Understanding the phenology of the invasive macroalga Nitellopsis obtusa (starry stonewort) is critical for evaluating and predicting its impacts on native macrophytes and timing control efforts. We tracked N. obtusa phenology in two Minnesota (USA) lakes from 2017-2018. We measured N. obtusa biomass and counted bulbils (asexual reproductive structures) throughout the growing season and in winter,

Submerged plants are crucial for maintaining a clear water state in lakes, and their distribution area is usually determined by the lowest distribution boundary (LDB). However, LDBs of submerged macrophytes often exhibit species differences and vary with seasonal water level fluctuations. In this study, we carried out a three-year field investigation to compare differences in the LDBs of three submerged

High morphological variation of Typha L. species (Typhaceae) inspires some authors to describe new taxa. We aim to test genetic distinctiveness of some taxa reported in the East Europe on morphological basis to verify their taxonomical status. We use sequences of intergenic spacer rpl32-trnL of cpDNA that was shown to be a reliable molecular marker in non-hybrid Typha species. We found that T. caspica

Seagrass meadows with more than two species co-occurring at a small scale are unusual in temperate regions, and such multispecies seagrass beds are undocumented in the Northeastern Pacific. Seagrasses in multispecies beds may coexist through trait differentiation in body size, life history types and phenology, especially when competitive exclusion is interrupted by environmental variability. Here,

Halophila stipulacea, a seagrass native to the Indian Ocean, spread to the Caribbean in 2002. Few studies have explored the spatiotemporal distribution of H. stipulacea throughout the Caribbean and whether native invertebrates utilize this non-native seagrass as habitat. We surveyed the shallow, nearshore subtidal zones of four bays in St. John, US Virgin Islands over a two-year period to assess the

Sexual reproduction is critical to the resilience of seagrass beds impacted by habitat degradation or environmental changes, as robust seed banks allow new shoots to establish each year. Reproductive strategies of seagrass beds range on a continuum from strictly annual to perennial, driven by local environmental conditions. We examined the reproductive dynamics of Zostera marina beds at six sites on

Artificial light at night (ALAN) is recognized as one of the major anthropogenic pollutants jeopardizing biodiversity at a global scale. Few studies have focused on the impacts of nocturnal light on freshwater ecosystems despite their increasing exposure to light pollution worldwide due to human activities along rivers or lakes. By modifying metabolism, the disruption of natural light regime could

Functional trait values and trait responsiveness to different environmental regimes determine the growth and reproduction of wetland plants. Flooding depth and nitrogen (N) supply, which have strong effects on plant functional traits, are important factors affecting the growth of marsh plant species. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to examine the response of growth, clonal reproductive traits

Climate-warming-driven sea level rise may change the vegetation composition of coastal wetlands, influencing ecosystem functions including photosynthetic activity, biomass production, litter decomposability and nutrient cycling. Litter decomposition rates of the most dominant macrophytes, Phragmites australis, Carex sp. and Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani, in two nearby freshwater and oligohaline peatlands

During a genetic survey of Vallisneria americana in the southeastern United States, a non-native hybrid between V. spiralis Linnaeus and V. denseserrulata Makino was detected in eight locations across Florida and Alabama. Although previously reported in Japan, Hungary, and Australia, this is the first documented occurrence of the hybrid in North America. Because natural ranges of both parent species

Vallisneria americana typically produces solitary pistillate inflorescences; however, unusual umbellate flowers have been observed in sub-tropical populations and are reported as rare. There are multiple hypotheses regarding the origin or cause of umbellate inflorescences—they may be relics of ancestral stocks surviving through asexual reproduction, heritable traits worthy of taxonomic recognition

Seagrass meadows are important estuarine habitats, and in recent decades, have suffered global declines. Fine sediment pollution is recognised as a major cause of decline, usually attributed to the combined effects of reduction of photosynthetically available radiation (PAR) and burial. However, intruded fine sediment affects the seagrass rhizosphere and this interacts with reduced irradiance to affect

The invasion success of non-native species depends on a variety of factors, and abiotic characteristics of invasive ranges and their native populations can offer resistance to non-native species establishment. Reservoirs, compared to natural lakes, can facilitate submerged macrophyte invasion because they provide favorable abiotic conditions to macrophyte establishment and development. However, previous

