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The response mechanism of Hydrilla verticillata and leaf epiphytic biofilms to depth and nutrient removal

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Abstract

The mechanism of morphological and physiological regulation of submerged aquatic plants (Hydrilla verticillata) is influenced by spatial and environmental changes related to water depth gradients. In the present study, changes in the aquatic microcosm were explored at the depth gradients of 0.3 m, 0.6 m, 0.9 m, 1.2 m, and 1.5 m, and the depth was recognized as a critical factor for improving water quality, especially for the removal of total phosphorus (TP) and recalcitrant protein-like molecules. At 0.9 m, the removal rates of TP and protein-like substances reached 78% and 18.67%, respectively, 1.76 times and 1.28 times the rates at 0.3 m. The maximum shoot/root growth and chlorophyll (a + b) suggest photosynthesis inhibition is minimal at 1.2 m. Fluctuations in enzyme activities imply an antioxidant response to lipid peroxidation damage under different oxidative stress. The adjusted activities of glutamine synthetase (GS) and alkaline phosphatase (APA) were an adaptive nutrient utilization strategy to different water depths. Microbiological diversity analysis of biofilms indicates that community structure changes in response to water depth. Considering the growth status and nutrient removal effects, the results indicate that the optimal planting depth for H. verticillata is 0.9–1.2 m. These findings contribute to understanding water purification mechanisms in depth gradients, and support the effective rebuilding and management of submerged macrophyte communities in natural shallow lakes.

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The data and materials that support the findings of this study are openly available on request.

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Funding

The study was supported by the National Science Foundation of China (51308127) and the Major Science and Technology Program for Water Pollution Control and Treatment (2012ZX07103-004).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, People’s Republic of China

    Huimin Li, Yaguang Li & Jibiao Zhang

  2. Shanghai Shifang Ecology and Landscape Co., Ltd., Shanghai, 200233, People’s Republic of China

    Yaguang Li

  3. Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, People’s Republic of China

    Deying Huang

  4. Anhui Academy of Environmental Science, Hefei, 230001, People’s Republic of China

    Liu Zhang

  5. School of Food Science & Engineering, Nanjing University of Finance & Economics, Nanjing, 210023, People’s Republic of China

    Jilai Lu

Authors
  1. Huimin Li
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  2. Yaguang Li
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  3. Deying Huang
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  4. Liu Zhang
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Contributions

Huimin Li: Conducting experiments, data analysis, writing—original draft preparation. Yaguang Li: Data curation, investigation, resources. Deying Huang: Formal analysis, conceptualization, writing—review and editing. Liu Zhang: Methodology, investigation, formal analysis. Jilai Lu: Methodology and investigation. Jibiao Zhang: Supervision.

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Correspondence to Deying Huang.

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Li, H., Li, Y., Huang, D. et al. The response mechanism of Hydrilla verticillata and leaf epiphytic biofilms to depth and nutrient removal. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 49032–49041 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-14131-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-14131-x

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