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The discovery of a specific form of Late Neolithic object in northeast Poland, commonly interpreted as reed arrowshaft straighteners, prompted investigation into the possible use of reed for archery in the European past. To examine the archery qualities of this raw material, and thus the likely rationale behind the manufacture and use of reed arrowshafts, a number of mechanical and experimental analyses were conducted. The results presented here indicate that reed was well suited for prehistoric archery. This is demonstrated above all by the arrowshaft stiffness required by this discipline, defined as the spine‐force, but also both the technological ease of production of arrows and their ballistic capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seagrass seed‐based restoration has been developed in several places worldwide, but disturbance at the vulnerable initial stages of seedling recruitment has proved to be a major bottleneck to successful restoration. A detailed investigation of seagrass seedling survival and growth at the earliest stages of seedling development is an important contribution to developing techniques to improve seedling establishment and survival. Here, we investigated the early seedling development of Posidonia australis and P. sinuosa as well as quantifying the variation in seedling survival and development under different seed‐based restoration methods. Early seedling development was documented in indoor aquaria during the first month after fruit dehiscence. In the second ex situ experiment, we determined the effects of three different restoration methods (surface sowing, seedling planting, and planting inside a hessian bag) on seedling survival and development over the first 2 months of life. In the first experiment, a primary root with the first root hairs developed after 7 days. After 1 month, roots were 20–60 mm in length, firmly establishing the seedling into the sediment. Compared to surface sowing, seedling planting and hessian bag restoration treatments did not significantly affect survival for P. australis but increased seedling mortality in P. sinuosa, although growth was greater (shoot and root lengths were approximately 50 and 40% longer, respectively). These aquarium‐scale experiments suggest that planting methods would enhance seedling establishment at larger scales in some species, promoting restoration of damaged seagrass habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To increase the resilience of salt marshes subject to sea‐level rise impacts, managers can focus on interventions within current marsh footprints or in adjacent uplands to facilitate landward marsh migration. The latter approach may be more appropriate when degradation is severe and in situ intervention options are limited. Strategies for facilitating marsh migration include removing artificial barriers, soil grading to reduce steep topography, and manipulating adjacent upland vegetation that can hinder migration, but experiments testing the effectiveness of these activities are limited. We therefore conducted a field experiment to determine if physically removing three upland vegetation types (forest, shrub, and Phragmites australis) adjacent to a Rhode Island salt marsh facilitates short‐term marsh migration. Upland vegetation removal led to increased ambient light in all habitats, significantly enhanced marsh plant cover, extent, and elevation in shrub habitat, and declines in total bird abundance in forest and shrub habitats. Enhanced migration did not occur in forest or Phragmites habitats, and in shrubs, marsh plants only colonized where Baccharis halimifolia, common in upper marsh borders, had been removed. Five years after removal, all upland habitats and associated vegetation were indistinguishable from initial conditions. Our study suggests that upland plant removal might provide a limited window for facilitating salt marsh migration and that more intensive methods may be needed for sustained, longer‐term benefits. It also demonstrates that there may be ecological trade‐offs to consider when altering upland habitats to enhance landward marsh migration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Coastal biological invasions pose a wide-reaching threat to various ecosystems, affecting both vegetation and herbivores in native communities. Although herbivores often exert strong top-down control on vegetation, the impact of invasive species on consumers that strongly regulate native species in invaded ecosystems remains unclear. Therefore, through field surveys and feeding preference experiments, this study examined the effects of the invasive Spartina alterniflora Loisel. (hereafter, Spartina) on the native moth Laelia coenosa Hübner (hereafter, Laelia), a notorious pest that has been documented to cause significant damage to native Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. (hereafter, Phragmites) marshes in coastal wetlands of China. Field surveys showed that Laelia larvae were more abundant and had higher grazing rates in Phragmites than in Spartina marshes in summer, but these patterns reversed in autumn. Feeding experiments consistently showed that the dietary preference of Laelia larvae switched from Phragmites in summer to Spartina in autumn, likely because Spartina has a longer growing season and relatively higher nutritional quality than Phragmites in autumn. Thus, by providing shelters (i.e., dietary sources and habitats) during unfavorable seasons, Spartina invasions may facilitate this insect pest Laelia and potentially amplify its damage to native wetland vegetation. Our work reveals a novel, indirect mechanism of coastal invasion impacts and highlights the importance of incorporating seasonal variation in plant-herbivore interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal contamination is a serious global issue that threatens both environmental and human health. This study investigated the levels of 12 heavy metals in sediments, roots, stems, and leaves of Phragmites australis (common reed) from a river in Iran, using an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). The sediment metal concentration order was: Aluminum (Al) > Iron (Fe) > Manganese (Mn) > Zinc (Zn) > Magnesium (Mg) > Nickel (Ni) > Chromium (Cr) > Lead (Pb) > Copper (Cu) > Arsenic (As) > Vanadium (V) with Cadmium (Cd) below detection limit. Concentrations of As, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the sediments exceeded background values. According to sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), metal concentrations were between the threshold effect level (TEL) and the probable effect level (PEL), remaining below the severe effect level (SEL), except for Ni. Average metal concentrations in plant tissues were lower than in sediment samples, with roots showing higher levels of Cd, V, Cu, Pb, Zn, As, Al, Mg, and Fe than in the shoots, while leaves had higher Ni, Cr, and Mn. The bioaccumulation factor of less than 1 (except for V) indicates limited bioavailibility of these metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement Summary The invasive species S. alterniflora and P. australis are fast growing coastal wetland plants sequestering large amounts of carbon in the soil and protect coastlines against erosion and storm surges. In this global analysis, we found that Spartina and Phragmites increase methane but not nitrous oxide emissions, with Phragmites having a lesser effect. The impact of the invasive species on emissions differed greatly among different types of native plant groups, providing valuable information to managers and policymakers during coastal wetland planning and restoration efforts. Further, our estimated net emissions per wetland plant group facilitate regional and national blue carbon estimates. Globally, Spartina alterniflora and Phragmites australis are among the most pervasive invasive plants in coastal wetland ecosystems. Both species sequester large amounts of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and biogenic carbon in soils but also support production and emission of methane (CH4). In this study, we investigated the magnitude of their net greenhouse gas (GHG) release from invaded and non‐invaded habitats. We conducted a meta‐analysis of GHG fluxes associated with these two species and related soil carbon content and plant biomass in invaded coastal wetlands. Our results show that both invasive species increase CH4 fluxes compared to uninvaded coastal wetlands, but they do not significantly affect CO2 and N2O fluxes. The magnitude of emissions from Spartina and Phragmites differs among native habitats. GHG fluxes, soil carbon and plant biomass of Spartina‐invaded habitats were highest compared to uninvaded mudflats and succulent forb‐dominated wetlands, while being lower compared to uninvaded mangroves (except for CH4). This meta‐analysis highlights the important role of individual plant traits as drivers of change by invasive species on plant‐mediated carbon cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In subtropical monsoon climate regions, traditional plants in constructed wetlands such as farmland ditches underperform in cold months, detracting from both purification capacity and esthetic appeal. To alleviate this weakness, this study introduced Phalaris arundinacea, a species with strong adaptability and cold tolerance, into a plant community dominated by Phragmites australis, constructing an ingenious composite plant community for year‐round water quality restoration and enhancement of attractiveness. First, laboratory simulations revealed significant seasonal differences in the removal rates of ammonia nitrogen (NH3‐N), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) by the P. arundinacea community and P. australis community under different pollutant loads. Phragmites australis showed superior NH3‐N and TN removal capabilities from May to October, whereas P. arundinacea excelled in the rest of the months throughout the year. For TP removal, P. australis outperformed P. arundinacea from July to October, while P. arundinacea was more effective from January to May. We then verified this in rear farmland ditches, where P. australis were strategically partial substituted with P. arundinacea (Partial Replacement Treatment [PRT]), and compared it with unchanged farmland ditches (Control