Species-specific fragmentation rate and colonization potential partly explain the successful spread of aquatic plants in lowland streams

Heidbüchel, Patrick; Sachs, Maria; Stanik, Nils; Hussner, Andreas

doi:10.1007/s10750-019-04041-y

Cited by 12 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…Similar to other aquatic plants, shoot fragments are produced via autofragmentation (self-induced fragmentation) and/or allofragmentation (fragmentation caused by physical disturbance). The number of shoot fragments produced by M. heterophyllum is rather low; however,~60% of the produced fragments already possess roots (E. Gross, own observations; [45]). Shoot fragments are transported within connected water systems by drift.…”

Section: Environmental Factors Influencing Growth and Dispersalmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Myriophyllum heterophyllum grows in stagnant and slow-flowing waters, such as lakes, canals, ponds and slow-flowing rivers [2,12,25,29,32,45]. Even though the species was found to a maximum depth of 10 m in lakes, the highest biomass accumulation with up to 4 kg m −2 dry mass is reported from shallow sites accumulated from several years [2].…”

Section: Habitat and Water Physicochemical Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ecology and Environmental Impact of Myriophyllum heterophyllum, an Aggressive Invader in European Waterways

Gross

Groffier

Pestelard³

et al. 2020

Diversity

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The submerged evergreen aquatic plant Myriophyllum heterophyllum is among the worst invasive species in Europe, causing severe problems especially in navigation channels but also lentic systems. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview and update on the current distribution and risks associated with this species in Europe and elsewhere. We provide an evaluation of current identification keys since misidentification can underestimate the extent of its spread. In addition, hybridization with other milfoil species has been reported in North America but seems unlikely in Europe. We further describe in detail the ecology, specifically resource requirements and biotic interactions with other plants, herbivores and pathogens as well as the spread potential of the species. Good knowledge of the autecology and synecology of this species should allow some conclusions about environmental factors possibly related to its invasive growth and is mandatory for the preparation of species-specific management measures. Finally, we outline the status of regulations coming into effect in member states of the European Union (EU) and provide an overview of applied and potential management practices.

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Section: Environmental Factors Influencing Growth and Dispersalmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Habitat and Water Physicochemical Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecology and Environmental Impact of Myriophyllum heterophyllum, an Aggressive Invader in European Waterways

Gross

Groffier

Pestelard³

et al. 2020

Diversity

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“…As the regeneration probability increases with increasing fragment size (e.g. Heidbüchel, Sachs, et al, 2019) Heidbüchel, Sachs, et al, 2019). However, even under controlled conditions, plant fragments of highly regenerative species do not initiate new growth before 7 days Heidbüchel, Jahns, & Hussner, 2019;Kuntz et al, 2014).…”

Section: Successful Establishment Following Retentionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While initial colonisation poses the limiting factor for the disper- needed to elucidate these species-specific limitations for initial colonisation. However, a high number of released fragments, thus also propagule pressure, as well as high regeneration and colonisation abilities generally enhance the overall likelihood for successful establishment of a species (Heidbüchel, Sachs, et al, 2019).…”

Section: Successful Establishment Following Retentionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…initiate new growth) even from small stem fragments consisting of only a single node (e.g. Heidbüchel, Sachs, Stanik, & Hussner, 2019;Kuntz, Heidbüchel, & Hussner, 2014;Langeland & Sutton, 1980). Indeed, fragments of many aquatic plants collected in the field were highly viable (Boedeltje et al, 2003(Boedeltje et al, , 2004Heidbüchel & Hussner, 2020;Heidbüchel, Sachs, et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Go with the flow: Fragment retention patterns shape the vegetative dispersal of aquatic plants in lowland streams

