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Effects of Plant Diversity and Plant Density on Ecosystem Functions in Floating Constructed Wetlands

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Abstract

Plant species diversity could enhance plant productivity and pollutant removal efficiency in constructed wetlands (CWs). However, the potential importance of plant density for ecosystem functioning has largely been neglected. In this study, we conducted a factorial experiment in which three common plant species were planted in a gradient of species richness (one, two, and three) and seven species compositions at two densities (six and twelve individuals per microcosm). Plant total biomass and total organic carbon (TOC) and total inorganic nitrogen (TIN) removal efficiency were measured to explore the effect of plant species diversity and density on the ecosystem functioning of CWs. Results showed that (1) plant species richness had no significant effect on plant total biomass and TOC and TIN removal efficiency under high and low plant density. (2) There were significant differences in TIN removal efficiency among seven species compositions under low plant density; especially, the presence of Canna indica reduced the TIN removal efficiency. In contrast, species composition and species identity had no significant effect on ecosystem functioning under high plant density. (3) High plant density increased plant total biomass of C. indica monocultures, and also enhanced TIN removal efficiency in mixtures of two species. These results indicated C. indica alone may not be an ideal species for enhancing pollutant removal in constructed wetlands but planting at high density could mitigate its negative effect on ecosystem functioning.

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Funding

This work was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31901213) and the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province (LQ18C030001).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Life and Environmental Science, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, 325035, Zhejiang, China

    Wenjuan Han

  2. College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004, Zhejiang, China

    Wenjuan Han, Xiaoling Sheng, Jiongni Shao, Jia Jiang, Qinru He & Ying Lin

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  1. Wenjuan Han
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  2. Xiaoling Sheng
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  4. Jia Jiang
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Correspondence to Wenjuan Han.

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Han, W., Sheng, X., Shao, J. et al. Effects of Plant Diversity and Plant Density on Ecosystem Functions in Floating Constructed Wetlands. Water Air Soil Pollut 231, 544 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-020-04913-3

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