Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of plant size on the growth of the submersed macrophyte Vallisneria spinulosa S.Z.Yan at different light intensities: implications for lake restoration

  • Primary Research Paper
  • Published:
Hydrobiologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The growth and reproduction of plants are highly size-dependent and markedly affected by light intensity. Vallisneria spinulosa S.Z.Yan is a common submersed macrophyte and is widely used in current lake restoration projects. The size of plants to be used to get optimal restoration results is not known, however, and may vary with water clarity. In this study, the effects of different plant sizes (large, medium and small, i.e. approximately 2.40 g, 1.01 g and 0.27 g per plant) on the growth and reproduction of V. spinulosa were tested under three light intensities (high, medium, low, i.e. 25%, 6% and 1% of full sunlight, respectively). Both plant size and light intensity were found to be of great significance for plant growth and reproduction. The relative growth rate (RGR) of biomass was higher for small than for large plants at both high and low light, while the absolute growth rate (AGR) of biomass was higher for large-sized plants at medium and high light intensity. Asexual reproduction of V. spinulosa was positively correlated with plant size and more affected by plant size than by light intensity, while sexual reproduction was most affected by light intensity. RGR and AGR of plant height were highest for medium-sized plants at moderate light intensity. Therefore, the size of submersed macrophytes should be considered when using this species in connection with lake restoration. Verification of our results under field conditions is needed, though, before firm conclusions can be reached about the optimal plant size of V. spinulosa to be used in lake restoration as also other factors like, e.g. periphyton shading and wave actions may play a role.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aou-Ouad, H. E., I. Florez-Sarasa, M. Ribas-Carbó, J. Flexas, H. Medrano & J. Gulías, 2015. Trade-offs between seedling growth, plant respiration and water-use efficiency in two Mediterranean shrubs Rhamnus alaternus and Rhamnus ludovici-salvatoris. Photosynthetica 53: 537–546.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cao, T., P. Xie, L. Y. Ni, A. Wu, M. Zhang, S. K. Wu & A. Smolders, 2007. The role of NH4+ toxicity in the decline of the submersed macrophyte Vallisneria natans in lakes of the Yangtze River basin, China. Marine and Freshwater Research 58: 581–587.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cao, T., P. Xie, L. Y. Ni, A. Wu, M. Zhang & J. Xu, 2008. Relationships among the contents of total phenolics, soluble carbohydrate, and free amino acids of 15 aquatic macrophytes. Journal of Freshwater Ecology 23: 291–296.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cao, T., L. Y. Ni, P. Xie, J. Xu & M. Zhang, 2011. Effects of moderate ammonium enrichment on three submersed macrophytes under contrasting light availability. Freshwater Biology 56: 1620–1629.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Casas, R. R. D., P. Vargas, E. Pérez-Corona, E. Manrique, C. García-Verdugo & L. Balaguer, 2011. Sun and shade leaves of Olea europaea respond differently to plant size, light availability and genetic variation. Functional Ecology 25: 802–812.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, K., C. Lan, L. Shi, W. Chen, H. Xu & X. Bao, 2006. Reproductive ecology of Vallisneria natans. Journal of Plant Ecology 30: 487–495.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, L., Q. Ye, L. Pan, L. Xu & H. Huang, 2008. Vallisneria species in lakes of the middle-lower reaches of the Yangtze River of China. Journal of Plant Ecology 32(1): 106–113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Childs, D. Z., M. Rees, K. E. Rose, P. J. Grubb & S. P. Ellner, 2004. Evolution of size-dependent flowering in a variable environment: construction and analysis of a stochastic integral projection model. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London 271: 425–434.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coleman, J. S., K. D. M. McConnaughay & F. A. Bazzaz, 1993. Elevated CO2 and plant nitrogen-use: is reduced tissue nitrogen concentration size-dependent? Oecologia 93: 195–200.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Collalti, A., M.G. Tjoelker, G. Hoch, A. Mäkelä, G. Guidolotti, M. Heskel, G. Petit, M.G. Ryan, G. Battipaglia, G. Matteucci & I.C. Prentice, 2019. Plant respiration: Controlled by photosynthesis or biomass? Global Change Biology 0: 1-15.

  • Cooling, M. P., G. G. Ganf & K. F. Walker, 2001. Leaf recruitment and elongation: an adaptive response to flooding in Villarsia reniformis. Aquatic Botany 70: 281–294.