Heidbüchel

Sachs

Hamzehian³

et al. 2020

Freshwater Biology

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1. The dispersal of aquatic plant propagules is highly facilitated in streams due to flow. As many aquatic plants predominantly spread through vegetative propagules, the specific retention and thus drift distance of dispersed plant fragments largely contribute to the rapid spread along the course of a stream. 2. We determined fragment retention for four aquatic plant species (Elodea canadensis, Myriophyllum spicatum, Ceratophyllum demersum, Salvinia natans; representing four different common morpho-structural groups) in sections of small to mediumsized German streams with different levels of stream sinuosity. 3. The number of fragments showed a logistic decline over drift distance. In two small streams, 90% of drifting fragments were retained at distances (D 90) of only 5-9 m and 19-70 m, while higher D 90 values of 116-903 m and 153-2,367 m were determined for sections of a medium-sized stream. The likelihood of retention thereby decreased significantly with increasing stream size and was reduced in straightened stream sections. 4. Differences in retention were more strongly related to fragment buoyancy rather than fragment size and morphology. Increasing buoyancy significantly lowered the likelihood of fragment retention over drift distance by a factor of 3-8, whereas contrasting effects were documented for size and morphology of fragments. 5. The relevance of different obstacles was highly stream section-specific and depended on obstacle abundance, distribution, and the degree of submergence/ emergence. 6. Our findings elucidate the dynamic retention patterns of plant fragments and highlight the strong interplay between extrinsic (stream) and intrinsic (fragment) properties. We conclude that straightened lowland streams of intermediate size promote the rapid dispersal of invasive aquatic plants and are particularly prone to invaders producing large amounts of small and highly buoyant plant fragments. Information on the species-specific fragment colonisation dynamics in the field is further required to improve our understanding of the vegetative dispersal capacity of invasive aquatic plants in stream ecosystems.

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Riverine aquatic plants trap propagules and fine sediment: Implications for ecosystem engineering and management under contrasting land uses

McKendrick,

Burns,

Imberger

et al. 2024

Earth Surf Processes Landf

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Plants in streams act as physical ecosystem engineers, both influencing and responding to hydrogeomorphic processes such as fine sediment retention. Instream vegetation may also influence propagule dispersal and retention, shaping plant community dynamics. These plant‐sediment interactions may result in synergistic feedback promoting hydrogeomorphic complexity and biogeomorphic succession. However, the role of aquatic plants (submerged or mostly submerged) in trapping propagules, fine sediment and organic matter in degraded lowland streams is uncertain. In this study, we sampled sediment (≤5 cm depth) from eight streams ranging in land use from rural to urban, including within patches of aquatic vegetation and unvegetated locations. We conducted a propagule bank trial to identify the abundance and diversity of propagules and analysed the particle size and organic matter composition of the samples. A total of 8,365 seedlings from 113 plant species were recorded with a range of hydrological tolerances. Aquatic plants retained 56% more propagules and 32% more species, and marginal vegetation retained 250% more propagules and 48% more species, than open channel locations (the least retentive location). Similar patterns were found for fine sediment and organic matter retention. Propagule bank communities were different across land‐use types but not sampling locations. The trapping effect of aquatic vegetation diminished as catchments became more urbanised. This study provides evidence that aquatic plants retain more propagules and species, and fine sediment and organic matter than vegetation‐free channel locations. Improving aquatic vegetation in streams may be an important early step in restoring hydrogeomorphic complexity and propagule retention, and the facilitation of biogeomorphic succession in degraded streams. Unfortunately, heavily urbanised streams with flashy flow regimes are unlikely to benefit from this function unless catchment‐scale hydrology is addressed.

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Species-specific fragmentation rate and colonization potential partly explain the successful spread of aquatic plants in lowland streams

Cited by 12 publications

References 65 publications

Ecology and Environmental Impact of Myriophyllum heterophyllum, an Aggressive Invader in European Waterways

Ecology and Environmental Impact of Myriophyllum heterophyllum, an Aggressive Invader in European Waterways

Go with the flow: Fragment retention patterns shape the vegetative dispersal of aquatic plants in lowland streams

Riverine aquatic plants trap propagules and fine sediment: Implications for ecosystem engineering and management under contrasting land uses

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