The genus Vallisneria consists of linear-leaved aquatic plants within the Hydrocharitaceae family. Only one indigenous member (V. spiralis) occurs in Europe. Populations of alien species appeared in some European countries in recent decades and these were named in various ways. To clarify the identity of alien Vallisneria we collected samples for a molecular phylogenetic analysis from six populations

The responses of Salicornia brachiata at six different phenological stages under different treatments (NPS: saline soil + sea water; NPM: saline soil + tap water; GS: non-saline soil + sea water; and GM: non-saline soil + tap water) were estimated by measuring the change in phenological parameters, biochemical as well as physiological characters and nutrient contents for six months (November 2015 to

We studied fruit morphology, germination and growth of juvenile plants and clonal ramets of the non-native species Typha laxmannii and the two common native species Typha angustifolia and Typha latifolia in Lower Austria by means of morphological measurements, germination tests in an environmental test chamber and garden experiments with different water and nutrient levels. The ecological niche of

The ornamental value of the lotus flower is largely determined by its color. To further understand the regulatory mechanism underlying the anthocyanin pigmentation, digital gene expression analyses through RNA-seq were performed on the early developmental stages of leaf and flower buds during the coloration process in lotus cultivar ‘Yehonglian’ (with red flowers). A total of 13022 differentially expressed

In recent years, anthropogenic impacts are causing a dramatic decline of marine ecosystems, especially in seagrass ecosystems located exclusively in subtidal zone. A full understanding of seagrass dispersal mechanisms and connectivity is very important for successful restoration, conservation, and management of seagrasses. Halophila ovalis, a seagrass considered a pioneer species that is widely distributed

Seagrasses and associated microbial communities constitute a functional unit (holobiont) which responds as a whole to environmental changes. However, it is still unclear how the microbial colonizers are selected. In this study we compared the epiphytic microbial communities associated with Posidonia oceanica and Halophila stipulacea, Mediterranean native and exotic seagrass species, respectively, growing

Even though seagrasses are clonal plants, they also invest substantial energy in sexual reproduction. However, little is known about the development of the reproductive structures of seagrasses and their complex interactions with ambient conditions. Here, we describe the structural and physiological changes during development in the fruit pericarp of the tropical seagrass Thalassia testudinum, and

Plant diversity is a known indicator of healthy ecosystems, therefore understanding interspecific relationships that structure plant communities is critical for invasive species management. A cryptic introduction of invasive macrophyte water chestnut (Trapa bispinosa var. iinumai) into the northeastern United States prompted investigation into potential competitive interactions between it and two common

In wetland ecosystems, macrophytes are sensitive to water level fluctuations. However, studies specific to the effects of water level fluctuations on distribution and composition of macrophytes are limited in sub-tropical floodplain wetlands of Nepal. This study aimed to examine the association between macrophytes and water levels in the floodplain wetlands of Koshi Tappu, in south-eastern Nepal. Sixty-four

Despite the increasing evidence that ploidy is a factor of importance for environmental adaptation, little work has hitherto been done about cytotype patterns in aquatic plants. We tested a set of hypotheses concerning the drivers of ploidy in macrophyte communities at worldwide scale, and also how ploidy state may be related to other attributes of aquatic plants such as community diversity, species

The innovation of colonizing the marine environment came at the cost of losing large gene blocks, which can promote structural or numerical chromosome changes for seagrasses. To understand (1) what events shaped the karyotype of this ecological group, and (2) what the implications of this evolutionary route are, the present study presents a reconstruction of the ancestral chromosome number of marine

Diverse diseases have been causing the serious biomass and economic losses of cultivated kelp, Saccharina japonica. In this study, we described a prevalent kelp disease, white spot disease, which was found in northern China in recent years, and evaluated its influences on kelp growth and phytochemical contents. The disease sustained a period from the fast-growing to the harvest of kelp, prevailing

Subtidal unstable bottoms are sensitive to the environmental disturbances that determine the structure of macroalgal communities. Here, three variables (substrate size, depth and site) are tested together to explore their effect on the community structure on cobble and gravel bottoms. Diversity metrics (richness per sample, richness per area, diversity (H '), total cover), cover of life forms (hypnophyceae

