Vascular Plants as Engineers of Oxygen in Aquatic Systems

Caraco, Nina F.; Cole, Jonathan J.; Findlay, Stuart E. G.; Wigand, Cathleen

doi:10.1641/0006-3568(2006)056[0219:vpaeoo]2.0.co;2

Cited by 132 publications

(77 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…This pattern of dissolved oxygen in our study suggests that VS may induce extensive reduced conditions in sediments favourable for NO 3 -reduction due to respiration of DOC exudates relative to the UVS. Although aquatic vegetation transport oxygen through the aerenchyma tissues into bed sediments (Caraco et al 2006), the observed low concentration of dissolved oxygen under the VS may be indicative of relatively faster consumption than possible replenishment through plant root transport into the sediments (Calhoun and King 1997).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of emergent vegetation on nitrate cycling in sediments of a groundwater-fed river

et al. 2013

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Emergent vegetation in river beds can play a significant role in nutrient cycling in riverine sediments. We analysed and compared pore water NO 3 -concentration gradients in the sediments of the River Leith, Cumbria, UK, in the presence and absence of emergent vegetation (dominated by Sparganium spp.). High resolution (1 cm interval), in situ, vertical profiles of NO 3 -to 30 cm depth were measured using deployment of diffusive equilibrium in thin films probes on four occasions from July to September 2010. We found significantly (p \ 0.05) lower NO 3 -concentration under vegetated sediments (VS) compared to those under adjacent un-vegetated sediments (UVS). Concentrations of dissolved oxygen, measured in pore water collected from multi-level piezometers at 10, 20, 25, 30 and 35 cm depths at the VS and UVS sties, were generally lower under VS (median concentration = 28 lM) than under UVS (median = 132 lM) and correlated significantly with NO 3 -concentration (Spearman's r = 0.74, p \ 0.05). Similarly, pore water dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration was 2.8 times higher under VS compared to UVS, and correlated negatively with NO 3 -concentration (Spearman's r = -0.39, p \ 0.05). Specific ultra-violet absorption at 254 nm (SUVA) and per cent aromaticity values of DOC were significantly higher under VS (p \ 0.05), suggesting that the DOC contained more complex (aromatic) compounds than DOC recorded under UVS. We suggest that, the higher quantity of DOC and its distinct SUVA and percentage aromaticity under VS may have supported faster dissolved oxygen consumption, with the creation of anoxic zones conducive for NO 3 -reduction mainly through denitrification. Metabolic uptake and immobilization of NO 3-by plants and microbes may have further contributed to lower NO 3 -concentrations under VS. As Sparganium spp. is a common plant growing in river beds in the UK, its role in NO 3 -cycling should be considered in attempts to accurately budget N cycling in river beds.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of emergent vegetation on nitrate cycling in sediments of a groundwater-fed river

et al. 2013

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“…Furthermore, this is not non-native/invasive species-specific (Frodge et al 1990;Moore et al 1994;Caraco & Cole 2002;Caraco et al 2006). In fact, given the diel fluctuation of DO in submersed species such as dense hydrilla, coontail Ceratophyllum demersum, elodea Elodea canadensis, and Naja guadalupensis, this habitat structure may be more beneficial for fish utilization than floating-leaved species which have lower complexity and can experience prolonged hypoxia (Frodge et al 1990;Moore et al 1994;.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, macrophytes at high densities can impact habitat conditions for fish feeding and water quality (Crowder & Cooper 1982;Caraco et al 2006). The morphology of macrophyte species can significantly influence dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The morphology of macrophyte species can significantly influence dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations. Submersed tissue (stemming, branching, and leafing) and a rooted surface canopy or floating leaves shade sunlight during the day and reduce water circulation (Bowes et al 1979;Caraco et al 2006). Large amounts of submersed plant tissue are positively related to respiration rates, creating the potential for depleted DO concentrations during night hours (Caraco & Cole 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spatial and temporal occurrence of hypoxia influences fish habitat quality in denseHydrilla verticillata