Treatment). We found that PRT enhanced decontamination efficiency over the year, especially significantly improving the water quality during colder months. Hence, this study advocates a novel strategy for effective annual decontamination and maintenance of wetlands such as farmland ditches, highlighting the importance of seasonally adaptive plant communities for water restoration. This transformative approach dramatically advances the field of wetland management, insisting on the important role of cold‐resistant species for year‐round ecosystem service optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasions of non-native species are considered major threats to biodiversity in urban waterbodies. We compared macroinvertebrate richness, density, and community composition among three urban lakes with varying macrophyte covers: One dominated by the invasive macrophyte species Elodea nuttallii, one by the native species Myriophyllum spicatum, and the third one by the native Phragmites australis. We also monitored substrate parameters and water quality. Canonical correspondence analysis combined with hierarchical and variation partitioning confirmed that macrophytes were the most different feature among the lakes and that dominant macrophytes of each lake best explained differences in invertebrate communities, followed by water quality and substrate type. Macrophyte growth form could be linked to certain invertebrate taxa: emergent macrophytes supported abundant shredders (Gammarus sp. and Asellus aquaticus); and submerged macrophytes favored certain predators (Hemiptera, e.g., Plea leachi). Our data also show that the invasive species E. nuttallii supports similar richness and density of invertebrates as the native macrophyte M. spicatum. Overall, our findings indicate a positive effect of E. nuttallii on the richness and density of invertebrates in the studied urban lakes. Future studies should analyze how the structural complexity of macrophytes can be managed in urban water bodies to improve macroinvertebrate diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Previous studies have shown that silicon (Si) can affect plant growth and yield by regulating the availability of other nutrients. However, the mechanisms by which Si affects plant biomass accumulation in coastal wetlands are not well explored. Methods: We conducted a sampling campaign across the whole growing season of Phragmites australis under waterlogging and drought conditions in coastal wetland, and quantified the effects of Si availability on biomass accumulation. Results: Compared with drought condition, the waterlogged condition improved the utilization efficiency of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) of P. australis regulated by higher Si contents. Meanwhile, the increased Si contents promoted the utilization of N and P in leaf, suggesting that the increase in Si contents optimizes the photosynthetic process. Lignin contents in P. australis decreased with the increasing Si contents, which confirmed that Si can replace structural carbon components. In addition, principal component analysis (PCA) showed aboveground biomass accumulation of P. australis was synchronized with Si accumulation, indicating that Si was a beneficial element to promote biomass accumulation. Conclusions: Our study implies that increasing Si availability is conducive to biomass accumulation of P. australis in waterlogged wetlands, which will provide important scientific references for the management of coastal wetland ecosystem and the increase of global 'blue carbon' sequestration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species composition and biomass are key indicators of vegetation performance. While Phragmites australis is extensively studied worldwide, data on its communities and biomass in natural habitats are limited in the European part of the Russian Federation. This study examines P. australis-dominated communities and their biomass in wetlands along the Middle Volga River. P. australis was either the dominant or co-dominant species in seven community types. Their seasonal maximum aboveground biomass correlated with plant projective cover, being highest in Schoenoplecteto lacustris-Phragmitetum australis (mean 1.7 kg m−2), with nearly 100% cover, and lowest (0.5 kg m−2) in Spirodelo-Phragmitetum australis, with 50% cover. Compared with communities dominated by Glyceria maxima, Schoenoplectus lacustris, and Typha latifolia, those of P. australis had the highest seasonal maximum aboveground biomass in running waters (mean 1.32 kg m−2) but the lowest in standing waters of the Kuibyshev Reservoir (mean 0.70 kg m−2), likely reflecting nutrient availability. A similar pattern was observed for the dominant species alone. The mean belowground biomass of P. australis was 1.9 kg m−2, with a belowground/aboveground ratio of 1.5. Similar values were found for S. lacustris and T. latifolia. The community types and biomass values align with those found in other European regions with warm temperate climates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to study the seasonal impact on pollutant removal efficiency of constructed wetland (CW) units which treat domestic wastewater in the region of Rabat, Morocco. In this context, four vertical flow-constructed wetlands (VFCWs) were investigated for one year. Each CW unit has a surface area of 1m² and a depth of 60 cm. The difference between the units is the vegetation. The experiments are conducted on a laboratory scale and outdoors, to investigate also the direct effect of the climate. The purpose is to investigate the CWs performances with two different plant species (Phragmites Australis and Arundo Donax) and plant arrangements (mono-culture and poly-cultures). Since the region of Rabat has a semi-arid climate, plants behave during seasonal changes was explored. The elimination of organic matters showed a seasonal variation in the CW systems, with higher rates during the hot season and lower rates during the cold ones. Planted systems outperformed the unplanted system and the polyculture system was the most effective, reaching removal rates of 99.47%, 99.58%, and 85.64%, for, COD, BOD5, and TSS in the summer season where the temperature reaches its maximum promoting plant growth as well as microbial activity. Anyhow, results showed that the VFCWs used in this study are a successful technology for the region that is cost-effective and requires low energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study presented here reports the concentration of major, trace, and rare earth elements in soil, sediments, and vegetation samples collected from 13 locations around Anapa City located on the northern coast of the Black Sea in Russia. The neutron activation analysis technique has been used to fulfill this objective. Along with this, the bioconcentration and translocation factors were calculated. Overall, the content of 31 elements was detected in soil and sediments while 20 elements were determined in three types of vegetation: macroalgae (Cystoseira sp. and Ulva sp.), aquatic plants (Phragmites australis), and sea grass (Zostera sp.). The quantified concentration followed the order soil > sediment > vegetation. The phytotoxic levels for Zn, V, Mn, and Fe have been quantified as the highest. Bromine was the most abundant and accumulated in Phragmites australis. Based on the results obtained from this investigation, there is a possibility of contamination in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract\nNOVELTY STATEMENTFloating treatment wetlands (FTWs) are natural solutions for purifying polluted water, providing a green surface area and improving city landscape. This study investigated if the efficiency of FTWs can be improved by aeration for treating contaminated canal water. The three used plant species were Canna generalis, Phragmites australis, and Cyperus alternifolius. The experiment was carried out in three FTWs with aeration and three without aeration to compare the removal for COD, NH4+-N, E. coli, PO43−-P, and Fe. In the aerated FTWs, air blowers were installed to run at two different air flow rates of 2.5 L min−1 (Batch 1) and 1.0 L min−1 (Batch 2). Aeration increased the dissolved oxygen concentrations in each tank, which came over 6.5 mg L−1 in both batches. This study sheds light on the positive impact of aeration has on COD and NH4+-N removal: these are nearly three-fold higher compared to non-aeration conditions and reached approximately 99% (1.7-log reduction) for E. coli removal. Additionally, the plant growth rate in the aerated FTWs was higher than in the non-aerated ones. The average shoot growth rate of Phragmites australis was 0.76 cm d−1 for the aerated FTW which was two-fold higher compared to the non-aerated one.This article investigates the treatment performance of Floating Treatment Wetlands (FTWs) coupled with aeration to reduce the diffuse pollution in canal water. The results showed that the aeration enhanced the treatment of organics and nutrients, and the plant growth of the aerated FTWs was two-fold higher than that of non-aerated FTWs, which has a phytoremediation potential for treating canal water in Ho Chi Minh city [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eutrophication resulting from anthropogenic activities has been recognized as a significant driver of changes in ecosystem functioning. Furthermore, it may exacerbate the top-down effect and thus exert an important impact on plant growth. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a 3-year manipulative field experiment to investigate the impacts of nitrogen addition and crab herbivory on the growth of Phragmites australis in the salt marsh of the Yellow River Delta. The results demonstrated that a 3-year nitrogen addition can significantly increase the total nitrogen and carbon content of P. australis leaves, thereby enhancing their nutritional value and palatability, as well as increasing the proportion of leaves consumed by crabs. Therefore, nitrogen addition together with crab herbivory had a significant negative effect on P. australis height, leaf length, and leaf breadth in the ambient crab and procedural crab cage treatment compared to the crab exclusion treatment. The structural equation modeling further substantiated these findings. Themodel revealed a direct and positive correlation between nitrogen addition and leaf nutrient content (path coefficient = 0.34). Additionally, it demonstrated a direct and positive relationship between leaf nutrient content and the proportion of leaves consumed by crabs (path coefficient = 0.22). Simultaneously, there was an observed negative correlation (path coefficient = - 0.37) between the proportion of leaves consumed by crabs and plant functional traits, represented by leaf length in the model, during 2018. Moreover, the crab exclusion treatment significantly reduced the proportion of leaves consumed by crabs and thus enhanced the P. australis individuals, leaf number, and biomass. Overall, crab herbivory had a significant detrimental top-down effect on the growth of P. australis, and nitrogen enrichmentmay exacerbate this top-down effect. The findings of our study highlight the combined adverse effects of nutrient enrichment and top-down on plant functional traits and plant growth. The findings of this study will contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the underlying factors influencing vegetation degradation in coastal wetland, thereby establishing a solid theoretical framework for the conservation and management of wetland ecosystems within the context of global environmental change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poyang Lake wetland plays an important ecological service function. Frequent drought events have caused significant changes in the distribution pattern of wetland plants. This study analyzed the changes in the distribution elevation of wetland plants in Poyang Lake from 2000 to 2020, including the optimal elevation, and upper and lower limit elevations, and revealed the impacts of drought on the ecological niches of typical wetland plants. The results showed that the wetland plants were distributed in a regular strip pattern according to the elevation gradient. The Polygonum hydropiper-Phalaris arundinacea (PP), Carex cinerascens (Cc), Phragmites australis-Triarrhena lutarioriparia (PT), and Artemisia selengensis (As) communities were mainly distributed at elevations of 8.70-13.62 m, 10.35-14.99 m, 12.00-16.28 m, and 11.82-18.46 m, with optimal elevations of 11.16, 12.67, 14.14, and 15.14 m, respectively. Although the optimal elevations and upper limit elevations of four typical wetland plants exhibited different changing trends, their lower limit elevations showed the significant downward trends, especially for Cc and PP communities. Moreover, drought caused a varying degree of decrease (0.16-0.34 m) in the optimal elevations of four typical wetland plants, the upper and lower limit elevations of most wetland plants had also decreased in dry years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endophytic bacteria have not been reported widely for their lipolytic abilities, so they are not used for large‐scale lipase production. The purpose of this study was to explore an endophytic bacterium for the production of lipase implementing cost‐effective techniques, including the use of Cassia fistula seeds, as a substrate in the production medium and stem pieces of Phragmites karka as the immobilization matrix. The endophytic strain Bacillus sp. E4 was originally isolated from the halophytic plant Arthrocnemum macrostachyum. Bacillus sp. E4 produced 6.05 IU mL−1 lipase in the presence of powdered seeds of Cassia fistula (golden shower tree). Initial trial experiments using a one‐factor‐at‐a‐time approach led to an improvement in lipase titers to 10.05 IU mL−1. Consequently, investigations using the Plackett–Burman design suggested the influence of three significant factors – incubation period, inoculum size, and substrate concentration – on lipase production. They were optimized using the Box–Behnken design (BBD). In the response optimization experiment, strain E4 yielded 52.35 IU mL−1 lipase, which was in accordance with the predicted yield and indicated an overall 8.65 fold improvement in lipase production. To investigate the use of free cells, strain E4 was immobilized on the stem pieces of a halophytic plant, Phragmites karka, which was used for the first time as an immobilization matrix. The immobilized cells retained lipase production ability for up to six cycles with the highest yield of 110 IU mL−1, which corresponded to an improvement of more than eighteenfold. Scanning electron micrographs confirmed the colonization of E4 cells in the matrix and demonstrated the utilization of C. fistula seeds. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy affirmed the utilization of components including fatty acids by the immobilized E4 cells. The study suggests that endophytic bacterial strains could be applied for the production of lipase with the utilization of nontraditional oil sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Estuarine vegetation routinely experiences natural tidal fluctuations and is highly vulnerable to extreme events such as heavy rainfall, leading to changes in plant population structure and adaptability. Genetic and epigenetic modifications are widely considered to be mechanisms of phenotypic variation, triggered in plants responding to extreme changing environments. However, understanding on correlations among genetic, epigenetic, and phenotypic variation of wild plant populations is still limited. Location: China. Methods: In this study, populations of the typical wetland clonal species Phragmites australis were selected from four estuaries along various latitudes in China. Genetic and epigenetic diversity and phenotypic variation of these populations were analysed. Results: Phenotypic variation of P. australis populations was the highest at Yellow River Estuary and the lowest at Min River Estuary. Across all estuaries, Genetic and epigenetic diversity was strongly linear‐correlated. Genetic diversity had significant correlations with variation in reproductive traits, whereas epigenetic diversity had significant correlations with variation in growth traits. Climatic factors of mean annual temperature and precipitation, as well as soil nitrogen and phosphorus, were negatively correlated with variation in genetic diversity, epigenetic diversity, and variation in reproductive traits of P. australis populations along latitudes. Variation in growth traits was negatively correlated with soil salinity, reflecting the limiting effect of salinity on plant growth. Main Conclusion: Our findings found that genetic and epigenetic variations may play different roles in phenotypic variation of P. australis populations along latitudes, the variation becomes greater when the climatic and edaphic conditions deteriorate. The findings shed new light on the adaptation and evolution of wetland plant populations along a large latitudinal scale, and may contribute to the revegetation of estuary wetlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decades, so‐called internal or sea‐based mitigation measures have been suggested as nature‐based solutions to remove nutrients and improve water quality in semi‐enclosed coastal waters. However, these have rarely been tested in the field, especially in colder climates where winter ice cover is common. The aim of this experimental research was to investigate plant growth conditions in such an environment, as well to estimate nutrient removal capacity by harvesting constructed floating wetlands (CFWs). We tested small (24–28 m2) CFWs (Biomatrix®, Scotland, UK) at two demonstration sites: the Curonian lagoon (CL, Lithuania) and Szczecin lagoon (SL, Poland). In the CL, CFWs were planted predominantly with Carex acutiformes (Ehrh.), while the SL CFW was planted mainly with the reed Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. We aimed to test the amount of nutrient removal by plant harvesting over three subsequent years (2019–2021). We investigated carbon storage capacity and plant nutrient stoichiometry as indicators of potential nutrient limitation in the brackish coastal waters. Plant biomass increased annually, stabilising at 2.5–3.7 kg wet weight m−2. The total nutrient uptake per installed island area varied with the plant species composition. In the successive years, the harvested plants from the CL CFW dominated by Carex accumulated 10.4–13.1 g N m−2, 0.6–0.8 g P m−2 and 318–431 g C m−2 per year. The harvest from the SL CFW dominated by Phragmites contained a two‐times higher amount of nutrients, the respective figures being 21.2 g N m−2, 1.6 g P m−2 and 704 g C m−2. The nutrient stoichiometry in the vegetation did not suggest the presence of sub‐optimal growth conditions due to nitrogen limitation. However, the CL's dissolved nutrient supply was very low during the summer cyanobacteria bloom and indicated a severe nitrogen deficiency (as reflected in the dissolved inorganic nitrogen:dissolved inorganic phosphorus [DIN:DIP] molar ratio of 6). We suggest that to maximise nutrient removal capacity, tall plants with high biomass should be selected and/or plants with fine root systems to efficiently uptake the limiting nutrient from the water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Living shorelines (LS) stabilize eroding banks while providing more natural habitats and creating a gentler slope for enhanced migration of flora and fauna migration as sea levels rise. Typical LS practices include using several different materials, including oyster shell bags, to stabilize shorelines and planting marsh grasses. However, incorporating other important species interactions among marsh organisms can improve LS function and stability. For example, ribbed mussels, Guekensia demissa, benefit marsh plants by adding nutrients and stabilizing sediments. Unfortunately, mussels are not typically included in management and restoration practices. In this study, the objective was to investigate whether ribbed mussels facilitate marsh grass growth at a LS site in the southeastern US. We conducted field surveys for mussel abundance and recruitment, and a manipulative in situ experiment at an established LS site in Georgia to explore the impacts of adding mussels. Although mussel treatment did not have a significant effect on Spartina alterniflora metrics (i.e., density, height, biomass), Spartina plots with high mussel density exhibited ~300% increase in biomass relative to the start of the experiment, while plots without mussels only increased by ~100%. Some of the variability within treatments can be explained by high and sustained