    Google Scholar 

  • Delagrange, S., C. Messier, M. J. Lechowicz & P. Dizengremel, 2004. Physiological, morphological and allocational plasticity in understory deciduous trees: importance of plant size and light availability. Tree Physiology 24: 775–784.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ekstam, B., 1995. Ramet size equalisation in a clonal plant, Phragmites australis. Oecologia 104: 440–446.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Evans, J. R. & H. Poorter, 2001. Photosynthetic acclimation of plants to growth irradiance: The relative importance of specific leaf area and nitrogen partitioning in maximizing carbon gain. Plant, Cell and Environment 24: 755–767.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fu, H., G. Yuan, T. Cao, L. Ni, M. Zhang & S. Wang, 2012a. An alternative mechanism for shade adaptation: implication of allometric responses of three submersed macrophytes to water depth. Ecological Research 27: 1087–1094.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fu, H., G. Yuan, T. Cao, L. Ni & X. Zhang, 2012b. Clonal growth and foraging behavior of a submerged macrophyte Vallisneria natans in response to water depth gradient. Journal of Lake Sciences 24: 705–711.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hou, Z., H. E. Shuang, F. Wang & A. Zhang, 2013. Dynamics of rare clonal plant Linnaea borealis L. sexual reproduction and related affecting factors. Chinese Journal of Ecology 32: 3167–3172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang, J., Y. Z. Song & B. Q. Qin, 2010. Effect of Vallisneria natans on periphytic algae and phytoplankton with different nutrients. Environmental Science & Technology 33: 17–21.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Iersel, M. W. V., 2003. Carbon use efficiency depends on growth respiration, maintenance respiration, and relative growth rate. A case study with lettuce. Plant Cell & Environment 26: 1441–1449.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiang, M. & Y. Kadono, 2001. Growth and reproductive characteristics of an aquatic macrophyte Ottelia alismoides (L.) Pers. (Hydrocharitaceae). Ecological Research 16: 687–695.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, B., 2000. General Ecology. Higher Education Press, Beijing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, W., 2014. Environmental opportunities and constraints in the reproduction and dispersal of aquatic plants. Aquatic Botany 118: 62–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Li, Z., D. Yu & M. Tu, 2005. Seed germination of three species of Vallisneria (Hydrocharitaceae), and the effects of freshwater microalgae. Hydrobiologia 544: 11–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lin, Q., M. Fan, P. Jin, L. Riaz, Z. Wu, F. He, B. Liu & J. Ma, 2019. Sediment type and the clonal size greatly affect the asexual reproduction, productivity, and nutrient absorption of Vallisneria natans. Ecological Restoration. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.13089.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mendoza, A. M., 1998. Sexual reproduction and clonal growth in Reinhardtia gracilis (Palmae), an understory tropical palm. American Journal of Botany 85: 521–527.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Myers, J. A. & K. Kitajima, 2007. Carbohydrate storage enhances seedling shade and stress tolerance in a neotropical forest. Journal of Ecology 95: 383–395.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ni, L., 2001. Growth of Potamogeton maackianus under low-light stress in eutrophic water. Journal of Freshwater Ecology 16: 249–256.

    Google Scholar 

  • Niinemets, U., A. Cescatti, M. Rodeghiero & T. Tosens, 2006. Complex adjustments of photosynthetic potentials and internal diffusion conductance to current and previous light availabilities and leaf age in Mediterranean evergreen species Quercus ilex. Plant Cell & Environment 29: 1159–1178.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ohlson, M., 1988. Size-dependent reproductive effort in three populations of Saxifraga hirculus in Sweden. Journal of Ecology 76: 1007–1016.

    Google Scholar 

  • Poorter, H., C. Remkes & H. Lambers, 1990. Carbon and nitrogen economy of 24 wild species differing in relative growth rate. Plant Physiology 94: 621–627.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Reich, P. B., M. G. Tjoelker, J. L. Machado & J. Oleksyn, 2006. Universal scaling of respiratory metabolism, size and nitrogen in plants. Nature 439: 457–461.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reinartz, J. A., 1984. Life history variation of common mullein (Verbascum thapsus): II. Plant size, biomass partitioning and morphology. Journal of Ecology 72: 913–925.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rollón, R. N., E. D. D. R. V. Steveninck & W. V. Vierssen, 2003. Spatio-temporal variation in sexual reproduction of the tropical seagrass Enhalus acoroides (L.f.) Royle in Cape Bolinao, NW Philippines. Aquatic Botany 76: 339–354.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmid, B., F. A. Bazzaz & J. Weiner, 1995. Size dependency of sexual reproduction and of clonal growth in two perennial plants. Canadian Journal of Botany 73: 1831–1837.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seidlova, L., M. Verlinden, J. Gloser, A. Milbau & I. Nijs, 2009. Which plant traits promote growth in the low-light regimes of vegetation gaps? Plant Ecology 200: 303–318.

