolved Organic Carbon of Tropical Peat Soil with Sulfidic Substratum from Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

“…3). The effect of pH on DOC concentration in water has been known from studies in other areas, such as Ishikawa et al [23] on the Sebangau River, Knorr [36] on surface water in swamps in Germany, and Ewa et al [43] in Polish peat groundwater. The relationship between acidity and DOC concentration is thought to be due to: a decrease in pH will increase the protonation of organic acid and thus that suppression of organic matter solubility [44] and an increase in anion concentration acids such as sulfates and nitrates are produced by oxidative reactions, which in turn lead to decreased DOC solubility and precipitation [16][45] [46].…”

Variability in Water Capacity of Small-Leaved Linden Associated with Both the Presence of Honeydew and Various Sources of Pollution

“…As a result of water retention on the surfaces of leaves, much less water reaches the forest floor [3]. Factors that may affect interception also include the amount of pollution, dust, or the hairs on the leaf surface [4]. The problem of interception has been the focus of hydrologists' attention for many years [5][6][7][8], but recently it has been addressed to a greater extent in the context of global climate change and increasing air pollution, as well as the response of plants to these factors [9].…”