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Plants
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Aquatic Plants and Wetland
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Aquatic Plants and Wetland

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Ecology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 5015

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Fan Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
Interests: aquatic plant and freshwater environment; aquatic plant physiology; aquatic plant reproduction biology; plant–environmental factor interactions
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As one of the most effective and environmentally friendly solutions for water quality improvement, constructed wetlands (CWs) have attracted significant global attention. Aquatic plants, as the core components of CWs, play vital roles in nutrient absorption, oxygen provision, and micro-environmental support. Investigating the responses of aquatic plants—including, but not limited to, changes in population dynamics, morphological and physiological alterations, and the underlying mechanisms—will enhance our understanding of the coexistence and interactions between aquatic plants and CWs. It can also provide the theoretical basis for carrying out ecological restorations of CWs for using aquatic plants. This Special Issue of Plants will focus on the population dynamics, morphological, physiological, and molecular variations of aquatic plants, as well as their roles and functions in water purification within CWs.

Dr. Fan Liu
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • aquatic plants
  • constructed wetland
  • population dynamics
  • morphological variation
  • physiological responses
  • molecular mechanisms

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 5404 KB  
Article
Combined Effects of Flood Disturbances and Nutrient Enrichment Prompt Aquatic Vegetation Expansion: Sediment Evidence from a Floodplain Lake
by Zhuoxuan Gu, Yan Li, Jingxiang Li, Zixin Liu, Yingying Chen, Yajing Wang, Erik Jeppesen and Xuhui Dong
Plants 2025, 14(15), 2381; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14152381 - 2 Aug 2025
Viewed by 581
Abstract
Aquatic macrophytes are a vital component of lake ecosystems, profoundly influencing ecosystem structure and function. Under future scenarios of more frequent extreme floods and intensified lake eutrophication, aquatic macrophytes will face increasing challenges. Therefore, understanding aquatic macrophyte responses to flood disturbances and nutrient [...] Read more.
Aquatic macrophytes are a vital component of lake ecosystems, profoundly influencing ecosystem structure and function. Under future scenarios of more frequent extreme floods and intensified lake eutrophication, aquatic macrophytes will face increasing challenges. Therefore, understanding aquatic macrophyte responses to flood disturbances and nutrient enrichment is crucial for predicting future vegetation dynamics in lake ecosystems. This study focuses on Huangmaotan Lake, a Yangtze River floodplain lake, where we reconstructed 200-year successional trajectories of macrophyte communities and their driving mechanisms. With a multiproxy approach we analyzed a well-dated sediment core incorporating plant macrofossils, grain size, nutrient elements, heavy metals, and historical flood records from the watershed. The results demonstrate a significant shift in the macrophyte community, from species that existed before 1914 to species that existed by 2020. Unlike the widespread macrophyte degradation seen in most regional lakes, this lake has maintained clear-water plant dominance and experienced continuous vegetation expansion over the past 50 years. We attribute this to the interrelated effects of floods and the enrichment of ecosystems with nutrients. Specifically, our findings suggest that nutrient enrichment can mitigate the stress effects of floods on aquatic macrophytes, while flood disturbances help reduce excess nutrient concentrations in the water column. These findings offer applicable insights for aquatic vegetation restoration in the Yangtze River floodplain and other comparable lake systems worldwide. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Plants and Wetland)
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25 pages, 5480 KB  
Article
Functional Trait Responses of Brasenia schreberi to Water and Soil Conditions Reveal Its Endangered Status
by Jingyu Yao, Zhenya Liu, Junbao Yu, Yun Zhang, Rui Xu, Jiahua Li, Yang Xu and Mei Sun
Plants 2025, 14(13), 2072; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14132072 - 7 Jul 2025
Viewed by 436
Abstract
[Background] Brasenia schreberi is a perennial floating leaf aquatic plant with high ecological protection value and potential for economic development, and thus, its endangered mechanisms are of great concern. The rapid endangerment of this species in modern times may be primarily attributed to [...] Read more.
