Aquatic Plant Control Research Program: Effects of Salinity and Irradiance Conditions on the Growth, Morphology and Chemical Composition of Submersed Aquatic Macrophytes
Abstract
Hydrilla verticillata, Myriophyllum spicatum, Potamogeton perfoliatus, and Vallisneria americana were compared among different salinity and light conditions. The culture solution in five pairs of tanks was gradually adjusted to salinities of 0, 2, 4,6, and 12 ppt. With the exception of H. verticillata, the sea plants may be considered eurysaline species that are able to salinities one third the strength of seawater. With increasing salinity, the influorescence production decreased in M. spicatum and P. perfoliatus, yet asexual reproduction in the latter species by underground buds remained constant. Stem elongation increased in response to shading in M. spicatum, while shaded P. perfoliatus has higher concentrates of chlorophyll a. In association with high epiphytic mass, chlorophyll a concentrations in all species were greatest at 12 ppt. The concentration of sodium increased in all four species examined, indicating that these macrophytes did not possess mechanisms to exclude this ion. The nitrogen content of the plants tested increased significantly with higher sodium concentrate, suggesting that nitrogen may be used in osmoregulation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA225023
Entities
People
- John W. Barko
- Robert R. Twilley