Responses of submerged macrophytes Vallisneria natans and epiphytic biofilm to floating plants Eichhornia crassipes in eutrophic water

The degeneration of submerged macrophytes and the invasion of Eichhornia crassipes (E. crassipes) destroyed the balance of aquatic ecosystems environments. In this study, responses of Vallisneria natans (V. natans) and the leaf-epiphytic biofilms to E. crassipes were analyzed to provide a technical scheme for V. natans restoration and E. crassipes control in eutrophic water. The results showed that a significant improvement of water quality achieved in 1100 ind center dot m(-2) E. crassipes density group and TN removal rate reached 63.53%. The presence of E. crassipes changed the morphological characteristics of V. natans, which stimulated the adaptive mechanisms via promotion of shoot height and root length. Concentrations of the antioxidant enzymes, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase in the V. natans leaves remained stable. But E. crassipes greatly increased the microbial diversity on V. natans leave biofilms. Furthermore, the greatest richness in bacterial community diversity was observed at 700, 1100, and 1200 ind center dot m(-2) E. crassipes densities in heatmap, which was beneficial to the stability of the water ecological environment. These results showed that the combination of V. natans with E. crassipes of 1100 ind m(-2) providing more favorable conditions for the growth and restoration of submerged macrophytes and improve the water quality. Practitioner Points The responses of submerged macrophytes to floating plants were studied. The optimal density of Eichhornia crassipes was 1100 ind m(-2). The biofilm microbial community changed in response to Eichhornia crassipes.