mussel mortality throughout the experimental period, likely due to predation, that impacted the actual mussel densities in our plots. We found that Spartina height, density, and biomass exhibited significant positive relationships with mussel biomass. Thus, ribbed mussels may be useful in living shorelines restoration projects if they are planted in sufficient densities, in aggregations, and/or with protective devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sea-level rise (SLR) will produce unprecedented changes in tidal marsh systems that already cope with daily tidal fluctuation, disturbances from storms, and salinity changes from droughts and runoff events. Additionally, negative impacts from non-native invasive species may alter marsh plants' ability to respond to SLR stressors like increased inundation and salinity. Increasingly, tidal marsh communities must tolerate both changes in the physical environment from SLR and increased risk of invasion by non-native species. To assess the response of a threatened tidal marsh cordgrass (Spartina foliosa) to both stressors, we implemented a field experiment in San Francisco Bay, CA, USA, exposing cordgrass to a treatment that extended tidal inundation projected with SLR using a recently developed in situ method. At one of two field sites, we also enclosed the cordgrass with or without the invasive European green crab, Carcinus maenas. We found that cordgrass responded negatively to longer inundation, although these effects varied by site and year. In higher inundation treatments, cordgrass survival increased with increasing surface elevation of the plot. Cordgrass survival was lower in the presence of invasive green crabs relative to controls. We did not find interacting effects of responses to increased inundation and invasive species presence, which highlights the need to consider how latent or sequential effects of multiple stressors may affect ecosystems. This study demonstrates significant biological responses to invasive species presence and increased inundation. Evaluating relative effects and timing of multiple stressors, especially those induced by climate change and invasive species, will help us to manage threatened ecological communities in a changing world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological invasions pose a significant threat to ecosystems, disrupting local biodiversity and ecosystem functions. The genomic underpinnings of invasiveness, however, are still largely unknown, making it difficult to predict and manage invasive species effectively. The common reed (Phragmites australis) is a dominant grass species in wetland ecosystems and has become particularly invasive when transferred from Europe to North America. Here, we present a high-quality gap-free, telomere-to-telomere genome assembly of Phragmites australis consisting of 24 pseudochromosomes and a B chromosome. Fully phased subgenomes demonstrated considerable subgenome dominance and revealed the divergence of diploid progenitors approximately 30.9 million years ago. Comparative genomics using chromosome-level scaffolds for three other lineages and a previously published draft genome assembly of an invasive lineage revealed that gene family expansions in the form of tandem duplications may have contributed to the invasiveness of the lineage. This study sheds light on the genome evolution of Arundinoideae grasses and suggests that genetic drivers, such as gene family expansions and tandem duplications, may underly the processes of biological invasion in plants. These findings provide a crucial step toward understanding and managing the genetic basis of invasiveness in plant species. We provide a complete, telomere to telomere gap-free genome assembly for common reed that includes its B chromosome. Comparative genomic analysis revealed that tandem duplications may have contributed to the invasiveness potential of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From tannery effluent (TE) severely polluted with heavy metals (HMs viz., Cr, Cu, Cd, and Pb), hydrophytic phytoextraction remains a challenge as transplanted plants succumb to death on facing acclimatization shock. Current study was aimed at diluting TE with harvested rainwater (HR) for improving HM phytoextraction potential of Phragmites australis (a hydrophyte) assisted with phycoremediation of coupled algae (viz., Oedogonium sp. and Pithophora sp.). The TE:HR dilutions (TEDs) 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% (v/v) included three sets: set-1 included algae only, set-2 included P. australis only and set-3 included P. australis coupled with combined algal inoculum. Results showed that P. australis assisted with HR dilution and combined algal inoculum showed significantly greater uptake of HMs from each of the TEDs than respective control treatments. Combined algal application in the TEDs proved phycoremediation assistants based on their bioaccumulation factor (BF). The dry biomass of P. australis in TEDs applied with phycoremediation assistants remained greater than uninoculated ones. Overall, HM translocation factor (TF) of P. australis for Cr, Cu, Cd, and Pb remained ≥ 1. The study concludes that HM phytoextraction is substantially increased when concentrated TE is diluted with HR and assisted with phycoremediation of HM tolerant algae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetlands belong to the most endangered habitats in the world, and animals and plants occurring there are subjects of nature conservation efforts worldwide. Several species of bees and wasps have been comprehensively studied in recent years, but the biology and ecology of wetland-associated species remain largely enigmatic. The results showed that some of these species can be good bioindicators, useful in nature conservation. Hylaeus pectoralis is a small wetland-associated bee that is dependent on the presence of its nesting resource, cigar galls formed by the frit fly Lipara lucens on stems of common reed. We studied the presence of this bee species between 2011 and 2023, both in near-natural and anthropogenic habitats. This bee requires the presence of terrestrial reed with reed galls and occurs nearly exclusively in long-lasting localities of near-natural character with wet meadows rich in flowering plants. Our results showed that H. pectoralis requires mosaic sites with reed beds combined with wet meadows. The proportion of wet meadows in the H. pectoralis localities is more prominent than in localities where H. pectoralis was absent. The bee is polylectic, and we enlarged the number of pollen sources to plants of 22 families—the collected pollen was from plants of many habitats, including plants of wet meadows and aquatic plants. Though recording of H. pectoralis in the locality is simple using the rearing from collected reed galls, this ecologically sensitive species can be used as an essential bioindicator for the quality of wetland habitats and the studies of the continuity of the habitats. Implications for insect conservation: The presence of the mosaic of wet meadows with flowering plants, small reed beds, reed margins, and small water reservoirs is necessary not only for Hylaeus pectoralis but also for other biota of wetlands. Mowing of reed margins should be implemented to only a part of the habitat. This mosaic management allows the preservation of old Lipara-induced galls needed for nesting of ecologically sensitive bees and wasps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial effluents pose a serious environmental problem, because they contain toxic contaminants mainly heavy metals that are the most dangerous to humans, animals, plants, and the environment in general. Phytoremediation using macrophytes is an adopted technique for the environment decontamination due to its efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The present study aims to highlight the capabilities of macrophytes to remove heavy metals from wastewater of Biskra region (Algeria). The methodology consists of filling out the filters planted with Arundo donax and Phragmites australis with raw industrial wastewater, then recovering decontaminated water after 15 days to assess removal of lead, copper, zinc, and iron. Both plants had shown a good efficiency for the removal of metals loaded in wastewater eliminating about 94 to 98% of initial concentration. In addition, calculated bioaccumulation factor (BAF) had confirmed the accumulation of heavy metals in different parts of experimental plants; recorded values of BAF > 1 allowed the consideration of Arundo donax and Phragmites australis as good hyper-accumulator plants. Obtained results confirm the efficiency of phytoremediation technology using macrophytes for the wastewater treatment in particular and the environment decontamination in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phragmites australis is one of the most invasive wetland plants on the planet with both native and invasive haplotypes occurring in the United States. Three Phragmites haplotypes (Delta-, EU- and Gulf-types) co-occur in marshes of the Mississippi River Delta (MRD), where a recent dieback of Phragmites has prompted investigations about the potential for recolonization by seed. In other areas of the US, the invasive EU-type has been shown to spread by seed, yet little is known about reproduction modes of the Delta- and Gulf-types. We conducted a survey at 35 sites along the Mississippi River Delta region in southeast Louisiana to examine the potential for sexual reproduction across haplotypes as well as the potential for hybridization. Seed and pollen samples were collected from Phragmites populations to examine flowering phenology and determine pollen viability of the three lineages. We also conducted a seedbank assay in stands of three haplotypes to test the potential for recruitment by seed. Despite the observed potential for sexual reproduction in Delta- and EU- types, no Phragmites seedlings germinated from the seedbank. EU was the only haplotype to exhibit germination from seeds collected from seed heads. Both spatial separation and temporal isolation in flowering times indicate that hybridization between Phragmites haplotypes in the lower MRD is unlikely. High pollen production, increased pollen production following dieback, and viable seeds in the EU-type suggest that this invasive haplotype has a greater potential to