[Background] Brasenia schreberi is a perennial floating leaf aquatic plant with high ecological protection value and potential for economic development, and thus, its endangered mechanisms are of great concern. The rapid endangerment of this species in modern times may be primarily attributed to the deterioration of water and soil environmental conditions, as its growth relies on high-quality water and soil. [Objective] Exploring the responses of B. schreberi to water and soil conditions from the perspective of functional traits is of great significance for understanding its endangered mechanisms and implementing effective conservation strategies. [Methods] This study was conducted in the Tengchong Beihai Wetland, which has the largest natural habitat of B. schreberi in China. By measuring the key functional traits of B. schreberi and detecting the water and soil parameters at the collecting sites, the responses of these functional traits to the water and soil conditions have been investigated. [Results] (1) The growth status of B. schreberi affects the expression of its functional traits. Compared with sporadic distribution, B. schreberi in continuous patches have significantly higher stomatal conductance, intercellular CO2 concentration, transpiration rate, and vein density, while these plants have significantly smaller leaf area and perimeter. (2) Good water quality directly promotes photosynthetic, morphological, and structural traits. However, high soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus contents can inhibit the photosynthetic rate. The net photosynthetic rate is significantly positively correlated with dissolved oxygen content, pH value, ammonia nitrogen, and nitrate nitrogen contents in the water, as well as the magnesium, zinc, and silicon contents in the soil. In contrast, the net photosynthetic rate is significantly negatively correlated with the total phosphorus content in water and the total carbon, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus content in the soil. (3) Leaf area and perimeter show positive correlations with various water parameters, including the depth, temperature, pH value, dissolved oxygen content, ammonium nitrogen, and nitrate nitrogen content, yet they are negatively correlated with total phosphorus content, chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand, and permanganate index of water. [Conclusions] This study supports the idea that B. schreberi thrives in oligotrophic water environments, while the notion that fertile soil is required for its growth still needs to be investigated more thoroughly. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Plants and Wetland)
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15 pages, 1084 KB  
Article
Hydraulic Traits Constrain Salinity-Dependent Niche Segregation in Mangroves
by Haijing Cheng, Yinjie Chen, Yunhui Peng, Mi Wei and Junfeng Niu
Plants 2025, 14(12), 1850; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14121850 - 16 Jun 2025
Viewed by 387
Abstract
To understand the mechanisms underlying species assemblage along salt gradients in intertidal zones, we measured the xylem hydraulic vulnerability curves (HVCs), leaf water potential (ψ), stomatal conductance (gs), specific leaf area (SLA), and wood [...] Read more.
To understand the mechanisms underlying species assemblage along salt gradients in intertidal zones, we measured the xylem hydraulic vulnerability curves (HVCs), leaf water potential (ψ), stomatal conductance (gs), specific leaf area (SLA), and wood density (WD) for six mangrove species of Avicennia marina, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Aegiceras corniculatum, Kandelia obovata, Sonneratia apetala, and Sonneratia caseolaris. We found the following: (1) A. marina and B. gymnorhiza had the most negative P50 (water potential at which 50% of hydraulic conductivity was lost), while S. caseolaris and S. apetala had the least negative P50, indicating different resistance to embolism in xylem; (2) P50 and P88 (water potential at which 88% of hydraulic conductivity was lost) declined with increasing salinity from the onshore to offshore species, as their water regulation strategy meanwhile transitioned from isohydry to anisohydry; (3) B. gymnorhiza had smaller SLA but larger hydraulic safety margin (HSM), implying potentially higher capacity of water retention in leaves and lower risk of hydraulic failure in xylem. These results suggest that hydraulic traits play an important role in shaping the salt-driven niche segregation of mangroves along intertidal zones. Our research contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the hydraulic physiology of mangroves in salt adaption and may facilitate a general modeling framework for examining and predicting mangrove resilience to a changing climate. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Plants and Wetland)
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14 pages, 2510 KB  
Article
Responses of the Leaf Characteristics of Nymphoides peltata to a Water Depth Gradient in the Qionghai Lake, Western Sichuan Plateau, China
by Qun Li, Lan Chen, Yumei Qiu, Xiaoyan Li, Zhe Nan, Shulin Yao, Zhenghong Chen, Yuhan Zhang and Chengzhang Zhao
Plants 2025, 14(6), 919; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14060919 - 14 Mar 2025
Viewed by 467
Abstract
The correlations between leaf traits of plants with floating leaves and the responses of these traits to changes in water depth can be used to explore the ecological adaptation strategies of aquatic plants. However, few studies have investigated the covariation and correlation of [...] Read more.
