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Interactive effects of light and snail herbivory rather than nutrient loading determine early establishment of submerged macrophytes
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  • Mingjun Feng,
  • Peiyu Zhang,
  • Haowu Cheng,
  • Frenken Thijs,
  • Min Zhang,
  • Jun Xu
Mingjun Feng
Huazhong Agriculture University

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Peiyu Zhang
Institute of Hydrobiology Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Haowu Cheng
Huazhong Agricultural University
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Frenken Thijs
HAS University of Applied Sciences
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Min Zhang
Huazhong Agricultural University
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Jun Xu
Institute of Hydrobiology Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Abstract

Submerged macrophytes play a key role in maintaining a clear-water phase and promoting biodiversity in shallow aquatic ecosystems. Since their abundance has declined globally due to anthropogenic activities, it is important to include them in aquatic ecosystem restoration programs. That macrophytes establish in early spring is crucial for maintaining the macrophyte communities for the remainder of the year. However, factors affecting this early establishment of submerged macrophytes have not been fully explored yet. Here, we conducted an outdoor experiment from winter to early spring using the submerged macrophytes Potamogeton crispus and Vallisneria spinulosa to study the effects of shading, nutrient loading, snail herbivory (Radix swinhoei) and their interactions on the early growth and stoichiometric characteristics of macrophytes. The results show that the effects strongly depend on macrophyte species. Biomass and number of shoots of P. crispus decreased, and internode length increased during low light conditions, but were not affected by nutrient loading. P. crispus shoot biomass and number showed hump-shaped responses to increased snail biomass under full light. In contrast, the biomass of the plant linearly decreased with snail biomass under low light. This indicates an interaction of light with snail herbivory. Since snails prefer grazing on periphyton over macrophytes, a low density of snails promoted growth of P. crispus by removing periphyton competition, while herbivory on the macrophyte increased during a high density of snails. The growth of V. spinulosa was not affected by any of the factors, probably because of growth limitation by low temperature. Our study demonstrates that the interaction of light with snail herbivory may affect establishment and growth of submerged macrophytes in early spring. Macrophyte restoration projects may thus benefit from lowering water levels to increase light availability and making smart use of cold-adapted herbivores to reduce light competition with periphyton.
23 Feb 2022Submitted to Ecology and Evolution
23 Feb 2022Submission Checks Completed
23 Feb 2022Assigned to Editor
09 Mar 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
24 May 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
25 May 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
03 Jun 20221st Revision Received
04 Jun 2022Submission Checks Completed
04 Jun 2022Assigned to Editor
04 Jun 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
10 Jun 2022Editorial Decision: Accept
Jul 2022Published in Ecology and Evolution volume 12 issue 7. 10.1002/ece3.9070