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The colonization, regeneration, and growth rates of macrophytes from fragments: a comparison between exotic and native submerged aquatic species

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Abstract

The propagation of most aquatic macrophytes occurs vegetatively, via fragments. After dispersal, the fragments may exhibit two survival strategies: colonization (the ability to develop roots) and regeneration (the ability to develop new propagules that can disperse). Invasive species, for example, Hydrilla verticillata, are known to have a high potential for dispersal and growth. We experimentally evaluated the colonization and regeneration abilities and growth rates of this species in the early stage of development and compared these properties to the corresponding characteristics of two native species of Hydrocharitaceae (Egeria densa and Egeria najas). The following hypotheses were tested: (1) fragments with apical tips have greater colonization and regeneration abilities and higher growth rates than fragments without apical tips and (2) H. verticillata has greater colonization and regeneration abilities and higher growth rates than other native species of Hydrocharitaceae. Our results showed that both types of fragments had the same ability to colonize, whereas fragments without tips had a higher ability to regenerate. However, fragments with apical tips showed higher growth rates. It is probable that these higher growth rates resulted from apical dominance. H. verticillata had the greatest propagation potential. Its colonization and regeneration abilities and growth rates were greater than those of the native species. These differences can produce competitive advantages for the exotic species in the early stages of development in new habitats and may contribute to understanding the success of the exotic compared to the native species.

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Acknowledgments

C. A. Umetsu and H. B. A. Evangelista acknowledge the support of the Brazilian Council of Research (CNPq). We also thank Dr. Liesbeth Bakker and two anonymous reviewers that contributed substantially to improve our manuscript. S. M. Thomaz is especially thankful to CNPq for continuous funding through a Research Productivity Grant. This research was funded by CNPq/MCT through the Long-Term Ecological Research Program, site number 6, and Itaipu Binacional.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Programa de Pós-graduação Em Ecologia de Ambientes Aquáticos Continentais, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, CEP 87020-900, Brazil

    Cristiane Akemi Umetsu & Sidinei Magela Thomaz

  2. Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Comparada, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, CEP 87020-900, Brazil

    Heloísa Beatriz Antoniazi Evangelista & Sidinei Magela Thomaz

  3. Núcleo de Pesquisas em Limnologia, Ictiologia e Aquicultura (Nupélia), Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, CEP 87020-900, Brazil

    Sidinei Magela Thomaz

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  1. Cristiane Akemi Umetsu
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  2. Heloísa Beatriz Antoniazi Evangelista
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  3. Sidinei Magela Thomaz
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Correspondence to Sidinei Magela Thomaz.

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Handling Editor: Liesbeth Bakker

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Umetsu, C.A., Evangelista, H.B.A. & Thomaz, S.M. The colonization, regeneration, and growth rates of macrophytes from fragments: a comparison between exotic and native submerged aquatic species. Aquat Ecol 46, 443–449 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-012-9413-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-012-9413-0

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