Aquatic macrophytes and trophic interactions: a scientometric analyses and research perspectives

Abstract Aquatic macrophytes have a recognized role in ecosystem structuring and an important position in trophic cascades interactions, whose understanding is to improve water quality. In recent years, the number of studies on the role of aquatic macrophytes in trophic webs and interactions has increased, but South America has made little progress in research in the area. In this study, we investigated the main gaps and perspectives for future studies on macrophytes and trophic interactions, analyzing global publications, especially those conducted by South American researchers. We accessed publications using an international database (Thomson Reuters ISI-Web of Knowledge-(formerly Institute for Scientific Information)) from 1980 to 2015. We ranked each article by ecosystem and study approach, biological organization and interacting taxonomic groups (phytoplankton, periphyton, zooplankton, aquatic invertebrates, fish and birds), countries publishing in cooperation and affiliations. The results showed that published studies (n = 242) emphasizing aquatic plants in trophic interactions increased in 35 years. Comparing the contributions of the 32 countries investigated, those from South America as first affiliation, had few publications (n = 26) and in cooperation (n = 7). The largest volume of articles indexed by the researchers dealt with the dynamics and structure of aquatic assemblages, webs and trophic interactions. Ecosystems such reservoirs and wetlands have received little attention. Large numbers of studies have encompassed community-wide aquatic approaches, including in South American studies, the interactions between macrophytes, zooplankton and phytoplankton were the second most studied interactions of all indexed articles. Knowledge about trophic cascade and interactions has been successfully enhanced in several countries with the purpose of restructuring communities and restore water quality of many ecosystems. In summary, we conclude that studies in the area of trophic interactions mediated by macrophytes may be directed in a way to attenuate international asymmetries, encouraging the increase of scientific productivity in South America.

摘要：水生大型植物（aquatic macrophytes）在生态系统构建中具有公认的核心作用，且在营养级联（trophic cascade）互作过程中占据关键地位，对其相关机制的研究有助于改善水体质量。近年来，围绕水生大型植物在营养网与互作过程中所扮演角色的研究数量持续增长，但南美洲在该领域的研究进展相对有限。本研究通过分析1980年至2015年间收录于国际数据库汤森路透ISI Web of Knowledge（原科学信息研究所，Institute for Scientific Information）的全球文献，尤其聚焦南美研究者开展的相关工作，探讨了水生大型植物与营养互作领域现存的主要研究空白及未来研究方向。本研究依据生态系统类型、研究方法、生物组织层级、互作分类类群（浮游植物phytoplankton、周丛藻类periphyton、浮游动物zooplankton、水生无脊椎动物aquatic invertebrates、鱼类与鸟类）以及合作发表国家与研究机构，对每篇文献进行了分类梳理。研究结果显示，35年间聚焦营养互作中水生植物的已发表文献共计242篇，整体呈增长趋势。对比本次纳入分析的32个国家的研究贡献：以南美地区机构为第一署名单位的文献仅26篇，其中合作发表文献仅7篇。已收录文献中占比最高的研究主题为水生群落、营养网与营养互作的动态与结构；而水库、湿地等典型生态系统的相关研究则相对匮乏。大量研究采用了水生群落尺度的研究范式，在所有纳入分析的文献中，水生大型植物、浮游动物与浮游植物之间的互作是第二大受关注的研究主题，南美研究者的相关工作也涵盖了该方向。已有多个国家通过相关研究加深了对营养级联与营养互作的认知，并以此为基础实现了多个生态系统的群落重构与水质修复。综上，本研究认为，针对水生大型植物介导的营养互作领域的研究可聚焦于缩小国际研究差距这一方向，以推动南美地区科研产出的提升。