Bradshaw

Allen

Netherland

2014

Journal of Freshwater Ecology

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The abundance and architecture of some macrophyte species can alter water chemistry and impact fish habitat quality and quantity. Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) is an invasive aquatic plant that exhibits rapid growth and may contribute to low dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations (hypoxia, DO < 2.0 mg/L) during warm summer months. DO dynamics were evaluated at a range of spatial and temporal scales in three habitat types: open water, edge of hydrilla beds, and the dense interior of a hydrilla bed at two Florida lakes. Results showed that habitat type, month, and depth all significantly influenced DO, and 100% of the water column was hypoxic in late summer in the small lake. However, hydrilla biomass (kg/m 2 ) was much less and no hypoxia was detected in the larger lake, suggesting that lake morphology and size may influence the abundance and impacts of hydrilla on DO. Additionally, hypoxia in edge habitat indicates that increasing ecotone may not greatly influence DO concentrations unless substantial open water area adjacent to dense beds is maintained for adequate water cycling. Our results indicated that complete water column hypoxia occurred in one of our two sample lakes and only during late summer; thus, investigations of hypoxia should consider small spatial and temporal scales.

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“…Different functional groups of macrophytes, that is emergent, submersed, floating-leaved and freely floating (Rejmankova, 2011), as well as their density and seasonality, will differentially impact processes in the aforementioned categories (Caraco, Cole, Findlay, & Wigand, 2006). Thus, the impact of invasive species displacing native species is expected to be greater if it represents the replacement of one life form and functional role with another (Kato, Nishihiro, & Yoshida, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Regime shift in the littoral ecosystem of volcanic Lake Atitlán in Central America: combined role of stochastic event and invasive plant species

et al. 2018

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Different functional groups of macrophytes vary in their impact on aquatic ecosystem structure and processes. The introduction of new species with different growth form, combined with a stochastic event, may have serious and irreversible consequences on lake functioning. Our goals were to document and explain physical, chemical, metabolic and biotic changes in the littoral zones of a volcanic lake before and following two coinciding events: invasion by a submersed macrophyte, Hydrilla verticillata (Hydrocharitaceae), followed by a rapid increase in the lake water level (>2.5 m). We recorded plant biomass, plant tissue C:N:P stoichiometry, macroinvertebrates, water characteristics data along transects through littoral zones, and measured gas emission in controlled mesocosms and in the lake. The native emergent species, Schoenoplectus californicus (Cyperaceae), was generally not able to survive such a rapid water level increase, and Hydrilla spread and formed dense mats further preventing Schoenoplectus regeneration. The impact of another introduced species, the free‐floating Eichhornia crassipes (Pontederiaceae), was more localised, despite its much longer presence at the lake. Although the three species had comparable standing biomass, the two invader species had lower C:N:P ratios than Schoenoplectus, resulting in faster decomposition rates and indicating potential shifts in nutrient cycling within the ecosystem. The oxygen profile of the water column was altered by the non‐native species in a significantly different manner: in Eichhornia, the saturation concentrations dropped down to 30%–50% of dissolved oxygen, while oxygen supersaturation was recorded in Hydrilla. Both Schoenoplectus and Eichhornia patches exhibited comparable carbon dioxide (CO2) fluxes, sequestering 230 and 300 mg CO2 m−2 hr−1, respectively, during the day and emitting 250 and 200 mg CO2 m−2 hr−1, respectively, during the night. Contrary to these two species, Hydrilla patches sequestered CO2 during the day (34 mg CO2 m−2 hr−1) and night (44 mg CO2 m−2 hr−1). The invasive species maintained a richer community of macroinvertebrates compared to several native species (excluding Schoenoplectus), both in taxa diversity and in numbers of individuals. When the results are considered in the regional context, an increase in nutrient supply could lead to the dominance of free‐floating plants. We discussed management options more broadly considering the negative impacts of introduced species balanced against their beneficial effects, in the context of environmental changes.

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Vascular Plants as Engineers of Oxygen in Aquatic Systems

Cited by 132 publications

References 42 publications

Influence of emergent vegetation on nitrate cycling in sediments of a groundwater-fed river

Influence of emergent vegetation on nitrate cycling in sediments of a groundwater-fed river

Spatial and temporal occurrence of hypoxia influences fish habitat quality in denseHydrilla verticillata

Regime shift in the littoral ecosystem of volcanic Lake Atitlán in Central America: combined role of stochastic event and invasive plant species

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