Can allelopathically active submerged macrophytes stabilise clear-water states in shallow lakes?
By Sabine Hilt, E. Gross. 2008
342 citations recorded by the source corpus.
Inhibition of phytoplankton by allelochemicals released by submerged macrophytes is supposed to be one of the mechanisms that contribute to the stabilisation of clear-water states in shallow lakes. The relevance of this process at ecosystem level, however, is debated because in situ evidence is difficult to achieve. Our literature review indicates that allelopathically active species such as Myriophyllum, Ceratophyllum, Elodea and Najas or certain charophytes are among the most frequent submerged macrophytes in temperate shallow lakes. The most common experimental approach for allelopathic interference between macrophytes and phytoplankton has been the use of plant extracts or purified plant compounds. Final evidence, however, requires combination with more realistic in situ experiments. Such investigations have successfully been performed with selected species. In situ allelopathic activity is also influenced by the fact that phytoplankton species exhibit differential sensitivity against allelochemicals both between and within major taxonomic groups such as diatoms, cyanobacteria and chlorophytes. In general, epiphytic species apparently are less sensitive towards allelochemicals than phytoplankton despite living closely attached to the plants and being of key importance for macrophyte growth due to their shading. Light and nutrient availability potentially influence the sensitivity of target algae and cyanobacteria. Whether or not additional stressors such as nutrient limitation enhance or dampen allelopathic interactions still has to be clarified. We strongly propose allelopathy as an important mechanism in the interaction between submerged macrophytes and phytoplankton in shallow lakes based on the frequent occurrence of active species and the knowledge of potential target species. The role of allelopathy interfering with epiphyton development is less well understood. Including further levels of complexity, such as nutrient interference, grazing and climate, will extend this ecosystem-based view of in situ allelopathy.
Subfields: Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Environmental Chemistry, Oceanography
View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/4f636d282e5f93697a253f1e82bad897aadbd5e8
How researchers see this paper
The researchers whose trusted networks rank it highest, strongest advocate first. Every researcher gets a different order.
In Environmental Chemistry
Citations in the corpus
- Regime shifts between clear and turbid water in New Zealand lakes: Environmental correlates and implications for management and restoration (2009, background): “…from predation by planktivorous fish (Jeppesen et al. 1997); (2) are a nutrient reservoir (Ozimek et al. 1990; Van den berg et al. 1998); and (3) may produce allelopathic chemicals which have been shown to inhibit phytoplankton growth and alter phytoplankton community structure (hilt & gross 2008).”