Table_3_Relationships Between Annual and Perennial Seagrass (Ruppia sinensis) Populations and Their Sediment Geochemical Characteristics in the Yellow River Delta.pdf

Annual and perennial populations commonly occur for the same submerged aquatic angiosperm species, yet relationships between population types and sediment characteristics are poorly understood. In the current study two Ruppia sinensis habitats with annual and perennial populations were surveyed in the Yellow River Delta (YRD). Biomass and seasonal seed bank size were used to evaluate population status and potential recruitment capacity. Sediment geochemical parameters including moisture, sulfide, Chl a, carbohydrate, OM, TOC, TN, and TP were measured to compare sediment nutrient composition and variability. The results revealed a higher biomass and larger seed bank in the annual R. sinensis population compared with the perennial population. The P levels in sediments between the two R. sinensis populations were similar; while the N level in the sediment of the annual population was significantly higher than the perennial population, which might support the recruitment of vegetative shoots when a large amount of seeds germinated during wet periods. The annual population exhibited greater resilience after habitat desiccation, with the population recovering rapidly once water appeared. The results of this study add to the knowledge of R. sinensis populations and their sediment geochemical characteristics, and can be used as a reference for Ruppia population conservation and management.

年度与多年生种群在常见的水生被子植物物种中普遍存在，然而种群类型与沉积物特性之间的关系仍处于理解不足的状态。在当前研究中，对黄河三角洲（YRD）中两种具有年度和多年生种群的Ruppia sinensis生境进行了调查。通过生物量和季节性种子库大小来评估种群状况及潜在更新能力。对包括水分、硫化物、叶绿素a、碳水化合物、有机物、总有机碳、总氮和总磷在内的沉积物地球化学参数进行了测量，以比较沉积物营养组成及变异。结果显示，与多年生种群相比，年度R. sinensis种群具有更高的生物量和更大的种子库。两种R. sinensis种群之间的P水平相似；而年度种群沉积物中的N水平显著高于多年生种群，这可能在湿润期间大量种子萌发时，支持营养枝条的更新。年度种群在生境干燥后表现出更强的恢复力，一旦水源出现，种群便能迅速恢复。本研究结果丰富了Ruppia sinensis种群及其沉积物地球化学特性的知识，并可为Ruppia种群的保护与管理提供参考。