Publication
A review of the ecological role of aquatic macrophytes on freshwater fish
| Summary: | Macrophytes play a central role in the structure and functioning of aquatic ecosystems. In this paper, we review the role of macrophytes in shaping fish attributes. By acting as physical barri-ers, macrophytes modify the abiotic environment, creating conditions preferred by fish, such as higher oxygen concentrations and lower CO 2 concentrations, particularly in the case of submerged macrophytes. The habitat complexity provided by macrophytes of different life forms favors fish, providing protection from predation and serving as sites for reproduction, acting as spawning substrates and nursery habitats for larvae and juveniles. Moreover, macrophytes contribute to fish foraging dynamics by providing food resources (e.g., periphyton and attached invertebrates) within structurally complex habitats. Consequently, macrophytes foster increased fish diversity compared to open water. Beyond these indirect influences, macrophytes serve as direct feeding resources for some species of fish, both herbivorous and detritivorous. Additionally, macrophytes function as fish dispersal vectors, assisting migration and enhancing gene flow in diverse ecosystems. Despite positively affecting fish, at extremely high biomasses, macrophytes can impair fish by degrading water quality and hindering fish movement and feeding. Understanding these intricate relationships provides insights for future research and management strategies, supporting the conservation and sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems. |
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| Main Authors: | Thomaz, Sidinei Magela |
| Other Authors: | Cardozo, Ana Lúcia Paz; Quirino, Bárbara Angélio; Yofukuji, Katia; Aleixo, Matheus Henrique Ferreira; Fugi, Rosemara |
| Subject: | Biodiversity Macrophyte–fish interactions Habitat complexity Food webs Ecosystem services |
| Year: | 2025 |
| Country: | Portugal |
| Document type: | article |
| Access type: | embargoed access |
| Associated institution: | Instituto Politécnico de Bragança |
| Language: | English |
| Origin: | Biblioteca Digital do IPB |
| Summary: | Macrophytes play a central role in the structure and functioning of aquatic ecosystems. In this paper, we review the role of macrophytes in shaping fish attributes. By acting as physical barri-ers, macrophytes modify the abiotic environment, creating conditions preferred by fish, such as higher oxygen concentrations and lower CO 2 concentrations, particularly in the case of submerged macrophytes. The habitat complexity provided by macrophytes of different life forms favors fish, providing protection from predation and serving as sites for reproduction, acting as spawning substrates and nursery habitats for larvae and juveniles. Moreover, macrophytes contribute to fish foraging dynamics by providing food resources (e.g., periphyton and attached invertebrates) within structurally complex habitats. Consequently, macrophytes foster increased fish diversity compared to open water. Beyond these indirect influences, macrophytes serve as direct feeding resources for some species of fish, both herbivorous and detritivorous. Additionally, macrophytes function as fish dispersal vectors, assisting migration and enhancing gene flow in diverse ecosystems. Despite positively affecting fish, at extremely high biomasses, macrophytes can impair fish by degrading water quality and hindering fish movement and feeding. Understanding these intricate relationships provides insights for future research and management strategies, supporting the conservation and sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems. |
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