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Physiological Adaptations to Wetland Habitats

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The Wetland Book

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Abstract

Low gas-diffusivity and oxygen-solubility in water are primary constraints in wetland and aquatic environments. Consequentially, microbes may remove oxygen from all but surface layers of waterlogged soils and generate phytotoxins, while shoot-submergence may substantially reduce CO2-availability for photosynthesis, compromising carbohydrate production. Oxygen limitations may cause energy crises within the plant and self-generation of damaging reactive oxygen species; enhanced generation and entrapment of the gaseous hormone ethylene also accompany waterlogging and submergence. Globally, wetlands differ in altitude, timing, duration and depth of flooding, light, temperature, and biogeochemistry. Consequently, suites of adaptive traits have evolved in plants to accommodate these varied conditions. Adaptations include anoxia avoidance by facilitating gas exchange with the atmosphere to support aerobic metabolism, an emergence escape strategy or a medium-term submergence tolerance strategy, or production of leaves capable of photosynthesis when submerged. Other adaptations include short- or long-term anoxia tolerance or protection from reactive oxygen species and phytotoxins.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, HU6 7RX, Kingston upon Hull, UK

    William Armstrong

  2. School of Plant Biology, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, 6009, Crawley, WA, Australia

    William Armstrong & Timothy D. Colmer

Authors
  1. William Armstrong
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  2. Timothy D. Colmer
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to William Armstrong or Timothy D. Colmer .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University, Albury, NSW, Australia

    C. Max Finlayson

  2. International Water Security Network, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK

    Mark Everard

  3. UNESCO-IHE, Institute for Water Education, Delft, The Netherlands

    Kenneth Irvine

  4. RM Wetlands and Environment Ltd., Littleworth, Oxfordshire, UK

    Robert J. McInnes

  5. U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Lafayette, LA, USA

    Beth A. Middleton

  6. Aquatic Ecosystems Group, Department of Water Science and Engineering, UNESCO-IHE, Institute for Water Education, Delft, The Netherlands

    Anne A. van Dam

  7. Institute for Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University, Albury, NSW, Australia

    Nick C. Davidson

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Armstrong, W., Colmer, T.D. (2018). Physiological Adaptations to Wetland Habitats. In: Finlayson, C.M., et al. The Wetland Book. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9659-3_79

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