Eelgrass Zostera marina in subarctic Greenland: dense meadows with slow biomass turnover in cold waters

Olesen, Birgit; Krause‐Jensen, Dorte; Marbà, Núria; Christensen, Peter Bondo

doi:10.3354/meps11087

Cited by 59 publications

(73 citation statements)

References 95 publications

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“…For instance, surveys of sediments in depositional areas in deep Greenland fjords and bays, have reported the presence of macroscopic eelgrass remains in these sediments (Seidenkrantz et al, 2013, Ann Lennert pers com. ), which was unexpected as seagrass meadows are relatively sparse along the Greenland coast (Olesen et al, 2015).…”

Section: Sequestration Of Seagrass Carbon In Coastal Sediments Beyondmentioning

confidence: 99%

Export from Seagrass Meadows Contributes to Marine Carbon Sequestration

2017

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Seagrasses export a substantial portion of their primary production, both in particulate and dissolved organic form, but the fate of this export production remains unaccounted for in terms of seagrass carbon sequestration. Here we review available evidence on the fate of seagrass carbon export to conclude that this represents a significant contribution to carbon sequestration, both in sediments outside seagrass meadows and in the deep sea. The evidence presented implies that the contribution of seagrass meadows to carbon sequestration has been underestimated by only including carbon burial within seagrass sediments.

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Section: Sequestration Of Seagrass Carbon In Coastal Sediments Beyondmentioning

confidence: 99%

Export from Seagrass Meadows Contributes to Marine Carbon Sequestration

2017

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“…In addition to favoring the poleward flux of species, arctic warming will likely affect their metabolic rates (Brown et al, 2004), increasing photosynthetic rates and growth and affecting their phenology, with an earlier initiation of growth and a longer season to complete their growth cycle (Kortsch et al, 2012;Krause-Jensen et al, 2012;Clausen et al, 2014;Olesen et al, 2014). Moreover, future increases in atmospheric CO 2 , and airsea supply of CO 2 may further propel macrophyte expansion in arctic waters.…”

Section: Macrophyte-dominated Ecosystems In a Warmer Arcticmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…While phenologies of eelgrass and brent geese do not suggest that the birds currently introduce eelgrass seeds from Europe or USA (Clausen et al, 2002), they may contribute to dispersal along Greenland's coast. Research on arctic terrestrial vegetation has shown that Greenland's terrestrial woody flora has a great potential for future expansion but is strongly dispersal limited, with a potentially important role of unintentional introductions (Normand et al, 2013 -Jensen et al, 2012;Clausen et al, 2014;Olesen et al, 2014). Initial signs of positive responses of the vegetation to arctic warming and longer ice-free periods have also been reported (Weslawski et al, 2010;Kortsch et al, 2012;Krause-Jensen et al, 2012).…”

Section: Forecasting Future Coastal Ecosystems In a Warmer Arctic: Tomentioning

confidence: 99%

Expansion of vegetated coastal ecosystems in the future Arctic

2014

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Warming occurs particularly fast in the Arctic and exerts profound effects on arctic ecosystems. Sea ice-associated ecosystems are projected to decline but reduced arctic sea ice cover also increases the solar radiation reaching the coastal seafloors with the potential for expansion of vegetated habitats, i.e., kelp forests and seagrass meadows. These habitats support key ecosystem functions, some of which may mitigate effects of climate change. Therefore, the likely expansion of vegetated coastal habitats in the Arctic will generate new productive ecosystems, offer habitat for a number of invertebrate and vertebrate species, including provision of refugia for calcifiers from possible threats from ocean acidification, contribute to enhance CO 2 sequestration and protect the shoreline from erosion. The development of models allowing quantitative forecasts of the future of vegetated arctic ecosystems requires that key hypotheses underlying such forecasts be tested. Here we propose a set of three key testable hypotheses along with a research agenda for testing them using a broad diversity of approaches, including analyses of paleo-records, space-for-time substitutions and experimental studies. The research agenda proposed would provide a solid underpinning to guide forecasts on the spread of marine macrophytes onto the Arctic with climate change and contribute to balance our understanding of climate change impacts on the arctic ecosystem through a focus on the role of engineering species. Anticipating these changes in ecosystem structure and function is key to develop managerial strategies to maximize these ecosystem services in a future warmer Arctic.

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“…At the High Arctic site, the fjord is covered by sea ice approximately 9 months a year (Sejr et al 2009), and water temperature is below −1 °C throughout the year except during July, August and September where a maximum temperature of 5 °C is reached (10 m depth; Krause-Jensen et al 2012). In the Subarctic Kobbefjord, only a small fraction of the inner part of the fjord is ice-covered, usually from January to May, and water temperature is above 0 °C (with a maximum of 14 °C) except from January to April (Olesen et al 2014). In Aarhus Bay, water temperature can be above 0 °C throughout the year and above 10 °C from April to October, with a maximum of 20 °C at 5 m depth (Jørgensen and Richardson 1996).…”

Section: Collection Sites Animals and Holding Conditionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metabolic cold adaptation and aerobic performance of blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) along a temperature gradient into the High Arctic region

et al. 2014

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physiological adaptation and plasticity of blue mussels across latitudes spanning from 56 to 77ºN. This indicates that low ocean temperature per se does not constrain metabolic activity of Mytilus in the Arctic; rather, we speculate that maturation of reproductive tissues, larval supply and annual energy budgets are the most relevant factors influencing Mytilus populations near their northern distributional edge in the Arctic.

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Eelgrass Zostera marina in subarctic Greenland: dense meadows with slow biomass turnover in cold waters

Cited by 59 publications

References 95 publications

Export from Seagrass Meadows Contributes to Marine Carbon Sequestration

Export from Seagrass Meadows Contributes to Marine Carbon Sequestration

Expansion of vegetated coastal ecosystems in the future Arctic

Metabolic cold adaptation and aerobic performance of blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) along a temperature gradient into the High Arctic region

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