What are the roles of aquatic plants in advanced raceway systems?

Aquatic plants play a significant role in enhancing water quality within advanced raceway systems by absorbing excess nutrients. In aquaculture settings, such nutrient inputs—often from fish waste—can lead to issues like algal blooms if not managed properly. Aquatic plants utilize nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus for their growth, effectively reducing their concentration in the water and promoting a healthier environment for fish and other aquatic organisms.

This process of nutrient uptake helps maintain a balanced ecosystem by preventing the over-enrichment of water bodies, which can be detrimental. Additionally, the presence of these plants can also foster better oxygen levels in the water, contributing further to a sustainable habitat for fish.

While other roles mentioned, like providing habitat for fish or filtering out debris, are beneficial, they do not address the primary function that impacts water quality as directly as the nutrient absorption process does. The aesthetic appeal of plants is certainly valuable, but it is not their primary ecological function within advanced raceway systems.