Underwater light attenuation inhibits native submerged plants and facilitates the invasive co-occurring plant Cabomba caroliniana

Decreasing in the diversity and distribution of native submerged plants
have been widely observed in recent decades. Global underwater darkening,
which is mainly caused by radiation dimming and a decrease in transparency
due to e.g. eutrophication, has emerged as a general trend that strongly
hampers the growth of submerged plants in lakes by decreasing the light
available for photosynthesis. However, few studies have attempted to
compare the responses of native and invasive submerged plants to
underwater darkening. In this study, we aimed to compare the effects of
light attenuation on the growth and photosynthesis traits of native and
invasive submerged plants.