INTER-SPECIFIC COMPETITION BETWEEN TWO SUBMERGED MACROPHYTES, ELODEA NUTTALLII AND HYDRILLA VERTICILLATA

doi:10.17521/cjpe.2007.0011

Abstract

Abstract:

Aims Elodea nuttallii and Hydrilla verticillata have similar morphology. E. nuttallii is an alien aquatic plant introduced into China in 1980s. Both species occupy similar habitat; therefore, they are potential competitors. We investigated: 1) weather inter-specific competition occurred, 2) which species had superior competitive abilities, and 3) what factors influenced competitive results.

Methods Two replacement series experiments were carried out to analyze interspecific competition between E. nuttallii and H. verticillata. In replacement series experiments, the planting densities of the two species were varied but the total density was held constant. The first experiment assessed competitive ability at two levels of soil fertility, and the second investigated the long-term competitive growth of E. nuttallii and H. verticillata.

Important findings E. nuttallii had superior cold resistance and advantages in competing for space-time during winter and spring, so it grew well in the long-term experiment and eventually replaced H. verticillata. In the short-term experiment, H. verticillata formed an upper canopy, giving it advantages in competing for light and occupying the water surface, causing imbalanced competition between H. verticillata and E. nuttallii. H. verticillata was the stronger competitor at both levels of soil fertility, and increased soil fertility could strengthen its competitive abilities; however, it could not replace E. nuttallii and they could coexist in the mixed population. This study suggests competitive abilities are integrated abilities of plants and those morphological traits, life history traits and environmental factors could affect the results of competition. Therefore, investigations of plant interactions should encompass a wide array of factors.

Key words: Elodea nuttallii, Hydrilla verticillata, competition, replacement series experiment, submerged macrophyte, soil fertility

XU Jing-Wei, LI Wei, LIU Gui-Hua, ZHANG Li-Jing, LIU Wen-Zhi. INTER-SPECIFIC COMPETITION BETWEEN TWO SUBMERGED MACROPHYTES, ELODEA NUTTALLII AND HYDRILLA VERTICILLATA[J]. Chin J Plant Ecol, 2007, 31(1): 83-92.

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https://www.plant-ecology.com/EN/Y2007/V31/I1/83

Figures/Tables 6

References 46

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指标名称 Name of indices	缩写 Abbreviation	公式 Formulae	来源 Source
相对产量	RY	RY_a=Y_ab/(p_aY_a)	Fowler(1982)
Relative yield		RY_b=Y_ba/(p_bY_b)
相对产量总和	RYT_ab	RYT_ab=RY_a+RY_b	de Wit(1960); de Wit
Relative yield total			& van den Bergh(1965)
相对竞争强度	RCI^*	RCI_a=(p_aY_a-Y_ab)/p_aY_a=	Grace(1995)
Relative competitive intensity		1-RY_a
竞争攻击力	AG	AG=0.5(RY_a-RY_b)	McGilchrist & Trenbath( 1971)
Aggressivity
相对拥挤系数	RCC^*	RCC_a=p_bY_ab/p_a (Y_a-Y_ab)	Firbank & Watkinson( 1985)
Relative crowding coefficient

指标名称 Name of indices	缩写 Abbreviation	公式 Formulae	来源 Source
相对产量	RY	RY_a=Y_ab/(p_aY_a)	Fowler(1982)
Relative yield		RY_b=Y_ba/(p_bY_b)
相对产量总和	RYT_ab	RYT_ab=RY_a+RY_b	de Wit(1960); de Wit
Relative yield total			& van den Bergh(1965)
相对竞争强度	RCI^*	RCI_a=(p_aY_a-Y_ab)/p_aY_a=	Grace(1995)
Relative competitive intensity		1-RY_a
竞争攻击力	AG	AG=0.5(RY_a-RY_b)	McGilchrist & Trenbath( 1971)
Aggressivity
相对拥挤系数	RCC^*	RCC_a=p_bY_ab/p_a (Y_a-Y_ab)	Firbank & Watkinson( 1985)
Relative crowding coefficient

底质肥力 Fertility	伊乐藻Elodea nuttallii			黑藻Hydrilla verticillata
底质肥力 Fertility	最大茎长 MSL(cm)	茎伸长速率^* SER(cm·d^-1)	地下/地上 Root/Shoot	最大茎长 MSL(cm)	茎伸长速率^* SER(cm·d^-1)	地下/地上 Root/Shoot
低Low	50.75	0.89	0.022	121.67	2.12	0.062
高High	62.58	1.39	0.019	130.24	2.50	0.026

底质肥力 Fertility	伊乐藻Elodea nuttallii			黑藻Hydrilla verticillata
底质肥力 Fertility	最大茎长 MSL(cm)	茎伸长速率^* SER(cm·d^-1)	地下/地上 Root/Shoot	最大茎长 MSL(cm)	茎伸长速率^* SER(cm·d^-1)	地下/地上 Root/Shoot
低Low	50.75	0.89	0.022	121.67	2.12	0.062
高High	62.58	1.39	0.019	130.24	2.50	0.026

指标 Indices	营养水平 Level	密度设置 Density setup (N_e∶N_h)
指标 Indices	营养水平 Level	1(20∶0)	2(15∶5)	3(10∶10)	4(5∶15)	5(0∶20)
RY_e	低Low	-	0.806 7±0.135 6	0.920 3±0.191 2	0.556 4±0.047 0	-
	高High	-	0.665 0±0.007 4	0.729 2±0.043 4	0.434 9±0.103 2	-
RY_h	低Low	-	1.128 8±0.035 1	1.021 6±0.113 3	1.083 6±0.222 4	-
	高High	-	1.075 0±0.031 1	1.031 2±0.039 6	1.025 2±0.071 3	-
RYT	低Low	-	0.967 7±0.050 3	0.970 9±0.134 6	0.820 0±0.128 4	-
	高High	-	0.870 0±0.018 8	0.880 2±0.010 4	0.730 0±0.083 6	-
AG	低Low	-	-0.161 0±0.085 3	-0.051 0±0.081 2	-0.263 6±0.096 7	-
	高High	-	-0.205 0±0.012 6	-0.151 0±0.040 2	-0.295 2±0.029 6	-
RCI_e	低Low	-	0.193 3±0.135 6	0.079 7±0.191 2	0.443 6±0.047 0	-
	高High	-	0.335 0±0.007 4	0.270 8±0.043 4	0.565 1±0.103 2	-
RCI_h	低Low	-	-0.128 8±0.035 1	-0.022 0±0.113 3	-0.084 0±0.222 4	-
	高High	-	-0.075 0±0.031 1	-0.031 0±0.039 6	-0.025 0±0.071 3	-
RCC_e	低Low	-	0.544 6±0.199 1	0.892 0±0.337 4	0.485 2±0.047 9	-
	高High	-	0.331 7±0.007 3	0.575 0±0.052 9	0.367 8±0.097 0	-
RCC_h	低Low	-	1.179 8±0.051 5	1.062 9±0.243 7	1.242 9±0.955 9	-
	高High	-	1.102 9±0.043 8	1.066 8±0.085 7	1.156 8±0.310 3	-