    Google Scholar 

  • Su, W. H., G. F. Zhang, Y. S. Zhang, H. Xiao & F. Xia, 2004. The photosynthetic characteristics of five submerged aquatic plants. Acta Hydrobiologica Sinica 28: 391–395.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, W. A., L. K. Huang, P. E. Kriedemann, W. A. Thompson, L. K. Huang & P. E. Kriedemann, 1992. Photosynthetic response to light and nutrients in sun-tolerant and shade-tolerant rainforest trees. II. Leaf gas exchange and component processes of photosynthesis. Functional Plant Biology 19: 19–42.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tjoelker, M. G., J. Oleksyn & P. B. Reich, 1999. Acclimation of respiration to temperature and CO2 in seedlings of boreal tree species in relation to plant size and relative growth rate. Global Change Biology 5: 679–691.

    Google Scholar 

  • Valladares, F. & Ü. Niinemets, 2008. Shade tolerance, a key plant feature of complex nature and consequences. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics 39: 237–257.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vanderklein, D., J. Martínez-Vilalta, S. Lee & M. Mencuccini, 2007. Plant size, not age, regulates growth and gas exchange in grafted Scots pine trees. Tree Physiology 27: 71–79.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Verburg, R. W. & H. J. During, 1998. Vegetative propagation and sexual reproduction in the woodland understorey pseudo-annual Circaea lutetiana L. Plant Ecology 134: 211–224.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walters, M. B. & P. B. Reich, 1999. Low-light carbon balance and shade tolerance in the seedlings of woody plants: do winter deciduous and broad-leaved evergreen species differ? New Phytologist 143: 143–154.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, H., C. Liu & D. Yu, 2015. Morphological and reproductive differences among three charophyte species in response to variation in water depth. Aquatic Biology 24(2): 91–100.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xiao, Y., J. B. Tang, Q. Hua, C. F. Zhou, W. J. Kong & S. Q. An, 2011. Trade-offs among growth, clonal, and sexual reproduction in an invasive plant Spartina alterniflora responding to inundation and clonal integration. Hydrobiologia 658: 353–363.

    Google Scholar 

  • Xie, T. P., G. F. Zhang, Z. G. Zhao, G. Z. Du & G. Y. He, 2014. Intraspecific competition and light effect on reproduction of Ligularia virgaurea, an invasive native alpine grassland clonal herb. Ecology & Evolution 4: 817–825.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yuan, G., T. Cao, H. Fu, L. Ni, X. Zhang, W. Li, X. Song, P. Xie & E. Jeppesen, 2013. Linking carbon and nitrogen metabolism to depth distribution of submersed macrophytes using high ammonium dosing tests and a lake survey. Freshwater Biology 58: 2532–2540.

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Yuan, G., H. Fu, J. Zhong, Q. Lou, L. Ni & T. Cao, 2016. Growth and C/N metabolism of three submersed macrophytes in response to water depths. Environmental & Experimental Botany 122: 94–99.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the National Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 31760148, 31770510). EJ was supported by the Tübitak program BIDEB2232 and Centre for Water Technology (WATEC), Aarhus University. We thank Anne Mette Poulsen for editorial comments.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Rural Ecosystem Health in Dongting Lake Area, Ecology Department, College of Resources and Environment, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China

    Guixiang Yuan & Hui Fu

  2. Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Water Resources and Environment of Poyang Lake, Jiangxi Institute of Water Sciences, Nanchang, China

    Guixiang Yuan, Hui Fu, Meihong Zhang, Qian Lou & Taotao Dai

  3. Lake Section, Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Silkeborg, Denmark

    Erik Jeppesen

  4. Sino-Danish Centre for Education and Research, Beijing, 100049, China

    Erik Jeppesen

  5. Limnology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences and Centre for Ecosystem Research and Implementation, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey

    Erik Jeppesen

Authors
  1. Guixiang Yuan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Hui Fu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Meihong Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Qian Lou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Taotao Dai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Erik Jeppesen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Guixiang Yuan.

Additional information

Handling editor: Chris Joyce

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yuan, G., Fu, H., Zhang, M. et al. Effects of plant size on the growth of the submersed macrophyte Vallisneria spinulosa S.Z.Yan at different light intensities: implications for lake restoration. Hydrobiologia 847, 3609–3619 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-020-04374-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-020-04374-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation