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Effects of macrophyte species richness on wetland ecosystem functioning and services

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  • Katharina A. M. Engelhardt

    (Utah State University
    University of Maryland, Center for Environmental Science, Appalachian Laboratory)

  • Mark E. Ritchie

    (Utah State University)

Abstract

Wetlands provide many important ecosystem services to human society1,2,3,4,5, which may depend on how plant diversity influences biomass production and nutrient retention4,6,7,8. Vascular aquatic plant diversity may not necessarily enhance wetland ecosystem functioning, however, because competition among these plant species can be strong, often resulting in the local dominance of a single species4,9. Here we have manipulated the species richness of rooted, submerged aquatic plant (macrophyte) communities in experimental wetland mesocosms. We found higher algal and total plant (algal plus macrophyte) biomass, as well as lower loss of total phosphorus, in mesocosms with a greater richness of macrophyte species. Greater plant biomass resulted from a sampling effect; that is, the increased chance in species mixtures that algal production would be facilitated by the presence of a less competitive species—in this case, crisped pondweed. Lower losses of total phosphorus resulted from the greater chance in species mixtures of a high algal biomass and the presence of sago pondweed, which physically filter particulate phosphorus from the water2,10,11. These indirect and direct effects of macrophyte species richness on algal production, total plant biomass and phosphorus loss suggest that management practices that maintain macrophyte diversity may enhance the functioning and associated services of wetland ecosystems.

Suggested Citation

  • Katharina A. M. Engelhardt & Mark E. Ritchie, 2001. "Effects of macrophyte species richness on wetland ecosystem functioning and services," Nature, Nature, vol. 411(6838), pages 687-689, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:411:y:2001:i:6838:d:10.1038_35079573
    DOI: 10.1038/35079573
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    Cited by:

    1. Chen, Guanyi & Zhao, Liu & Qi, Yun, 2015. "Enhancing the productivity of microalgae cultivated in wastewater toward biofuel production: A critical review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 282-291.
    2. Haiyan Duan & Menghong Xu & Yu Cai & Xianen Wang & Jialong Zhou & Qiong Zhang, 2019. "A Holistic Wetland Ecological Water Replenishment Scheme with Consideration of Seasonal Effect," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-15, February.
    3. Dash, Siddhant & Borah, Smitom Swapna & Kalamdhad, Ajay S., 2020. "Study of the limnology of wetlands through a one-dimensional model for assessing the eutrophication levels induced by various pollution sources," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 416(C).
    4. Chengxiang Zhang & Li Wen & Yuyu Wang & Cunqi Liu & Yan Zhou & Guangchun Lei, 2020. "Can Constructed Wetlands be Wildlife Refuges? A Review of Their Potential Biodiversity Conservation Value," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-18, February.
    5. Hualin Xie & Yanwei Zhang & Yongrok Choi & Fengqin Li, 2020. "A Scientometrics Review on Land Ecosystem Service Research," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-23, April.
    6. Erika C Brandt & John E Petersen & Jake J Grossman & George A Allen & David H Benzing, 2015. "Relationships between Spatial Metrics and Plant Diversity in Constructed Freshwater Wetlands," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(8), pages 1-14, August.
    7. Blayac, Thierry & Mathé, Syndhia & Rey-Valette, Hélène & Fontaine, Pascal, 2014. "Perceptions of the services provided by pond fish farming in Lorraine (France)," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 115-123.
    8. James Blignaut & Christina Moolman, 2006. "Quantifying the Potential of Restored Natural Capital to Alleviate Poverty and Help Conserve Nature: A Case Study from South Africa," Working Papers 200607, University of Pretoria, Department of Economics.

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