Megalobrama amblycephala grazes preferentially on Hydrilla verticillata but makes more efficient use of Vallisneria denseserrulata: implications for biological control of submerged macrophytes

Growth of the meadow-forming macrophyte Vallisneria denseserrulata is often negatively impacted as result of shading by the canopy-forming Hydrilla verticillata. Grazing by the herbivorous cyprinid Megalobrama amblycephala is thought to control H. verticillata. We hypothesized that M. amblycephala w...

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Main Authors: Yin Chunyu, Wang Zhaoxia, Zhao Yu, Gao Yiming, Zhen Wei, He Xiaolin, Yin Chunsheng, Guan Baohua
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: EDP Sciences 2019-01-01
Series:Knowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.kmae-journal.org/articles/kmae/full_html/2019/01/kmae190028/kmae190028.html
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author Yin Chunyu
Wang Zhaoxia
Zhao Yu
Gao Yiming
Zhen Wei
He Xiaolin
Yin Chunsheng
Guan Baohua
author_facet Yin Chunyu
Wang Zhaoxia
Zhao Yu
Gao Yiming
Zhen Wei
He Xiaolin
Yin Chunsheng
Guan Baohua
author_sort Yin Chunyu
collection DOAJ
description Growth of the meadow-forming macrophyte Vallisneria denseserrulata is often negatively impacted as result of shading by the canopy-forming Hydrilla verticillata. Grazing by the herbivorous cyprinid Megalobrama amblycephala is thought to control H. verticillata. We hypothesized that M. amblycephala would prefer H. verticillata over V. denseserrulata, and that where the latter is grazed, its growth will not be wholly compromised, due in part to the efficiency with which it is metabolized by the grazer. In a pond experiment, macrophytes were planted with monocultures of H. verticillata and V. denseserrulata, and in mixed cultures of the two species, with and without grazing by M. amblycephala. The results showed that in the absence of fish, the growth rate of V. denseserrulata was significantly reduced in the presence of H. verticillata. In the mixture, M. amblycephala had a significant negative effect on the growth of H. verticillata but not on V. denseserrulata. Grazing was associated with reductions in plant height, plant fresh weight and leaf fresh weight but the leaf number, maximum root length, maximum blade width, root weight and stem weight in V. denseserrulata increased. The food utilization ratio of M. amblycephala was significantly higher when grazing solely on V. denseserrulata than when grazing on H. verticillata or the mixture. Our results imply that V. denseserrulata is protected from overgrazing by the ability of M. amblycephala to make more effective metabolic use of ingested material than for H. verticillata. Furthermore, M. amblycephala is beneficial to V. denseserrulata in reducing competition from H. verticillata.
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spelling doaj.art-6e79440205a641f2958127ebb24a663a2022-12-21T17:31:33ZengEDP SciencesKnowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems1961-95022019-01-0104203010.1051/kmae/2019022kmae190028Megalobrama amblycephala grazes preferentially on Hydrilla verticillata but makes more efficient use of Vallisneria denseserrulata: implications for biological control of submerged macrophytesYin ChunyuWang ZhaoxiaZhao YuGao YimingZhen WeiHe XiaolinYin ChunshengGuan BaohuaGrowth of the meadow-forming macrophyte Vallisneria denseserrulata is often negatively impacted as result of shading by the canopy-forming Hydrilla verticillata. Grazing by the herbivorous cyprinid Megalobrama amblycephala is thought to control H. verticillata. We hypothesized that M. amblycephala would prefer H. verticillata over V. denseserrulata, and that where the latter is grazed, its growth will not be wholly compromised, due in part to the efficiency with which it is metabolized by the grazer. In a pond experiment, macrophytes were planted with monocultures of H. verticillata and V. denseserrulata, and in mixed cultures of the two species, with and without grazing by M. amblycephala. The results showed that in the absence of fish, the growth rate of V. denseserrulata was significantly reduced in the presence of H. verticillata. In the mixture, M. amblycephala had a significant negative effect on the growth of H. verticillata but not on V. denseserrulata. Grazing was associated with reductions in plant height, plant fresh weight and leaf fresh weight but the leaf number, maximum root length, maximum blade width, root weight and stem weight in V. denseserrulata increased. The food utilization ratio of M. amblycephala was significantly higher when grazing solely on V. denseserrulata than when grazing on H. verticillata or the mixture. Our results imply that V. denseserrulata is protected from overgrazing by the ability of M. amblycephala to make more effective metabolic use of ingested material than for H. verticillata. Furthermore, M. amblycephala is beneficial to V. denseserrulata in reducing competition from H. verticillata.https://www.kmae-journal.org/articles/kmae/full_html/2019/01/kmae190028/kmae190028.htmlSubmerged macrophytesherbivorous fishcompetitionutilization rategrowth morphology
spellingShingle Yin Chunyu
Wang Zhaoxia
Zhao Yu
Gao Yiming
Zhen Wei
He Xiaolin
Yin Chunsheng
Guan Baohua
Megalobrama amblycephala grazes preferentially on Hydrilla verticillata but makes more efficient use of Vallisneria denseserrulata: implications for biological control of submerged macrophytes
Knowledge and Management of Aquatic Ecosystems
Submerged macrophytes
herbivorous fish
competition
utilization rate
growth morphology
title Megalobrama amblycephala grazes preferentially on Hydrilla verticillata but makes more efficient use of Vallisneria denseserrulata: implications for biological control of submerged macrophytes
title_full Megalobrama amblycephala grazes preferentially on Hydrilla verticillata but makes more efficient use of Vallisneria denseserrulata: implications for biological control of submerged macrophytes
title_fullStr Megalobrama amblycephala grazes preferentially on Hydrilla verticillata but makes more efficient use of Vallisneria denseserrulata: implications for biological control of submerged macrophytes
title_full_unstemmed Megalobrama amblycephala grazes preferentially on Hydrilla verticillata but makes more efficient use of Vallisneria denseserrulata: implications for biological control of submerged macrophytes
title_short Megalobrama amblycephala grazes preferentially on Hydrilla verticillata but makes more efficient use of Vallisneria denseserrulata: implications for biological control of submerged macrophytes
title_sort megalobrama amblycephala grazes preferentially on hydrilla verticillata but makes more efficient use of vallisneria denseserrulata implications for biological control of submerged macrophytes
topic Submerged macrophytes
herbivorous fish
competition
utilization rate
growth morphology
url https://www.kmae-journal.org/articles/kmae/full_html/2019/01/kmae190028/kmae190028.html
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