As vital components of freshwater ecosystems, river systems directly boost the dispersal and gene flow of aquatic species. However, various river systems might also increase the potential for isolation of these species and their genetic differentiation. In Africa, the roles of river systems in shaping the genetic diversity and structures of aquatic species are still poorly studied. In order to assess

Aquatic plant communities are good indicators of lake conditions, and persistent changes to those communities are indicative of environmental change. Our study used historical and recent lake plant surveys to detect changes in Minnesota’s lake plant communities over the last century. We did not find taxa richness estimates useful for change detection and suggest that recent richness values were higher

Flowering rush (Butomus umbellatus) is an invasive aquatic plant in northern USA and southern Canada. To better understand the pattern of invasion in North America and implications for management, we investigated genetic diversity and population structure of the more recent western North American invasion and compared it to the earlier eastern North America invasion using 80 variable AFLP loci. We

Vossia cuspidata (Roxb.) Griff. (Poaceae) is a serious invasive plant in Africa, capable to colonize several riverine wetlands. Controlling of any invasive plant is hampered by the lack of studies involving its growth ecology. Here, we aimed to evaluate the monthly and seasonal variations in the dry biomass partitioning of V. cuspidata and its macronutrients in three aquatic habitats (slopes, water

Invasions are a major threat to the biodiversity of native ecosystems. European lineages of Phragmites australis are invasive in North America, where they compete with the native subspecies and have expanded to regions previously not known to inhabit P. australis. Nonetheless, there is relatively little attention paid to the risk assessment and prevention of such cryptic invasions in China, despite

Nitellopsis obtusa (also known as Starry Stonewort) is a Eurasian charophyte first introduced into the Laurentian Great Lakes in the 1970s. Over the last decade, there have been increasing reports of N. obtusa invasion of inland lakes in the Great Lakes basin. To improve our understanding of N. obtusa’s habitat preferences, we sampled 60 lakes across a geological transition zone in Ontario, Canada

Understanding the relationship of fruit-setting rate (FSR) with species type, flower color, and stamen petaloidy (tepal number) of the parents in the crossing and selfing of lotus (Nelumbo) can improve breeding efficiency. In this study, 193 artificial crosses with 1.932 flowers and selfing (artificial and non-interference selfing) with 1.120 flowers were carried out in 218 lotus accessions. There

Relatively high frequencies of polyploidy are generally found in high-altitude regions. However, more diploid than polyploid species of Isoetes are distributed in plateau environments in China. The low-altitude species Isoetes sinensis originates from the allopolyploidization between a plateau parent and another low altitude species. To study potential ecological adaptation to plateau environments

A seasonal field monitoring study was carried out to evaluate for the first time in Bahía Balandra (Southern Gulf of California) the changes in morphology, phenology and physiological traits in the seagrass Halodule wrightii. Seasonally, traits associated with morphology (leaf, sheath and rhizome), shoot density, biomass and physiology (non-structural carbohydrates, carbon and nitrogen contents) were

Water chestnut (Trapa natans L.) is a notorious aquatic invasive species invading wetlands and waterways of the northeastern United States. In the Great Lakes watershed, specifically Lake Ontario coastal wetlands, water chestnut grows in areas similar to the native white water lily (Nymphaea odorata Aiton). To understand better the competitive interactions these species may have, they were grown in

The impacts of harmful algal blooms (HABs) on macrophytes have rarely been studied, although HABs are currently considered one of the major worldwide marine environmental threats. In this study, we incorporated photophysiology experimental data with paraffin-embedded section and transcriptome analysis of S. fusiforme to explore the effects of dense K. mikimotoi culture on the growth, photosynthetic

Land use changes and greater nitrogen input into waterways have facilitated the spread of an invasive Eurasian lineage of Phragmites australis across North America. Its establishment has led to decreases in wetland plant diversity, and displacement of a native American Phragmites lineage considered to be a low-nutrient specialist. We hypothesized that carbon-rich amendments that reduced nitrogen availability