invade new areas and adapt to stressors through sexual reproduction compared to than Delta-or Gulf haplotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of climate warming on the decomposition of wetland plant litter has received widespread attention. We used the litter bag method to compare and study the decomposition processes of three species of litter in the Nansi Lake wetland of China, Phragmites australis (Ph), Nelumbo nucifera (Ne) and Typha domingensis (Ty), and simulate the changes in the decomposition characteristics of litter and the structure of the fungal community under atmospheric warming (2.0 ± 0.5 °C ~ 4.0 ± 0.5 °C) using open-top chambers (OTCs). The results showed that increasing temperature significantly accelerated the decomposition process of the three species of litter and increased the beta and alpha diversities of the fungal communities at the class level. The fungal community co-occurrence network showed that the fungal community network associated with litter decomposition under warming conditions consisted mainly of symbiotic relationships, and the order of the average clustering coefficients of the three networks was 2.0 ± 0.5 °C (0.81) > 4.0 ± 0.5 °C (0.77) > control (0.57). Moderate warming increased the degree of positive correlation and clustering between fungi, thus accelerating the decomposition process of plant litter and affecting the carbon balance of wetland ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spatial pattern of leaf stoichiometry is critical in predicting plant palatability and ecosystem productivity and nutrient cycling rates and thus is a major focus of community ecological research. Coastal wetlands as vital blue carbon ecosystems, with high possibility to be vulnerable to plant invasion, studies focused on stoichiometry and its pattern are important to unveil the elements cycling process. However, previous studies have mainly focused on stoichiometry in terrestrial ecosystems, there are few studies conducted on coastal wetland ecosystems, especially the studies that compare leaf stoichiometry between native and non-native plants in coastal wetlands. In this study, we compared the latitudinal patterns of leaf nutrient contents and their stoichiometric ratios between native and non-native plant species across coastal wetland ecosystems and investigated whether leaf stoichiometric patterns were driven by climatic factors. We used a compiled global data set of 954 records to conduct a systematic meta-analysis. The results showed that there were significant differences in latitudinal patterns of leaf carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) contents and C:N ratio between native and non-native species, as well as significant differences in leaf C, N, and phosphorus (P) contents. For native species, we found significant latitudinal patterns in leaf C, N, and P contents and C:N and C:P ratios, whereas for non-native species, we found significant latitudinal patterns in leaf N content and C:P and N:P ratios. Mean annual temperature of the data collection site was a significant predictor of leaf stoichiometry of native plants but only of leaf N content and C:P ratio of nonnative plants. Thus, we demonstrated spatial heterogeneity in leaf stoichiometries between native and non-native plants in coastal wetlands, indicating that such differences should be emphasized in future biogeochemical models and plant-herbivore interaction studies owing to the important role of wetland plants in global C, N, and P cycles. Our findings increase understanding of plant-related nutrient and elements cycling in coastal wetlands, as well as improve predictions of plant growth rates and vegetation productivity across large scales under plant invasion scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impacts of climate change are reaching unprecedented levels, heightening the risk of species loss and ecosystem service degradation. Wetlands, highly threatened ecosystems, serve vital ecological functions by capturing carbon, filtering water, and harbouring diverse wildlife. Coastal wetlands encounter many challenges, such as increased drought periods and escalating salinity levels, severely impacting plant biodiversity. Assessing how plants respond to various environmental stress factors is imperative for devising successful conservation strategies. In the present study, we examined three representative grass species found in various habitats within the Albufera Natural Park, close to the city of Valencia on the Spanish Mediterranean coast: Imperata cylindrica, Phragmites australis, and Saccharum ravennae. High salinity and water stress conditions were induced by subjecting the plants to irrigation with solutions containing 200, 400, 600, and 800 mM NaCl or withholding irrigation altogether to mimic coastal flooding and drought scenarios. The treatments were maintained until noticeable wilting of the plants occurred, at which point a range of stress biomarkers were determined, including photosynthetic pigments, ions, osmolytes, oxidative stress markers, and antioxidant metabolites, as well as antioxidant enzyme activities. Saccharum ravennae displayed the highest sensitivity to salt stress, whereas I. cylindrica appeared to be the most tolerant. The primary salinity tolerance mechanism observed in I. cylindrica and P. australis was a blockage of ion transport from the root zone to the aerial part, together with the salt-induced accumulation of proline and soluble sugars to high concentrations in the former. No significant effects of the water deficit treatment on the growth or biochemical parameters were observed for any of the analysed species. These findings offer valuable information for the effective management and conservation of coastal wetlands facing the challenges posed by climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Questions: Understanding drivers of biotic resistance has important implications for ecological restoration. Two potential drivers of biotic resistance that restoration practitioners can manipulate are native plant diversity and seeding density. Here we examined the effects of native plant species identity, native functional evenness, native seeding density and presence of Phragmites australis (a prolific invader in North America) on the growth of native species and invasion resistance to P. australis. Methods: We conducted two greenhouse experiments. In the first, native wetland species were grown in monoculture at one of two native seeding densities (1,938 pure live seed (PLS) per m2 or 9,688 PLS/m2) with or without P. australis. In the second experiment, native wetland species were grown in mixtures that differed in functional evenness at two levels of native seeding density (1,938 PLS/m2 or 9,688 PLS/m2) with or without P. australis. Results: The results of these experiments show certain high‐performing species drove final native and P. australis growth when tested individually, even overriding any effect of the functional evenness treatment when grown in mixtures. In addition, we found the effect of P. australis presence on native growth differed depending on the native identity and the growth metric measured (biomass, cover or intrinsic rate of growth). Finally, a higher native seeding density increased native growth and reduced P. australis growth, with the growth rate analysis yielding important insights into which species achieved these results fastest. Conclusions: Our results have three important implications for wetland restoration: (a) prioritize high‐performing native species for invasion resistance rather than necessarily focusing on functional diversity; (b) account for the fact that native species will vary in their performance, often in unexpected ways, under different contexts; and (c) seed at a high native seeding density, potentially orders of magnitude higher than current restoration practice, to sufficiently increase native growth and biotic resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal vegetated ecosystems including mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes are often shaped by positive plant–environment feedbacks. Plants improve their own living conditions with increasing patch size and density by attenuating hydrodynamics and stabilizing sediments. As these habitat modifications are critical for survival and growth, the positive density‐dependent nature of these feedbacks can lead to establishment thresholds for young plants in absence of mature conspecifics. Although feedback strength is known to depend on hydrodynamic exposure and plant traits (e.g. stiff versus flexible stems), it remains unclear how 1) opposing morphological plant traits affect establishment in contrasting environments, and 2) whether trait plasticity influences establishment success. Here, we investigate this by transplanting two tidal species with opposing growing strategies – Spartina anglica forms tussocks of stiff stems while Zostera noltii forms patches of stress‐avoiding flexible shoots – from two different donor sites in eight experimental locations. Results show that the survival and growth of both species was most successful at field locations with diverging environmental characteristics, while overall survival was highest for Z. noltii. Mainly, S. anglica survival was highest at locations with high organic matter and silt content and higher elevation relative to the tidal amplitude. In contrast, Z. noltii survival was highest at locations with larger grainsize and lower relative elevations. Furthermore, despite initial differences in plant traits between the two donor sites of Z. noltii, we found no effects of donor origin. Contrastingly, we found a significant effect of donor origin on S. anglica growth, even though transplants from the two donor sites showed no initial trait differences. Collectively, these results suggest that the stress‐tolerance strategy of S. anglica hampers establishment in exposed conditions, whereas the stress‐avoiding Z. noltii appears to be more susceptible to stress from desiccation and silty sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The waxy layer on leaf surfaces may restrict the range of arthropod species that can grip the leaf, thus affecting biological interactions. Here, we report that the wax on the leaf surface of Phragmites australis leaves provides enemy-free space for the aphid Hyalopterus pruni. In