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.

Through field investigations and a mesocosm experiment, the responses of functional traits of two representative native (water thyme (Hydrilla verticillata), Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) and one invasive (Carolina fanwort (Cabomba caroliniana)) plant species to various environmental factors, notably to underwater light attenuation, were studied.