The moss Drepanocladus lycopodioides, considered extinct in the Czech Republic, has been rediscovered. The population occurs in an abandoned sandstone quarry with a shallow water pool; the site known as Lom Rasová is located in the Bílé Karpaty Mts (the White Carpathians) in the south-eastern part of the Czech Republic. The species has not been recorded in the country since the first half of the 20th

Mangroves are naturally stressful habitats, with high salinity, regular flooding, strong winds, high temperatures, and muddy, hypoxic soils, requiring adaptations in plant anatomy. In this sense, we present a description of the leaf anatomy of Acrostichum aureum, a remarkable fern species growing in mangroves, focusing on novelties and the significance of the traits for adaptation to mangrove conditions

Levels of submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV) are commonly assessed using a modified garden rake. However, the utility of the rake sampling method relative to methods that are typically viewed as more definitive (and expensive) such as snorkeling and coring remains a matter of debate. This study explores whether probabilities of species detections for four SAV species varied among sampling units in

Field data on the occurrence of the common and cosmopolitan submerged macrophyte Ceratophyllum demersum in relation to the water ammonium content were compared with the response of the plants to different ammonium treatments performed in the laboratory. Ammonium concentrations above 10 μM in the monitored area were found to be a strong limiting factor on the presence of C. demersum in water bodies

The present study proposes a simple and rapid protocol to isolate DNA from marine algae of the genus Sargassum and Gracilaria. To identify the easy, fast and low cost method, four methods of DNA isolation viz., The Robertson Labs methods, STE Buffer method, PureFast-Plant Genomic DNA purification kit by Helini Biomolecules, Chennai and DNA Isolation by Heat Lysis Method were chosen for the present

The role of within-species genetic variability and ecotypes has been poorly documented in research on water bioindication. Some studies already show that macrophytes could present genetic lineages with different optima for specific water parameters. In the present study, we tested this assumption on Potamogeton coloratus Hornem., a macrophyte described as characteristic of oligotrophic waters and threatened

The aim of this study was to determine the genetic diversity and population genetic structure of Avicennia marina, an important mangrove tree species with a wide distribution. Samples were collected from four sampling localities, characterised by different environmental conditions, situated along the coast of Mozambique within southern Africa: Pemba-Metuge, Bons Sinais Estuary, Costa do Sol and Inhaca

A planted and a natural stand that started colonizing a coastal lagoon after an artificial channel permanently connected it to the sea were studied in Brazil’s Southwestern Atlantic coast to assess the ecological role of emerging mangrove forests and the ecological changes of the supporting ecosystems (i.e., coastal lagoon). In 15 years, the natural mangrove stand area increased 12 times, and the planted

There has been a rapid increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration, from pre-industrial values of 280 ppm to more than 400 ppm currently, and this is expected to double by the end of the 21st century. Studies have shown that plants grown at elevated CO2 concentrations have increased growth rates and invest more in carbon-based defences. This has important implications for the management of invasive alien

Myriophyllum spicatum L. is a widely distributed submerged aquatic plant species, which became a model species for different test systems using either unrooted or sediment-rooted plants. Here, we tested the response of unrooted and sediment-rooted M. spicatum to different combinations of temperature, light and CO2 conditions, respectively. Overall, the relative growth rates of rooted plants were higher

Although there has been a long history of cultivation and research on Nymphaea, the taxonomic relationships and evolutionary relationships among Nymphaea species remain controversial. The chloroplast (cp) genome can provide a new method to determine species origin, evolution, and phylogenetic relationships of Nymphaea. The complete cp genomes of seven Nymphaea species were sequenced by high-throughput

Global loss of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) and associated ecosystem function has prompted an interest in SAV revegetation, particularly where underlying stressors such as nutrient enrichment are mitigated, yet natural recruitment remains low. Typically, SAV is hand-planted, but alternative reliable and practically scalable SAV planting techniques are needed. In mesocosms, we evaluated five planting

Responses of the germination and growth of Ulva prolifera parthenogametes to gradients of temperature and light were evaluated. Results showed that U. prolifera parthenogametes could not germinate at 5 °C and 35 °C, and at all temperatures combined with dark conditions, but had high germination rates at the temperature of 15–25 °C and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) of 80–160 μmol m–2 s–1