our experiment, aphids had higher survival rates on Ph. australis leaves than on Prunus mume leaves in the presence of ladybirds. In addition, removal of wax from the surface of Ph. australis leaves enabled ladybugs to grip the surface of Ph. australis leaves and decreased the survival rate of aphids. These results indicate that the leaf wax of Ph. australis provides enemy-free space for H. pruni by inhibiting ladybird adhesion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Nitrogen (N) mineralization and immobilization are two important N biogeochemical processes in estuarine and coastal sediments. However, the changes of those two processes in sediment following Spartina alterniflora (S. alterniflora) invasions into mangrove wetlands under aerobic and anaerobic conditions remain limited. Methods: We used a 15N stable isotope dilution technique to investigate sediment gross N mineralization (GNM) and NH4+ immobilization (GAI) under aerobic and anaerobic conditions in mangrove communities, mangrove communities mixed with S. alterniflora, and pure S. alterniflora communities in the Zhangjiang Estuary, China. Results: GNM and GAI rates varied spatially and seasonally. Summer N mineralization and immobilization rates under aerobic and anaerobic conditions were both significantly higher than those in winter, and the high rates were observed mainly in mangrove sediments and decreased with S. alterniflora invasion. GNM rates in aerobic conditions were significantly higher than those in anaerobic conditions, while GAI rates in aerobic conditions were less than those in anaerobic conditions. GNM and GAI rates were related closely to temperature, water content and organic matter. S. alterniflora invasion can weaken GNM and GAI rates by reducing organic matter accumulation, and S. alterniflora invasion could have reduced sediment N mineralization (2.10 × 103 t N yr−1) and immobilization (1.46 × 103 t N yr−1) in mangrove wetlands of China from 1980 to 2020. Conclusions: Our results highlight the importance of S. alterniflora invasion and hydrological conditions in controlling N mineralization and immobilization processes in mangrove sediments and are essential for the evaluation of N-balance in this N-limited ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thin layer sediment placement (TLP) is used to build elevation in marshes, counteracting effects of subsidence and sea level rise. However, TLP success may vary due to plant stress associated with reductions in nutrient availability and hydrologic flushing or through the creation of acid sulfate soils. This study examined the influence of sediment grain size and soil amendments on plant growth, soil and porewater characteristics, and greenhouse gas exchange for three key U.S. salt marsh plants: Spartina alterniflora (synonym Sporobolus alterniflorus), Spartina patens (synonym Sporobolus pumilus), and Salicornia pacifica. We found that bioavailable nitrogen concentrations (measured as extractable NH4+‐N) and porewater pH and salinity were inversely related to grain size, while soil redox was more reducing in finer sediments. This suggests that utilizing finer sediments in TLP projects will result in a more reduced environment with higher nutrient availability, while larger grain sized sediments will be better flushed and oxygenated. We further found that grain size had a significant effect on vegetation biomass allocation and rates of gas exchange, although these effects were species‐specific. We found that soil amendments (biochar and compost) did not subsidize plant growth but were associated with increases in soil respiration and methane emissions. Biochar amendments were additionally ineffective in ameliorating acid sulfate conditions. This study uncovers complex interactions between sediment type and vegetation, emphasizing the limitations of soil amendments. The findings aid restoration project managers in making informed decisions regarding sediment type, target vegetation, and soil amendments for successful TLP projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With 263 reservoir pond wetlands in Erhai Lake Basin as the research object, this study discussed the purification effects of reservoir pood wetlands on nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter, and the influence of vegetation distribution on the purification effect of reservoir wetlands. The results showed that the removal rates of TN and TP in farmland tail water, sewage tail water and river ectopic purification pond wetland were higher than that of COD, and the removal rates of TN, and TP in three functional types of reservoir pond wetlands were higher than that of COD. The purification effect of TP and COD in dry season were higher than that in rainy season. The vegetation types of reservoir pond wetland was single, and the emergent vegetation was the main vegetation. More than 70% of the reservoir pond wetland emergent vegetation coverage ranged from 25% to 75%. Invasive vegetation was widely distributed, with a total coverage of more than 11%. The number of species and coverage were positively correlated with the purification effect, and the effect of species and coverage on TP were greater than that of TN. The effect of vegetation coverage on TN and TP removal rate were greater than the number of species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phragmites australis is a common helophyte, covering much of the sheltered and shallow soft bottoms along the coasts of the Baltic Sea. Despite the expansion of P. australis over the past decades, there is little information on aquatic macroinvertebrates within P. australis beds. In this study, we examined the effect of large-scale (wave exposure, nutrients) and small-scale (distance from the seaward edge, live and dead stalk density, epiphyte and rhizome biomass) drivers on the density, taxa richness, diversity, and community structure of epifauna and infauna in monospecific P. australis beds around the Åland Islands and the Archipelago Sea. We found that higher wave exposure and nutrient levels generally supported higher epi- and infauna abundance and taxa richness. The effects on Shannon–Wiener diversity were less evident apart from an increase of the infauna diversity in the Archipelago Sea with increasing nutrient levels. On a local scale, the distance from the seaward edge, live and dead stalk density, and epiphyte biomass had varying effects on both epi- and infauna communities in the different regions. Rhizome biomass had no effect on either the epi- or infauna abundance, taxa richness, or diversity. Furthermore, according to existing studies, other habitats, e.g., Zostera marina meadows, Fucus vesiculosus belts, and vegetated soft-bottomed shallow bays, are generally characterized by more abundant fauna, except for the infauna, which had a higher density in P. australis beds than in vegetated soft-bottomed shallow bays. P. australis are a widespread, expanding, and understudied habitat with an important role in supporting coastal biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wetlands provide numerous ecological services and are key habitats for aquatic flora and fauna. In the Beledanga wetland, the current study was conducted for 3 years, from July 2019 to June 2021, to evaluate the seasonal influence of physicochemical parameters on phytoplankton diversity and abundance patterns. Overall 48 genera of phytoplankton were observed. Bacillariophyceae (27%) contributed the maximum to the total phytoplankton density. The total abundance of phytoplankton was found utmost during monsoon (4.081 × 103 unit l−1) and least during post-monsoon (3.316 × 103 unit l−1). One-way analysis of variance indicated significant seasonal differences (p < 0.05) for some genera. The study gave the idea about the most influencing physic-chemical parameters (dissolved oxygen, turbidity, total hardness, Ca2+, and total nitrogen) on the growth of phytoplankton with the help of different multivariate and univariate analysis (canonical correspondence analysis and Karl Pearson's correlation). The study again highlighted that climate parameters (temperature and rainfall) had some effect on the phytoplanktonic groups. Our study conceded that N:P in the studied wetland was less than the Redfield ratio (16:1) in all three seasons, while the Si:P ratio was noticed in the high range (15:1) during pre-monsoon. The value of the Shannon diversity index and Margalef's species richness index were noticed to be > 3, which signified quite rich in phytoplankton diversity. But the value of Algal Pollution Index, which describes the ecological pollution level based on the present algal genera was observed high throughout all seasons, indicating organic load. So in future the studied wetland may get adversely affected with influence of anthropogenic activities. Therefore, for sustainable biodiversity of the waterbody, the anthropogenic activities (retting and intensification of agricultural farming) and macrophytes need to be controlled and regulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bedload sediment transport plays an important role in the evolution of rivers, marshes and deltas. In these aquatic environments, vegetation is widespread, and plant species have unique morphology. However, the impact of real plant morphology on flow and sediment transport has not been quantified. This study used model plants with real plant morphology, based on the aquatic species Phragmites australis, Acorus calamus and Typha latifolia. The frontal area of these species increases away from the bed, which leads to higher near‐bed velocity than would be predicted from depth‐average frontal area. A plant morphology coefficient was defined to quantify the impact of vertically‐varied plant frontal area. Laboratory experiments confirmed that the plant morphology coefficient improved the prediction of near‐bed velocity, near‐bed turbulent kinetic energy and bedload transport rate in canopies with realistic morphology. Plant morphology can alter transport rates by up to an order of magnitude, relative to the assumption of uniform morphology. Plain Language Summary: Aquatic vegetation is a crucial component of river, marsh and delta ecosystems. It has a significant impact on landscape evolution by altering sediment transport. Each vegetation species has a unique shape, but the impact of plant shape on sediment