Epiphyte-Grazer Relationships in Seagrass Meadows: Consequences for Seagrass Growth and Production

Montfrans, Jacques van; Wetzel, Richard L.; Orth, Robert J.

doi:10.2307/1351615

Cited by 142 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…Epiphytes also favour detritus accumulation and amplify surface area for the colonization of bacteria and microalgae (Hacker and Steneck 1990;James and Heck 1994;Leber 1985;Russo 1990), thus beneWting species that consume these food resources (Edgar 1990). In several seagrass ecosystems, algal epiphytes are found to be more attractive food for herbivores than the leaves themselves (Kitting et al 1984;Van Montfrans 1984, Van Montfrans et al 1984). In this study, epiphyte biomass was the factor that had the most direct bearing on diversity and species distribution, either acting alone or in conjunction with other variables like geographical position.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 71%

Community structure of amphipods on shallow Posidonia oceanica meadows off Tunisian coasts

2010

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The structure, diversity and spatial distribution of the amphipod fauna associated with Posidonia oceanica meadows were studied along the Tunisian coasts in 2007. Samples were collected in nine diVerent meadows at 2 m depth. A total of 44 species belonging to 12 families were collected. The most common species in terms of abundance were Ampithoe helleri, Hyale camptonyx and Ericthonius punctatus. The highest values of abundance and species richness and the lowest values of diversity and equitability were found in meadows with high epiphyte biomass. Multivariate analyses of data indicated that epiphyte biomass and geographical position were major determinants of the distribution and composition of amphipod assemblages along Tunisian coasts. The presence of two lessepsian amphipod species in one of the southern Posidonia oceanica meadows modiWed the structure of assemblage.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 71%

Community structure of amphipods on shallow Posidonia oceanica meadows off Tunisian coasts

2010

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“…In the presence of epifaunal grazers, rates of epiphyte biomass accumulation with nutrient enrichment might have been substantially retarded, thereby mollifying inhibitory effects on Potarnogeton perfoliatus growth (e.g. Van Montfrans et al 1984, Cattaneo & Kalff 1986.…”

Section: Plant Growth Responses To Nutrient Enrichmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nitrogen versus phosphorus enrichment of brackish waters: responses of the submersed plant Potamogeton perfoliatus and its associated algal community

Neundorfer¹,

Kemp²

1993

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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We examlned the relative effects of nitrogen (N) versus phosphorus (P) enrichment to waters overlying the submersed plant Potamogeton perfoljatus L. and its assoc~ated community. This plant species was formerly an abundant component of brackish waters of Chesapeake Bay (USA) prlor to a general decline in submersed plants associated with eutrophicat~on. An experimental study was conducted uslng plant-sedlment microcosms held in temperature-controlled baths under natural light in greenhouse facillt~es. The experimental design consisted of N additions at 2 levels, simulating the range of loading rates to the Bay, and N . P ratios at 3 levels, representing a variety of input conditions from runoff ( N : P = 50) to sewage effluents ( N . P = 2). Additions of both N and P caused sign~ficant increases in biomass accumulation of eplphytic and phytoplanktonic communities. The effects of N and P on algal densities were synergistic in that responses to N addition were greatest at high P loading and visa versa. At the highest nutnent treatment rates, c o m b~n e d amendments (N plus P) resulted in sign~f-icantly greater increases in epiphytes and phytoplankton than did the same h~g h inputs of e~t h e r nutrient (N or P) individually Associated w~t h increased algal dens~tles at high nutrient l o a d~n g rates, there were s~gniflcant decreases in growth and blomass of P perfoljatus. A g a~n , responses of plant growth to nutnent treatments were most pronounced when both N and P were added together. Pooling data from all treatments, significant inverse correlations were found between epiphyte density and plant growth and b~o m a s s as well as 11ght (PAR) attenuation A hyperbolic relation between PAR attenuation by epiphytes and plant growth suggests light availablllty as a principal mechanism for epiphytic inhiblt~on of P perfol~atus growth. In addition, plants at high nutnent treatments exhibited morphological responses characterlst~c of shade adaptation in this species, further emphasizing the importance of light attenuatlon as a control mechanism. These results suggest that the experimental plant communities were poised in a condition where both N and P were potentially limiting for algal growth. Previous studies have attributed the loss of submersed plants from Chesapeake Bay's brackish waters largely to nutrlent enrichment. The present results suggest that management efforts to restore submersed plants such as P perfoliatus by reducing eutrophication, and associated light attenuation by algae, should consider reducing inputs of both N and P.

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“…Nonetheless, epiphytes may also have negative effects on their seagrass hosts-creating physical barriers to light absorption (Losee and Wetzel 1983;Dalla Via et al 1998;Brush and Nixon 2002), nutrient uptake, gas exchange, or a combination of these factors (Sand-Jensen 1977;van Montfrans et al 1984;Sand-Jensen et al 1985).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of epiphyte load on optical properties and photosynthetic potential of the seagrasses Thalassia testudinum Banks ex König and Zostera marina L.

Drake

Dobbs

Zimmerman

2003

Limnology & Oceanography

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The biomass and optical properties of seagrass leaf epiphytes were measured to evaluate their potential impact on the photosynthetic performance of the seagrasses Thalassia testudinum Banks ex König (turtlegrass) and Zostera marina L. (eelgrass). Turtlegrass was obtained from oligotrophic waters near Lee Stocking Island, Bahamas; eelgrass was collected from a eutrophic environment in Monterey Bay, California. Leaf-epiphyte loads were characterized visually and quantified using measurements of their phospholipid biomass. Light absorption and reflectance of the intact epiphyte layer were determined spectrophotometrically. Turtlegrass epiphytes from the oligotrophic site absorbed a maximum of 36% of incident light in peak chlorophyll absorption bands, whereas higher epiphyte loads on eelgrass from the more eutrophic Monterey Bay absorbed 60% of incident light in peak chlorophyll absorption bands. The combination of intact epiphyte-leaf complexes and spectral measurements enabled us to construct a quantitative relationship between epiphyte biomass and light attenuation, and, by extension, between epiphyte biomass and seagrass photosynthesis. The model yielded a robust, positive relationship between epiphyte biomass and the absorption of photons in photosynthetically important wavelengths, and it generated a strong negative relationship between epiphyte biomass and spectral photosynthesis of their seagrass hosts. Furthermore, the calculations of photosynthesis highlighted the significant differences between PAR and spectral models of photosynthesis, illustrating that the spectral quality of the incident flux must be considered when evaluating the effects of epiphyte load on seagrass leaf photosynthesis. Verification of the model-using direct measurements of photosynthesis and a variety of epiphyte and macrophyte combinations from different locations-is warranted.

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Epiphyte-Grazer Relationships in Seagrass Meadows: Consequences for Seagrass Growth and Production

Cited by 142 publications

References 63 publications

Community structure of amphipods on shallow Posidonia oceanica meadows off Tunisian coasts

Community structure of amphipods on shallow Posidonia oceanica meadows off Tunisian coasts

Nitrogen versus phosphorus enrichment of brackish waters: responses of the submersed plant Potamogeton perfoliatus and its associated algal community

Effects of epiphyte load on optical properties and photosynthetic potential of the seagrasses Thalassia testudinum Banks ex König and Zostera marina L.

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