Functional Trait Responses of <i>Brasenia schreberi</i> to Water and Soil Conditions Reveal Its Endangered Status
[Background] <i>Brasenia schreberi</i> is a perennial floating leaf aquatic plant with high ecological protection value and potential for economic development, and thus, its endangered mechanisms are of great concern. The rapid endangerment of this species in modern times may be primaril...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Plants |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/13/2072 |
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| Summary: | [Background] <i>Brasenia schreberi</i> is a perennial floating leaf aquatic plant with high ecological protection value and potential for economic development, and thus, its endangered mechanisms are of great concern. The rapid endangerment of this species in modern times may be primarily attributed to the deterioration of water and soil environmental conditions, as its growth relies on high-quality water and soil. [Objective] Exploring the responses of <i>B. schreberi</i> to water and soil conditions from the perspective of functional traits is of great significance for understanding its endangered mechanisms and implementing effective conservation strategies. [Methods] This study was conducted in the Tengchong Beihai Wetland, which has the largest natural habitat of <i>B. schreberi</i> in China. By measuring the key functional traits of <i>B. schreberi</i> and detecting the water and soil parameters at the collecting sites, the responses of these functional traits to the water and soil conditions have been investigated. [Results] (1) The growth status of <i>B. schreberi</i> affects the expression of its functional traits. Compared with sporadic distribution, <i>B. schreberi</i> in continuous patches have significantly higher stomatal conductance, intercellular CO<sub>2</sub> concentration, transpiration rate, and vein density, while these plants have significantly smaller leaf area and perimeter. (2) Good water quality directly promotes photosynthetic, morphological, and structural traits. However, high soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus contents can inhibit the photosynthetic rate. The net photosynthetic rate is significantly positively correlated with dissolved oxygen content, pH value, ammonia nitrogen, and nitrate nitrogen contents in the water, as well as the magnesium, zinc, and silicon contents in the soil. In contrast, the net photosynthetic rate is significantly negatively correlated with the total phosphorus content in water and the total carbon, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus content in the soil. (3) Leaf area and perimeter show positive correlations with various water parameters, including the depth, temperature, pH value, dissolved oxygen content, ammonium nitrogen, and nitrate nitrogen content, yet they are negatively correlated with total phosphorus content, chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand, and permanganate index of water. [Conclusions] This study supports the idea that <i>B. schreberi</i> thrives in oligotrophic water environments, while the notion that fertile soil is required for its growth still needs to be investigated more thoroughly. |
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| ISSN: | 2223-7747 |