transport has not been previously investigated. This study explained how plant shape impacts sediment transport. Results show that differences in plant shape can change velocity and turbulence close to the channel bed, and thus alter sediment transport rate by an order of magnitude. Plants with greater vertical variation in shape, and specifically less plant volume near the channel bed, produced greater sediment transport. A parameter was defined to quantify the impact of plant shape on flow and sediment transport. By incorporating this parameter, our new model improves the prediction of sediment transport in vegetated regions. This study provides a method for describing the impact of plant shape on flow and sediment transport, which is important to the management and restoration of rivers, marshes and deltas. Key Points: Plant morphology influences the near‐bed velocity, turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) and bedload transport rate inside emergent canopiesA new model accounts for plant morphology in the prediction of near‐bed velocity and TKE and bedload transportFor each canopy solid volume fraction, plants with greater vertical variation in frontal area produce greater bedload transport [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the continuous expansion of Spartina alterniflora (S. alterniflora) has caused serious damage to coastal wetland ecosystem. Mapping the coverage of S. alterniflora by remote sensing and analyzing its growth pattern pose great importance in controlling the expansion and maintaining the biodiversity of coastal wetlands in Guangxi. This study aimed to use harmonic regression to fit time series data of vegetation indices based on Landsat images, and the phenological features were extracted as the input of random forest model to distinguish S. alterniflora in coastal zone of Guangxi from 2009 to 2020. The influence of natural environmental factors on the distribution of S. alterniflora was evaluated by Maxent model, and the potential distribution was analyzed. The results showed that: (1) Based on the time series data of characteristic indices fitted by harmonic regression, the extraction of phenological features of S. alterniflora identification effect exhibited high accuracy (in the result of 2009, Overall Accuracy [OA] = 97.33%, Kappa = 0.95). (2) During 2009–2020, the S. alterniflora in coastal zone of Guangxi kept proliferating and expanding from east to west. The total area of S. alterniflora continued to increase while the growth rate showed a trend that increased first and then decreased. (3) The Maxent model shows good accuracy in simulating the habitat of S. alterniflora, with a potential distribution area of 14,303.39 hm2. The findings will be beneficial to the understanding of dynamic changes of S. alterniflora in coastal zone of Guangxi and provide a scientific reference for other coastal wetland studies on S. alterniflora expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on assessing the effectiveness of vertical subsurface constructed wetlands (VSFCW) in purifying integrated poultry and aquaculture wastewater (PAW) in a tropical region. This evaluation encompassed the treatment of physico-chemical, heavy metal, and microbiological pollutants across three distinct climatic seasons and hydraulic retention time (HRT: 21 days). Parameters such as BOD (29.50 mg/L), COD (56.67 mg/L), Zn (2.97 mg/L), Cr (0.24 mg/L), Cu (1.78 mg/L), Pb (0.21 mg/L), total fecal coliform (866.67 cfu/mL), total coliform (1666.67 cfu/mL), E. coli (1133.33 cfu/mL), and Salmonella/Shigella (700 cfu/mL) exceeded the discharge limits for wastewater into nearby surface water bodies. Significant removal efficiencies were observed for all parameters tested in the CW planted with both Phragmites karka and Typha latifolia. The macrophytes showed similar removal efficiencies for all tested parameters, and there was no significant difference in the initial concentrations of the parameters based on the experimental season, except for microbial properties. This suggests that weather conditions did not significantly impact the concentration of physical and chemical properties in the wastewater. Consequently, this study successfully demonstrates the potential of using a VSFCW for effective treatment of PAW. Leveraging the power of nature's green allies, Phragmites karka and Typha latifolia, a Sub-surface Constructed Wetland becomes a dynamic and efficient solution. This innovative strategy not only effectively addresses the wastewater challenge but also promotes sustainability and ecological balance. By harnessing the extraordinary capabilities of these wetland plants, the integrated system showcases its potential to transform waste into a valuable resource while minimizing the environmental footprint. In a world that demands sustainable solutions, this pioneering approach paves the way for a greener future in wastewater treatment for Integrated Poultry and Aquaculture industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel mesoporous magnetic biochar (MBC) was prepared, using a randomly growing plant, i.e., common reed, as an exporter of carbon, and applied for removal of methylene blue (MB) from aqueous solutions. The prepared sorbent was characterized by nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherm, saturation magnetization, pH of point of zero charges (pHPZC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The obtained MBC has a specific surface area of 94.2 m2 g−1 and a pore radius of 4.1 nm, a pore volume of 0.252 cm3 g−1, a saturation magnetization of 0.786 emu g−1, and a pHPZC of 6.2. Batch adsorption experiments were used to study the impact of the physicochemical factors involved in the adsorption process. The findings revealed that MB removal by MBC was achieved optimally at pH 8.0, sorbent dosage of 1.0 g L−1, and contact time of 30 min. At these conditions, the maximum adsorption was 353.4 mg g−1. Furthermore, the adsorption isotherm indicated that the Langmuir pattern matched well with the experimental data, compared to the Freindlich model. The ∆G was − 6.7, − 7.1, and − 7.5 kJ mol−1, at 298, 308, and 318 K, respectively, indicating a spontaneous process. The values of ∆H and ∆S were 5.71 kJ mol−1 and 41.6 J mol−1 K−1, respectively, suggesting endothermic and the interaction between MB and MBC is van der Waals type. The absorbent was regenerated and reused for four cycles after elution with 0.1 mol L−1 of HCl. This study concluded that the magnetic biochar generated from common reed has tremendous promise in the practical use of removing MB from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study utilizes starch as the primary raw material for preparing a water‐resistant biomass adhesive to replace formaldehyde‐based resin adhesive, which is subsequently used in plywood production. The preparation process of starch‐based adhesive (SBA) was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM), and the effects of the mass ratio of starch to tannic acid, the dosages of phragmites fiber and boric acid on wet‐bond strength were studied. The quadratic regression model of SBA showed significant results (p < 0.0001). The optimal preparation condition was that the mass ratio between starch and tannic acid was 5:2, in the dosages of 2.9% for phragmites fibers and 3.2% for boric acid. The wet‐bond strength of the plywood prepared with this adhesive was 1.73 MPa. Characterization analysis showed that the hydroxyl group on the surface of starch and tannic acid had complexation with boric acid, which improved the wet‐bond strength, water resistance, and, thermal stability of the adhesive. The alkali‐treated phragmites fibers had better compatibility with the starch matrix than the original fiber, which improved the cohesion of the SBA and increased the wet‐bond strength by 26%. Highlights: The phragmites fibers have been used to reinforce starch‐based adhesives.Boric acid facilitates the formation of crosslinked structures.The phenolic hydroxyl group in tannins provides excellent water resistance.Phragmites fiber exhibits good compatibility with the adhesive matrix.The cured starch‐based adhesive has excellent wet‐bond strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Paragus Latreille, 1804 with over 100 species of hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae) is widely distributed except for Antarctica. The larval biology of these hoverflies is well known since they develop in aphid colonies, which are often of economic importance. However, the immature stages of only 9 of the 27 known larvae of genus Paragus are described. Paragus (Paragus) hyalopteri Marcos-García & Rojo, 1994, is a Palaearctic species described from Spain. Its larva has only been found preying on the aphid Hyalopterus pruni (Geoffroy, 1762) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), on several species of fruit trees and on leaves of Arundo donax L., and Phragmites spp. Here for the first time the full life cycle of a Paragus hoverfly is described including egg, all three larval stages and the puparium. Eggs, larvae and pupae of P. hyalopteri were collected on leaves of Phragmites australis (Cav.) among aphid colonies of H. pruni, and their morphology analyzed and described in detail using stereomicroscope and Scanning Electron Microscope techniques. To facilitate the diagnosis of Paragus larvae, a key to all known larvae of Paragus is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improvement of selenium (Se) uptake in fruit tree can improve the source of food Se for humans. In this study, the effect of various abscisic acid (ABA) concentrations on the Se uptake in Cyphomandra betacea Sendt. (Solanum betaceum Cav.) seedlings was studied under Se stress. Only the concentration of 20 μmol/L ABA promoted the growth of C. betacea seedlings by increasing the biomass and regulating the resistance physiology under Se stress. ABA also increased the Se content in C. betacea seedlings under Se stress. The concentration of ABA at 20 μmol/L got the maximum root Se and shoot Se contents, which increased by 76.64% and 55.83%, respectively, compared with the control. Correlation and grey relational analyses showed that the peroxidase activity and proline content had the first two closest relationship with the shoot Se content. This study shows that ABA can promote the Se uptake in C. betacea under Se stress, and