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Effects of interspecific competition on the growth and competitiveness of five emergent macrophytes in a constructed lentic wetland

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Abstract

A competition experiment was conducted for two years, to assess the effects of interspecific competition between five macrophytes on growth and coverage, in a constructed wetland with a natural water regime. We compared growth results from the competition experiment with those from a field survey in pure stands, where interspecific competition does not occur. The shoot height values of most species in the constructed wetland did not reach the maximum values, compared to those from the field data, indicating that the effect of interspecific competition was notable on the shoot height in the constructed wetland. Zizania latifolia showed the highest growth performance in the constructed wetland. Although Typha latifolia showed a high above-ground dry weight value, similar to that of ZL, TL did not expand its coverage as wide as that of ZL in the constructed wetland. Relatively high density and individual dry weight among species determined the high AGDW of ZL and TL, respectively, in the pure stands. In contrast, high individual dry weight and density among planted species determined the high AGDW of ZL and TL, respectively, in the constructed wetland, indicating that interspecific competition seemed to cause different ecological responses of plant, compared to a non-competitive situation. The dominance of ZL in the competition experiment appeared to be facilitated by planting material of seedling form, relatively rapid growth in an early growth phase, natural water regime in a lentic sheltered site, non-eutrophic water condition, and the absence of companion species belonging to the same genus.

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Acknowledgments

We appreciate Jong Min Nam and Tae Hyeon Kim for their assistances assessing plant growth in the field and Yong Kim and Seong Jin Kim for overall wetland construction process. This study was supported by the Center for Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration (CAER) of the Eco-STAR project from the Ministry of Environment (MOE), Republic of Korea (EW33-08-12).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology Education, Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-748, South Korea

    Mun Gi Hong & Jae Geun Kim

  2. Center for Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 200-701, South Korea

    Chang Young Son

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  1. Mun Gi Hong
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Correspondence to Jae Geun Kim.

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Hong, M.G., Son, C.Y. & Kim, J.G. Effects of interspecific competition on the growth and competitiveness of five emergent macrophytes in a constructed lentic wetland. Paddy Water Environ 12 (Suppl 1), 193–202 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10333-014-0441-3

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