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. 2016 Nov 2;11(11):e0165234.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0165234. eCollection 2016.

Reproductive Allocation in Three Macrophyte Species from Different Lakes with Variable Eutrophic Conditions

Tao Wan  1   2 , Qingxiang Han  3 , Ling Xian  4 , Yu Cao  4 , Apudo A Andrew  2   4 , Xiaojie Pan  5 , Wei Li  4 , Fan Liu  2   4
Affiliations

Reproductive Allocation in Three Macrophyte Species from Different Lakes with Variable Eutrophic Conditions

Tao Wan et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Reproductive allocation is a key process in the plant life cycle and aquatic plants exhibit great diversity in their reproductive systems. In the present study, we conduct a field investigation of three aquatic macrophytes: Stuckenia pectinata, Myriophyllum spicatum, and Potamogeton perfoliatus. Our results showed that widespread species, including S. pectinata and M. spicatum had greater plasticity in their allocation patterns in the form of increased sexual and asexual reproduction, and greater potential to set seeds and increase fitness in more eutrophic environments. P. perfoliatus also exhibited a capacity to adopt varied sexual reproductive strategies such as setting more offspring for the future, although only in clear conditions with low nutrient levels. Our results establish strategies and mechanisms of some species for tolerating and surviving in varied eutrophic lake conditions.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Sampling sites of the 8 lakes.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Regression between asexual biomass and nutrient levels; sexual biomass and nutrient levels and sexual/vegetative ratios and entrophic levels of three species A: Stuckenia pectinata, B: Myriophyllum spicatum, C: Potamogeton perfoliatus.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Regression between single flower number and nutrient levels; inflorescence number and nutrient levels and seed set and entrophic levels levels of three species A: Stuckenia pectinata, B: Myriophyllum spicatum, C: Potamogeton perfoliatus.
Fig 4
Fig 4. Regression between asexual biomass and nutrient levels; sexual biomass and nutrient levels and sexual/vegetative ratios and environmental variables (TN, TP, Chla and Secchi) of the three species A: Stuckenia pectinata, B: Myriophyllum spicatum, C: Potamogeton perfoliatus.
Fig 5
Fig 5. Regression between single flower number and nutrient levels; inflorescence number and nutrient levels and seed set and entrophic levels levels of three species A: Stuckenia pectinata, B: Myriophyllum spicatum, C: Potamogeton perfoliatus.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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