The correlations between leaf traits of plants with floating leaves and the responses of these traits to changes in water depth can be used to explore the ecological adaptation strategies of aquatic plants. However, few studies have investigated the covariation and correlation of leaf petiole and leaf morphological indices of aquatic plants along natural water depth gradients. Three plots were established along a water depth gradient: plot I (shallow water, with a water depth ranging from 0 to 20 cm), plot II (medium water, with a water depth ranging from 20 to 40 cm), and plot III (deep water, with a water level ranging from 40 to 60 cm). The floating plant Nymphoides peltata (S. G. Gmel.) Kuntze was studied in the Qionghai National Wetland Park, Sichuan Province, China. The results showed that N. peltata had large, thin leaves and short, thin leaf petioles in plot I; the leaf petiole and leaf traits were opposite of those in Plot III. In the three plots, leaf petiole length and leaf petiole diameter were significantly negatively correlated with leaf area, leaf circumference, leaf length, and leaf width (p < 0.05). N. peltata can maintain normal growth, survival, and reproduction in heterogeneous habitats with different water depths by altering its leaf morphological characteristics in a timely manner. This study is helpful for understanding the mechanism of phenotypic plasticity in aquatic plants with floating foliage in heterogeneous environments and provides a scientific basis for the management of aquatic plants in wetlands. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Plants and Wetland)
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10 pages, 4329 KB  
Article
Structure of Plant Populations in Constructed Wetlands and Their Ability for Water Purification
by Junshuang Yu, Ling Xian and Fan Liu
Plants 2025, 14(2), 162; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14020162 - 8 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1055
Abstract
In constructed wetlands (CWs) with multiple plant communities, population structure may change over time and these variations may ultimately influence water quality. However, in CWs with multiple plant communities, it is still unclear how population structure may change over time and how these [...] Read more.
In constructed wetlands (CWs) with multiple plant communities, population structure may change over time and these variations may ultimately influence water quality. However, in CWs with multiple plant communities, it is still unclear how population structure may change over time and how these variations ultimately influence water quality. Here, we established a CW featuring multiple plant species within a polder to investigate the variation in plant population structure and wastewater treatment effect for drainage water over the course of one year. Our results showed that the total species decreased from 52 to 36; however, 20 established species with different ecological types (emerged or submerged) remained with the same functional assembly for nutrient absorption, accounting for 94.69% of relative richness at the initial stage and 91.37% at the last state. The Shannon index showed no significant differences among the initial, middle, and last states. Meanwhile, regarding nutrient content, the total phosphorus (TP) concentration decreased by 57.66% at the middle stage and by 56.76% at the last state. Total nitrogen (TN) decreased by 50.86% and 49.30%, respectively. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) decreased by 36.83% and 38.47%, while chlorophyll a (Chla) decreased by 72.36% and 78.54%, respectively. Redundancy analysis (RDA) results indicated that none of the selected environmental variables significantly affected the species community except for conductivity. Our findings suggest that when utilizing multiple species for CWs, it is essential to focus on the well-established species within the plant community. By maintaining these well-established species, water purification in CWs can be sustained. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Plants and Wetland)
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20 pages, 7393 KB  
Article
Stage-Specific Effects of Silver Nanoparticles on Physiology During the Early Growth Stages of Rice
by Ruxue Pan, Zailin Zhang, Ya Li, Sihong Zhu, Sumera Anwar, Jiaquan Huang, Chuanling Zhang and Liyan Yin
Plants 2024, 13(23), 3454; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13233454 - 9 Dec 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1445
Abstract
Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), widely utilized nanomaterials, can negatively affect crop growth and development. However, it remains unclear whether crops exhibit similar responses to AgNPs stress at seed germination and seedling stages. In this study, rice seeds and seedlings were exposed to AgNPs, and [...] Read more.
Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), widely utilized nanomaterials, can negatively affect crop growth and development. However, it remains unclear whether crops exhibit similar responses to AgNPs stress at seed germination and seedling stages. In this study, rice seeds and seedlings were exposed to AgNPs, and their growth, photosynthetic efficiency, and antioxidant systems were recorded. demonstrated significant AgNPs accumulation in rice tissues, with notable higher accumulation in seedlings exposed to AgNPs after germination compared to AgNPs exposure during germination. The roots exhibited greater AgNPs accumulation than shoots across both stages. Exposure to AgNPs during the seed germination stage, even at concentrations up to 2 mg/L, did not significantly affect growth, physiological indices, or oxidative stress. In contrast, seedlings exposed to 1 and 2 mg/L AgNPs showed significant reductions in shoot length, biomass, nutrient content, and photosynthetic efficiency. At low AgNPs concentrations, the maximum relative electron transport rate (rETRmax) was significantly reduced, while the higher concentrations caused pronounced declines in the chlorophyll a fluorescence transient curves (OJIP) compared to the control group. Antioxidant enzyme activities increased in both leaves and roots in a dose-dependent manner, with roots exhibiting significantly higher activity, suggesting that roots are the primary site of AgNPs stress responses. In conclusion, rice responds differently to AgNPs exposure at distinct developmental stages, with the seedling stage being more susceptible to AgNPs-induced stress than the seed germination stage. These findings underscore the importance of considering growth stages when assessing the food safety and environmental risks associated with AgNPs exposure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Plants and Wetland)
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