Research on colonization requirements of submerged macrophytes based on underwater light environment

WU Zijing; QIU Xintian; XU Qiao; YIN Xin'an; ZHANG Yi; SUN Yue; YANG Baiheng; ZHANG Borui; SUN Chuqi

doi:10.13205/j.hjgc.202605010

Volume 44 Issue 5

May 2026

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Article Navigation > ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING > 2026 > 44(5): 103-111

WU Zijing, QIU Xintian, XU Qiao, YIN Xin'an, ZHANG Yi, SUN Yue, YANG Baiheng, ZHANG Borui, SUN Chuqi. Research on colonization requirements of submerged macrophytes based on underwater light environment[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2026, 44(5): 103-111. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202605010

Citation:

WU Zijing, QIU Xintian, XU Qiao, YIN Xin'an, ZHANG Yi, SUN Yue, YANG Baiheng, ZHANG Borui, SUN Chuqi. Research on colonization requirements of submerged macrophytes based on underwater light environment[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2026, 44(5): 103-111. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202605010

Citation:

WU Zijing, QIU Xintian, XU Qiao, YIN Xin'an, ZHANG Yi, SUN Yue, YANG Baiheng, ZHANG Borui, SUN Chuqi. Research on colonization requirements of submerged macrophytes based on underwater light environment[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2026, 44(5): 103-111. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202605010

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Research on colonization requirements of submerged macrophytes based on underwater light environment

doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202605010

1. State Key Laboratory of Regional Environment and Sustainability, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China;
2. Tianjin Water Affairs Bureau, Tianjin 300074, China

Received Date: 2026-01-09
Available Online: 2026-06-06

Abstract

Abstract

The underwater light environment is one of the key limiting factors for the colonization of submerged macrophytes and the ecological restoration of shallow lakes. Previous studies have rarely quantitatively determined the contribution characteristics of aquatic environmental factors in the relationship between water quality， underwater light environment， and submerged macrophyte colonization. They have also failed to comprehensively consider the correlations among various aquatic environmental factors or to clarify the parameter thresholds that meet the requirements for submerged macrophyte colonization. Taking a typical national wetland nature reserve as the study area， this study measured indicators including photosynthetically active radiation， light attenuation coefficient， euphotic depth， water transparency， total suspended solids， chlorophyll-a， total nitrogen， and total phosphorus. A simulation model of the underwater light attenuation coefficient was established， the spatial distribution patterns of aquatic environmental factors were quantitatively analyzed， the contribution rates of aquatic environmental factors to light attenuation were quantified， and the thresholds of key parameters were determined. The results showed that the average light attenuation coefficient in the study area was （10.31±3.76） m^-1； the euphotic depth ［（0.53±0.24） m］ was lower than the average water depth ［（0.94±0.29） m］， exhibiting a heterogeneous pattern of being shallower in the west and deeper in the east. Total suspended solids and chlorophyll-a were the main direct influencing factors， while total nitrogen was the main indirect influencing factor. To achieve effective colonization of submerged macrophytes under the condition of average water depth， the euphotic depth should be ≥ 0.94 m， corresponding to the water transparency ≥ 0.41 m， light attenuation coefficient ≤ 4.95 m^-1， and chlorophyll-a ≤ 3.8 μg/L.
- underwater light environment,
- submerged macrophytes,
- light attenuation coefficient,
- water depth requirements,
- Hongze Lake

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References(37)

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