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Flooding Effects on the Population Dynamics of Cabomba furcata and Nelumbo nucifera in a Shallow Floodplain Wetland

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Abstract

Cabomba furcata is an introduced species that has been naturalized in Malaysia and is becoming invasive in a shallow wetland - Lake Chini, Pahang - displacing the dominance of the native Nelumbo nucifera. The water level structure, which has reduced flooding, plays a vital role in structuring species dominance in this shallow alluvial wetland of the Pahang River floodplain. Biomass sampling focusing on floating-leaved N. nucifera and submerged C. furcata was conducted from September 2009 to March 2011 to determine its association with flooding and season. We found that the non-native C. furcata exhibits no clear seasonal patterns in biomass compared to the native N. nucifera. However, the C. furcata biomass varied with the lake’s water level, which fluctuates with flooding from the Pahang River. High amplitude flooding affected the composition of both C. furcata and N. nucifera. Long-term hydrological and flood data indicate the variability of flooding into the wetland system. The paper concludes by noting the need for concerted sustainable management strategies to be coordinated and managed in addressing Cabomba’s threats.

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Acknowledgement

The authors would like to thank Ir. Juhaimi Jusoh and Ir. Ahmad Jamalluddin Shaaban for their role and support in this project. This research was supported by Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Malaysia. Three anonymous reviewers contributed constructive comments and suggestions to improve the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lake Research Unit, Water Quality and Environment Research Centre, National Hydraulic Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Lot 5377, Seri Kembangan, Selangor, Malaysia

    Zati Sharip & Ahmad Taqiyuddin Ahmad Zaki

  2. UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, United Nations Building, Rajadamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok, 10200, Thailand

    Salmah Zakaria

Authors
  1. Zati Sharip
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  2. Ahmad Taqiyuddin Ahmad Zaki
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  3. Salmah Zakaria
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Correspondence to Zati Sharip.

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Sharip, Z., Zaki, A.T.A. & Zakaria, S. Flooding Effects on the Population Dynamics of Cabomba furcata and Nelumbo nucifera in a Shallow Floodplain Wetland. Wetlands 34, 713–723 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-014-0536-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-014-0536-z

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