Effect of light on particulate and dissolved organic matter production of native and exotic macrophyte species in Patagonia

CUASSOLO FLORENCIA; BASTIDAS NAVARRO MARCELA; BALSEIRO ESTEBAN; BEATRIZ MODENUTTI

HYDROBIOLOGIA

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2016

0018-8158

Abstract11 Biological invasions are one of the main drivers of changes in ecological features in aquatic12 environments. Invasive alien species may have far-reaching effects on the host environment that need to be13 explored. In this study, we compared particulate and dissolved organic matter (POM and DOM) production14 from two common Patagonian wetland plants , one native (Eleocharis pachycarpa) and one exotic (Potentilla15 anserina), under different light conditions (exposed or not to ultraviolet radiation (UVR+, UVR-) and16 darkness). Our results indicated that when exposed to UVR both macrophytes differed in their POM17 production and DOM release: while in E. pachycarpa we observed an increase in the POM production P.18 anserina released significantly higher amount of DOM. The DOM produced by the exotic species showed19 lower photoreactivity, and had more colour than that produced by the native E. pachycarpa. The invasion by20 macrophytes may produce changes in the stoichiometric balance and ecological relationships that could21 modify the characteristics of wetland food web.