RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN REDOX POTENTIAL AND SEDIMENT ORGANIC MATTER CHARACTERISTICS AND CONSEQUENCES FOR RESTORATION OF AQUATIC VEGETATION

Abstract:

Eutrophication in rivers is often characterized by sharp increases in filamentous algae and sediment organic matter and decreases in populations of native submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV). Because established SAV oxygenate the rhizosphere of underlying sediments, declines in SAV and increases in sediment organic matter may result in highly reduced conditions in river bottom sediments. These reduced sediments may contain phytotoxic compounds which inhibit the establishment and early growth of SAV. In this study we measured sediment redox potential in three subtropical spring-fed rivers. For each river we compared redox potential in sediments high in organic matter with redox potential in mineral sediments and in sediments underlying SAV beds (n=9). Additionally, we collected plant biomass and sediment samples to investigate relationships between sediment redox potential and its potential drivers. Preliminary results show that sediments underlying SAV beds high in belowground biomass had higher relative redox potential than unvegetated organic and mineral sediments. These results have strong implications for SAV restoration plantings. Reducing conditions in unvegetated sites dominated by filamentous algae may cause widespread plant senescence when sediments are not properly prepared for planting.