Underwater Pond Plants serve a multitude of functions, such as supporting fish and wildlife, purifying water, and preventing erosion. Users of lakes may, however, consider plant growth a nuisance at times.
Different plants have different characteristics. Our knowledge of plants on land has been extensive, but what about those underwater? Underwater plants are familiar to live underwater. Aquatic plants have unique characteristics that make them fascinating.
How do Aquatic Plants differ from other plants?
An aquatic plant is any kind of plant that grows in the water. In seawater as well as freshwater. You can find them in lakes, rivers, oceans, and ponds, for example.
These plants have unique features, just as aquatic animals possess unique characteristics.
Aquatic plants: their importance
Aquatic plants are usually referred to as ‘submerged macrophytes’. Despite not being seen, these systems carry a great deal of importance. The aquatic ecosystem relies on them quite a bit.
The animals living underwater benefit from their oxygen presence as well. Their metabolic processes depend on it very much. Additionally, they provide food to some aquatic animals. Freshwater turtles eat algae found on the surface of freshwater ponds, for example.
Despite floating above the surface of freshwater, some aquatic plants remain underwater. Strong currents are unable to break their roots or stems.
Underwater Pond Plants Nutrition in Aquatic Environments
The sun, soil, water, and gases they need in order to survive to exist regardless of whether they are terrestrial plants or aquatic. The plants prepare food through photosynthesis. Solar energy is important for that. Additionally, roots are held in place by the soil.
Photosynthesis requires Carbon Dioxide to occur. Aerial plants have, however, evolved beyond that. Carbon Dioxide dissolved in the water serves as their sole source of energy. The process of photosynthesis is incomplete without water.
Aquatic Plants of Various Kinds
A similar division of aquatic plants exists as with other plant types. Among them are:
Algae
Most aquatic plants are of this type. Their roots, leaves, stems, and leaves do not grow on them, so you can find them in the oceans. A tiny and essential component of oceanic food chains, they are. A few examples of algae include Lyngby and musk grass.
While most algae are simple in structure, some of them, including Chara, have characteristics of flowering plants. Algae can be classified into three types:
1. Microalgae (also called phytoplankton)
2. Filamentous algae (also called mat-forming algae)
3. Stonewort (Chara)
Flowering Plants
The name “flowering plants” refers to the fact that their flowers bloom. They also possess vascular tissues that algae lack, which makes them more complex. Plants use their vasculature to carry nutrients, water, and other substances throughout their bodies.
1. Submersed plants
2. Free-floating plants
3. Rooted floating plants
4. Emergent plants
Submerged Plants
Aquatic plants with roots that grow in water are known as submerged plants. This plant has most of its vegetation underwater. Thin and narrow leaves characterize these plants. In water, submerged plants include hydrillas and bog moss.
Submerged plants grow up from the bottom through the water. Above the water surface, flower spikes or flowers appear. In order to identify these plants, you need to know:
- A node is where leaves attach to the stem – Leaf Arrangements.
- Their leaves have different shapes
Floating Plants
There is no permanent fixation of these plants to the water’s surface. Thier roots can absord water easily. Both freshwater and saltwater contain them. They have firm leaves that remain flat to absorb as much sunlight as possible. For instance, lilies and water hyacinth are aquatic plants.
Plants that float in the air do not have roots in the soil. A pond surface can be totally covered by floating plants such as duckweed and watermeal, shading out underwater plants, which depletes oxygen in deeper water
Emergent Plants
Plants immersed in water are also called immersed plants. Although they are rooted in the soil, most of their vegetation grows above the water instead. Solar light is necessary for them. Among emergent plants are redroot and knotweed.
These rooted plants have the majority of their green vegetation above the surface of the water. These plants include grasses and broadleaves. There are many types of grass-like plants, including cattails, bulrushes, spike rushes, and reed canarygrass.
Among the broadleaved plants are water willow trees, creeping water primroses, and purple loosestrife (an invasive plant found in wetlands). Rhizomes and seeds are the most common means of spreading these plants.
HOW CAN UNDERWATER POND PLANTS BE USEFUL?
Indirectly or directly, many aquatic organisms depend on aquatic plants (plants growing in water). Algae, for example, are the plants that make up the aquatic food chain, converting basic chemicals from the soil and water into food that can be consumed by other forms of aquatic life.
The presence of plants (due to excessive phosphorus pollution) can be a nuisance for human lake users, but their essential natural roles cannot be overlooked. Wildlife habitat is provided by plant beds.
Aquatic plant beds are home to a wide variety of animals, including waterfowl and birds. They may feed on plants or other life found there. Water plants can provide shelter, food, breeding grounds, and migration stops to many animals, including birds.