the concentration of 20 μmol/L ABA is the optimum for Se uptake and growth of C. betacea. Under selenium (Se) stress, abscisic acid (ABA) promotes the Se uptake in Cyphomandra betacea Sendt. (Solanum betaceum Cav.) seedlings, but only the concentration of 20 μmol/L ABA promotes the growth of C. betacea seedlings. The shoot Se content is most closely correlated with the peroxidase activity and proline content. This study shows that ABA can promote the Se uptake in C. betacea under Se stress [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of batch assays have been conducted to investigate the optimal factors that can be adopted to improve the anaerobic digestion (AD) performance of Phragmites australis and increase biogas production. The assays were carried out using 125 mL microcosm reactors with a working volume of 80 mL and incubated at mesophilic conditions (37 ± 1ºC). The effect of particle size (10, 5, 2, and < 1 mm) and alkaline pre-treatment of P. australis using various concentrations of sodium hydroxide (0.5, 1, 2, and 4%) on biogas production was examined. Furthermore, the best pre-treatment incubation time (12, 24, 48, 72, 96, and 120 h) and the optimal inoculum to substrate ratio (ISR: 4:1, 2:1, 1:1, 1:2 and 1:4) were also assessed. The results revealed that the highest biogas production from P. australis was achieved at particle size < 1 mm (27.97 ± 0.07 and 16.67 ± 0.09 mL/g VS added, for pre-treated and untreated P. australis respectively); 2% and 4% NaOH concentration for pre-treatment (70.01 ± 3.75 and 76.14 ± 2.62 mL/g VS added, respectively); pre-treatment incubation time of 72, 96, and 120 h (71.18 ± 1.79, 72.46 ± 1.08, and 73.78 ± 1.87 mL/g VS added, respectively); and ISR of 1:2 for pre-treated P. australis (78.21 ± 0.36 mL/g VS added) and ISR 1:4 for untreated P. australis (28.93 ± 1.55 mL/g VS added). Determining optimal parameters in this work would guide further development of process configurations, such as continuous AD systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on determining the effect of the inoculum to substrate ratio (ISR) on biogas production efficiency from the anaerobic co-digestion of two substrates: synthetic food waste and common reeds (Phragmites australis) that were ground and pre-treated using sodium hydroxide at a concentration of 2% to increase access to their cellulose. It also studied the role of different mixing ratios of the two substrates in improving the stability of the digestion process and increasing biogas production. A series of batch tests were carried out under mesophilic conditions using three ratios of ISR: 1:4, 1:2, and 1:1, and five substrate mixing ratios (synthetic food waste: pre-treated P. australis): 25:75, 50:50, 75:25, 100:0, and 0:100. The results showed low biogas production at the ISR 1:4 (21.58±0.00–44.46±0.01 mL/g volatile solid (VS) added), and the reactors suffered from acidification at the different substrates mixing ratios, while the biogas production increased at an ISR of 1:2, where the reactors with the substrate mixing ratio of 25:75 presented the highest biogas production (82.17±0.62 mL/g VS added), and the digestion process was stable. However, the reactors with substrate mixing ratios of 50:50, 75:25, and 100:0 suffered from acidification effects at this ISR. In contrast, at ISR of 1:1, the reactors did not expose to acidification inhibition at all the substrates mixing ratios, and the highest biogas production was found at synthetic food waste: pre-treated P. australis mixing ratios of 75:25 and 100:0 (76.15±1.85 and 82.47±1.85 mL/g VS added, respectively). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many marsh birds, like bitterns or rails, are endangered species inhabiting only natural habitats and dependent exclusively on different types of emergent vegetation. In a changing environment, some of these habitat specialists are becoming more flexible, shifting their preferences by colonizing man-made habitats. We studied habitat selection by Little Bitterns (Ixobrychus minutus minutus) breeding in a fishpond landscape in south-eastern Poland. Applying a large-scale research approach, we examined several habitat features in order to predict the presence of the Little Bittern from a direct comparison of areas with and without breeding birds. Partial least squares (PLS) regression identified two components of several variables that explained 53% of the variation in the presence of the Little Bittern in a fishpond habitat. The occurrence of the Little Bittern was limited to high-quality patches of emergent vegetation, the height, width and area of which were all significantly greater in the area with breeding birds than in unoccupied patches. Patches with a highly variable edge line in the form of fringes or indentations were less favoured. An optimal water level throughout the breeding season was crucial for nest-site selection and ensured access to food. The heterogeneity of the pond dykes and pond canals positively predicted the presence of the Little Bittern by creating potential nesting or foraging sites. Interestingly, the proportion of bulrushes (Typha spp.) in the emergent vegetation patches had a negative effect on the presence of the Little Bittern. The main threat to this habitat‐sensitive species was the cutting of perennial emergent vegetation, in particular the Common Reed (Phragmites australis). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) significantly contribute to atmospheric chemistry at both regional and global scales. The composition and intensity of BVOC emissions vary significantly among different plant species. Previous studies have focused on BVOC emissions from tree species, but the results of research on BVOC emissions from wetland plants are still limited. Therefore, in this study, BVOCs emitted by three aquatic plants (Phragmites australis, Typha angustifolia, and Iris pseudacorus) were sampled and analyzed using a dynamic headspace technique combined with GC-MS at daily scales. The diurnal observation data showed that the total BVOC emission rates of the three plants peaked with the increase in environmental factors (temperature, PAR, and water temperature). P. australis was the only of the three plants that emitted isoprene with a high rate of 48.34 μg·g−1Dw·h−1. Moreover, the peak emission rates of total BVOC (78.45 μg·g−1Dw·h−1) in P. australis were higher than most tree species. The emissions rates of volatile organic compounds, including monoterpenes, oxygenated volatile organic compounds, alkanes, and other volatile organic compounds, were statistically correlated across all species. The emission rates of isoprene from P. australis had significant associations with intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) (0.58, p < 0.05) and transpiration rate (Tr) (−0.63, p < 0.01). The emission rates of monoterpenes from P. australis were found to have a significantly positive correlation with the net photosynthetic rate (Pn) (0.58, p < 0.05) while T. angustifolia (−0.59, p < 0.05) and I. pseudacorus (−0.47, p < 0.05) showed the opposite trend. Such findings hold significance for the refinement of localized emission inventories and the development of comprehensive emission process models in future research, as BVOC emissions from wetland plants were reported here for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) and Nitrogen-doped CQDs (N-CQDs) were synthesized through a one-step hydrothermal process, utilizing reed leaves and urea as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. The maximum excitation wavelength of CQDs and N2-CQDs was 325 nm, and the corresponding emission wavelength was 407 nm and 406 nm, respectively. Synthetic CQDs have excellent fluorescence properties, while N-doping enhances the fluorescence intensity and stability of CQDs. Next, the adsorption effect of N2-CQDs on various metal ions was also studied using the fluorescence quenching method. The results showed that N2-CQDs have a significant capacity for adsorption of Cu2+ ions. The following quantitative analysis indicated that the Cu2+ concentration showed an excellent linear relationship between 0~500 μmol/L and the limit of detection (LOD) was 0.074 μmol/L. The N2-CQDs at 0-200 μg/mL have no deleterious effects on the viability of HeLa cells and the survival rate of Artemia nauplii. Finally, the agarose gel containing N2-CQDs was constructed, and its absorption behavior of Cu2+ in artificial seawater was evaluated. The results showed that this N2-CQDs-based gel was able to efficiently remove Cu2+ from seawater, leading to a higher survival rate of the nauplii under 10 and 50 mg/L Cu2+ stress. Our results collectively provide a cost-effective method for removing heavy metal ions from seawater and mitigating their harmful effects on sea animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide molecular research of economically important Phalaris arundinacea (Poaceae) is mainly focused on the invasions of this species from Europe to North America. Until the present study, the genetic diversity of the P. arundinacea had not been studied across the Baltic countries. The objective of this research is to evaluate the diversity of Lithuanian populations of P. arundinacea at simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci comparatively among populations of the Baltic countries, Luxembourg, and the Russian Far East (Eurasian), evaluating differentiation between Lithuanian populations and ornamental accessions, and relating these with environmental features. For six selected Lithuanian river basin populations, GBS low density SNPs were used to determine genetic diversity. Bayesian analysis showed that Eurasian populations of Phalaris arundinacea consist of two gene clusters. Statistically significant genetic differentiation among European and Eurasian populations was documented. Lithuanian genotypes growing naturally along rivers are genetically distinct from cultivated ornamentals. GBS-SNPs divided the six selected Nemunas river basins into three distinct groups with one, two, or three rivers in separate groupings for genetic diversity. Genetic diversity is primarily within, rather than among, Lithuanian, eastern European, and Eurasian populations of P. arundinacea across the continent. Thus, restoration efforts would benefit from local population seed origination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]