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Contribution of the degradation of different hygrophytes to chromophoric dissolved organic matter during the inundation period

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Abstract

Hygrophytes play a key role in maintaining the structure and function of wetland and lake ecosystems. A large number of hygrophytes are submerged and decompose during the flooding period in wetlands and lakes and then release dissolved organic matter (DOM). However, few studies have explored changes in DOM composition and concentration caused by hygrophyte decomposition during the inundation period. A 66-day degradation experiment was conducted using three typical wetland plant species, i.e., Carex cinerascens, Artemisia selengensis, and Phalaris arundinacea, to analyze the optical characteristics of their biodegradation products. The concentration of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) significantly increased with A. selengensis and C. cinerascens decomposition. Plant decomposition significantly decreased the absorption ratio at 250 nm to 365 nm (a250/a365). Furthermore, the humification index (HIX) significantly increased with C. cinerascens and P. arundinacea decomposition. The high biological index (BIX) was likely caused by the rapid decomposition of autochthonous components. We identified two humic-like substances (components 1 and 2) and two protein-like substances (components 3 and 4) during the degradation processes. The fluorescence intensities (Fmax) of protein-like substances in the A. selengensis treatment and C. cinerascens/P. arundinacea treatments were significantly different. A time effect was observed for variations in DOC, BIX, and component 3, and an interactive effect of time with plant species was observed for variations in DOC, HIX, and humic-like substances. These results provide insight into the optical characteristics and composition of DOM released by hygrophytes. Our findings have important implications for the effect of hygrophyte decomposition on DOM composition and water quality in wetlands and lakes.

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Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41977195 and 51879256) and the Science and Technology Project of Water Conservancy Department of Jiangxi Province, China (202022YBKT02).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Lake Science and Environment, Nan**g Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nan**g, 210008, China

    Zhaoshi Wu, Tingting Ma, Lili **ong, Kuanyi Li & Yaling Su

  2. Jiangxi Hydrology Monitoring Center, Nanchang, 330002, China

    Lili **ong, ** Wang & Jiusheng **ng

  3. Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Hydrology and Ecology Monitoring and Research, Nanchang, 330002, China

    Lili **ong, ** Wang & Jiusheng **ng

  4. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Bei**g, 100864, China

    Lili **ong

  5. Sino-Danish College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Bei**g, 100049, China

    Kuanyi Li

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  1. Zhaoshi Wu
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Wu, Z., Ma, T., **ong, L. et al. Contribution of the degradation of different hygrophytes to chromophoric dissolved organic matter during the inundation period. Aquat Sci 85, 14 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00027-022-00915-x

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