Nitrogen release and its influence on anammox bacteria during the decay of Potamogeton crispus with different values of initial debris biomass.

Aquatic macrophytes play a significant role in the nutrient cycle of freshwater ecosystems. However, nutrients from plant debris release into both sediments and overlying water if not timely harvested. To date, minimal information is available regarding nutrient release and its subsequent influences on bacterial communities with decaying debris. In this study, Potamogeton crispus was used as a model plant. Debris biomass levels of 0 g (control, J-CK), 10 g dry weight (DW) (100 g DW/m2, J-10 g), 40 g DW (400 g DW/m2, J-40 g) and 80 g DW (800 g DW/m2, J-80 g) were used to simulate the different biomass densities of P. crispus in field. The physicochemical parameters of overlying water and sediment samples were analysed. The community composition of anammox bacteria in the sediment was also analysed using 16S rRNA genes as markers. The results showed that dissolved oxygen and pH dramatically decreased, whereas total nitrogen (TN) and NH4+-N concentrations increased in the overlying water in the initial stage of P. crispus decomposition. However, NO3--N concentration changes in the overlying water were more complicated. The concentrations of organic matter, TN and NH4+-N in the sediment all increased, but the rate of increase varied among the groups with different initial biomass levels, indicating that these physicochemical properties in sediment are significantly affected by debris biomass level and decay time. In addition, the order of anammox bacteria abundance was J-40 g > J-CK > J-80 g > J-10 g. Moreover, the community structure of anammox bacteria were simpler compared to that of J-CK as debris biomass level increased. The results demonstrate that P. crispus debris decomposition could affect the ecological distribution of anammox bacteria. Such influence clearly varies with varying amounts of P. crispus biomass debris. This information could be useful for the management of aquatic macrophytes in freshwater ecosystems.

Decomposition dynamic of two aquatic macrophytes Trapa bispinosa Roxb. and Nelumbo nucifera detritus.

In freshwater ecosystems, aquatic macrophytes play significant roles in nutrient cycling. One problem in this process is nutrient loss in the tissues of untimely harvested plants. In this study, we used two aquatic species, Nelumbo nucifera and Trapa bispinosa Roxb., to investigate the decomposition dynamics and nutrient release from detritus. Litter bags containing 10 g of stems (plus petioles) and leaves for each species detritus were incubated in the pond from November 2016 to May 2017. Nine times litterbags were retrieved on days 6, 14, 25, 45, 65, 90, 125, 145, and 165 after the decomposition experiment for the monitoring of biomass loss and nutrient release. The results suggested that the dry masses of N. nucifera and T. bispinosa decomposed by 49.35-69.40 and 82.65-91.65%, respectively. The order of decomposition rate constants (k) is as follows: leaves of T. bispinosa (0.0122 day-1) > stems (plus petioles) of T. bispinosa (0.0090 day-1) > leaves of N. nucifera (0.0060 day-1) > stems (plus petioles) of N. nucifera (0.0030 day-1). Additionally, the orders of time for 50% dry mass decay, time for 95% dry mass decay, and turnover rate are as follows: leaves < stems (plus petioles) and T. bispinosa < N. nucifera, respectively. This result indicated that the dry mass loss, k values, and other parameters related to k values are significantly different in species- and tissue-specific. The C, N, and P concentration and the C/N, C/P, and N/P ratios presented the irregular temporal changes trends during the whole decay period. In addition, nutrient accumulation index (AI) was significantly changed depending on the dry mass remaining and C, N, and P concentration in detritus at different decomposition times. The nutrient AIs were 36.72, 8.08, 6.35, and 2.56% for N; 31.25, 9.85, 4.00, and 1.63% for P; 25.15, 16.96, 7.36, and 6.16% for C in the stems (plus petioles) of N. nucifera, leaves of N. nucifera, stems (plus petioles) of T. bispinosa, and leaves of T. bispinosa, respectively, at the day 165. These results indicated that 63.28-97.44% of N, 68.75-98.37% of P, and 74.85-93.84% of C were released from the plant detritus to the water at the day 165 of the decomposition period. The initial detritus chemistry, particularly the P-related parameters (P concentration and C/P and N/P ratios), strongly affected dry mass loss, decomposition rates, and nutrient released from detritus into water. Two-way ANOVA results also confirm that the effects on the species were significant for decomposition dynamics (dry mass loss), nutrient release (nutrient concentration, their ratios, and nutrient AI) (P < 0.01), and expected N concentration (P > 0.05). In addition, the decomposition time had also significant effects on the detritus decomposition dynamic and nutrient release. However, the contributors of species and decomposition time on detritus decomposition were significantly different on the basis of their F values of two-way ANOVA results. This study can provide scientific bases for the aquatic plant scientific management in freshwater ecosystems of the East region of China.

Community Composition and Abundance of Anammox Bacteria in Cattail Rhizosphere Sediments at Three Phenological Stages.

The distribution of anammox bacteria in rhizosphere sediments of cattail (Typha orientalis) at different phenological stages was investigated. Results showed that the number of 16S rRNA gene copies of the anammox bacteria was considerably higher in the rhizosphere sediment than in the nonrhizosphere sediment and control sediment. The abundances of the anammox bacteria exhibited striking temporal variations in the three different cattail phenological stages. In addition, the Chao1 and Shannon H indexes of the anammox bacteria in cattail rhizosphere sediments had evident spatial and temporal variations at different phenological stages. Four anammox genera (Brocadia, Kuenenia, Jettenia, and a new cluster) were detected and had proportions of 34.18, 45.57, 0.63, and 19.62%, respectively. The CCA analysis results indicated that Cu, TN, Pb, and Zn were pivotal factors that affect anammox bacteria composition. The PCoA analysis results indicated that the community structure at the rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere sediments collected on July was relatively specific and was different from sediments collected on other months, suggesting that cattail can influence the community structures of the anammox bacteria at the maturity stage.