Elodea nuttallii: uptake, translocation and release of phosphorus

AB Aquatic Biology Contact the journal Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections AB 3:209-216 (2008) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/ab00080 Elodea nuttallii: uptake, translocation and release of phosphorus Susanne Angelstein1,*, Hendrik Schubert2 1UFZ–Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Department of Lake Research, Brückstrasse 3a, 39114 Magdeburg, Germany 2University of Rostock, Biosciences, Albert-Einstein-Str. 3, 18051 Rostock, Germany *Email: susanne.angelstein@ufz.de ABSTRACT: Based on the wide range of Elodea nuttallii, from oligo-mesotrophic waters to highly eutrophic environments, it is important to determine its potential effect on the phosphorus cycle, particularly in nutrient-poor lake ecosystems. Therefore, the absorption, transport and release of phosphorus by E. nuttallii plants were studied using 33P. The experiments were conducted in a 2-compartment apparatus for translocation studies and in non-partitioned Erlenmeyer flasks for the determination of uptake kinetics. The plants absorbed phosphorus via both roots and shoots. The phosphorus uptake via shoots significantly exceeded the phosphorus uptake via roots. The absorbed phosphorus was equally translocated via acripetal or basipetal movements, and was incorporated in all parts of the plants tested. The determined phosphorus incorporation rate (IRP) was nearly 5 times lower when phosphorus was fed through the root system, than the IRP when phosphorus was fed through the shoots. Additionally, we detected clear evidence for phosphorus recycling via plants. Phosphorus recycling processes have a substantial effect on the balance of phosphorus acquisition by E. nuttallii. However, phosphorus uptake was exclusively detected during illumination. Considering this strong dependency of phosphorus uptake on light, we assume that the absorption and release of phosphorus might be linked with photosynthesis and respiratory processes. Our results suggest that the effect on lake water of a potential leakage of phosphorus via the shoots might be small. KEY WORDS: Elodea nuttallii · Macrophyte · Phosphorus cycle in lakes · Phosphorus uptake · Phosphorus release · Phosphorus recycling Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Angelstein S, Schubert H (2008) Elodea nuttallii: uptake, translocation and release of phosphorus. Aquat Biol 3:209-216. https://doi.org/10.3354/ab00080 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in AB Vol. 3, No. 3. Online publication date: August 13, 2008 Print ISSN: 1864-7782; Online ISSN: 1864-7790 Copyright © 2008 Inter-Research.