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Emergent macrophytes in phosphorus limited marshes: do phosphorus usage strategies change after nutrient addition?

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Abstract

Two strategies for phosphorus (P) economy in P-limiting environment are conservation of use and enhanced acquisition. Using two wetland macrophytes as an example, we show how these strategies change when the P-limitation is removed. Phosphorus resorption and activities of root phosphatases were evaluated over 4 years in Eleocharis cellulosa Torr. and Typha domingensis Pers. from nutrient addition experiment (P, N, N&P, control) established in 15 P limited marshes of Belize. We hypothesized that after P addition both species will increase tissue P content and decrease P resorption efficiency and root phosphatase activity. Initially high phosphorus resorption efficiency, PRE, significantly decreased in Eleocharis 2 years after the first nutrient addition, while no significant decrease was recorded for Typha. Even more dramatic was 5- to 6-fold increase in P in senescent tissues of Eleocharis as compared to less than 2-fold increase in Typha. Root phosphatase activity was high for both species from control plots. After P addition, Eleocharis showed 35% to 70% decrease in enzyme activity correlated to availability of inorganic P in sediments. Eleocharis and Typha employ the “conservation of use” strategy when growing in P limited oligotrophic marshes. In addition, Eleocharis is also using the “enhanced acquisition” strategy. These strategies change when the P limitation is removed but the response varies between the two species and thus changes in the proportion of these two species in a community may result in differences in ecosystem processes such as decomposition.

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Acknowledgments

We thank to Russell King, Ireneo Briceno, Dagmara Sirová, and Petr Macek for their assistance in the field and to Joy and Joel Futrell for laboratory assistance. Comments of Marcel Rejmanek to the first draft of the manuscript are appreciated. Comments and suggestions of two anonymous reviewers greatly improved the manuscript. This research was supported by NSF grant # 0089211 to E.R.

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  1. Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California Davis, One Shields Ave., Davis, CA, 95616, USA

    Eliška Rejmánková & Jenise M. Snyder

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  1. Eliška Rejmánková
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  2. Jenise M. Snyder
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Correspondence to Eliška Rejmánková.

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Rejmánková, E., Snyder, J.M. Emergent macrophytes in phosphorus limited marshes: do phosphorus usage strategies change after nutrient addition?. Plant Soil 313, 141–153 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11104-008-9687-0

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