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Effects of sediment-borne nutrient and litter quality on macrophyte decomposition and nutrient release

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Abstract

Macrophyte decomposition is a critical process that affects carbon and nutrient cycling, and energy flow, although the majority of the details involved in the process remain unclear. For the present study, a litter bag experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of sediment-borne nutrient and litter quality on the decomposition rates and nutrient release of four macrophyte life forms (emergent macrophyte: Phragmites australis, free-floating macrophyte: Hydrocharis dubia, floating-leaved macrophyte: Nymphoides peltata, submerged macrophyte: Ceratophyllum demersum), and a species mixture. Our results indicated that litter quality significantly influenced macrophyte decomposition and nutrient release. High-quality litter species (high initial nitrogen and phosphorus contents, as well as low C:N, C:P, and N:P ratios) decomposed more rapidly than low-quality litter species, and the initial C:N and C:P ratios, rather than the initial N and P contents, were effective indicators of the decomposition rate of macrophytes. Sediment-borne nutrients had little effect on the decomposition rate, yet a strong effect on the release of N and P, although the interactions between litter quality and sediment-borne nutrients significantly affected the decomposition rate. Three-way ANOVA analysis revealed that the litter quality imparted a more potent effect on the macrophyte decomposition rate and release of N and P than sediment-borne nutrients. These results implied that litter quality interacts with sediment-borne nutrients and may control macrophyte decomposition in shallow lakes.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31270261) and (31570366).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-Resources, Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Regional Development and Environmental Response, Faculty of Resources and Environment, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China

    Miao Wang, Xuwei Deng, Zhengxiang Wang & Zhongqiang Li

  2. Wildlife Conservation Chief Station of Hubei Province, Wuhan, 430079, China

    Tao Hao

  3. School of Nuclear Technology and Chemistry & Biology, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, 437100, China

    Zhaohui Cai

Authors
  1. Miao Wang
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  2. Tao Hao
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  3. Xuwei Deng
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  4. Zhengxiang Wang
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  5. Zhaohui Cai
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  6. Zhongqiang Li
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Correspondence to Zhaohui Cai or Zhongqiang Li.

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Handling editor: Chris Joyce

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Wang, M., Hao, T., Deng, X. et al. Effects of sediment-borne nutrient and litter quality on macrophyte decomposition and nutrient release. Hydrobiologia 787, 205–215 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-016-2961-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-016-2961-x

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