Multi-metric index based on the seagrass Zostera noltii (ZoNI) for ecological quality assessment of coastal and estuarine systems in SW Iberian Peninsula

García-Marín, Patricia; Cabaço, Susana; Hernández, Ignacio; Vergara, Juan J.; Silva, João; Santos, Rui

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2012.12.025

Cited by 34 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…On the contrary, plants in SB had the lowest leaf sizes under conditions of high irradiance and water clarity. Leaf plasticity resulting in reduced morphology has been related to strong hydrodynamics (Peralta et al, 2006) and disturbance (García-Marín et al, 2013), while increased morphology to limiting light (Cabaç o et al, 2009), in agreement with our findings. Based on our results, we can conclude that leaf size in H. stipulacea is negatively related to light availability and hydrodynamics in the GOA.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…Seagrasses can change leaf morphology in response to light availability or irradiance (Duarte, 1991;reviewed by Ralph et al, 2007). H. stipulacea displayed significant negative relationships between leaf morphology and slope, with the longest and widest leaves and largest leaf surface area at NB where irradiance was the lowest and water turbidity the highest among stations, in agreement with other structurally small seagrasses (Cabaç o et al, 2009;García-Marín et al, 2013;Peralta et al, 2005). TY showed lower leaf sizes and surface area than NB but higher than SB, correspondingly with differences in light availability and water turbidity among stations.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 62%

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Assessing the ecological status of seagrasses using morphology, biochemical descriptors and microbial community analyses. A study in Halophila stipulacea (Forsk.) Aschers meadows in the northern Red Sea

Mejia

Rotini

Lacasella³

et al. 2016

Ecological Indicators

131

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 62%

Assessing the ecological status of seagrasses using morphology, biochemical descriptors and microbial community analyses. A study in Halophila stipulacea (Forsk.) Aschers meadows in the northern Red Sea

Mejia

Rotini

Lacasella³

et al. 2016

Ecological Indicators

131

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“…Instead of using multi-parametric indexes developed as part of the European Water Framework Directive (i.e. ZONI, POMI, BIPO; KrauseJensen et al, 2005;Marbà et al, 2012;García-Marín et al, 2013;Mascaró et al, 2013) LAI standing was chosen as a proxy to evaluate a simple and common indicator such as cover in comparison with more theoretical concepts by using regrowth/recovery (critical slowing down) in the assessment of seagrass health and resilience (i.e. seagrass watch).…”

Section: Experimental Designmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cover versus recovery: Contrasting responses of two indicators in seagrass beds

Soissons

Han

et al. 2014

Marine Pollution Bulletin

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a b s t r a c tDespite being a highly valuable key-stone ecosystem, seagrass meadows are threatened and declining worldwide, creating urgent need for indicators of their health status. We compared two indicators for seagrass health: standing leaf area index versus relative recovery from local disturbance. Disturbance was created by removing aboveground biomass and recording the rate of regrowth for Zostera marina meadows exposed to contrasting wave regimes and nutrient stress levels.Within the experimental period, relative regrowth in gaps was around 50% in most plots, except for the ambient nutrient treatment at the sheltered site, where it exceeded 100%. The two indicators showed an opposite response to disturbance: the higher the standing leaf area index, the lower the relative recovery from disturbance. This conflicting response raises the question on the proper interpretation of such indicators to estimate seagrass health and resilience, and how to ideally monitor seagrass ecosystems in order to predict collapse.

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“…Resilience can be evaluated by looking at indicators of an ecosystem health status (for seagrasses, e.g. cover, or multi parametric indexes such as ZONI, POMI, BIPO; Krause-Jensen et al, 2005;Marbà et al, 2012;García-Marín et al, 2013;Mascaró et al, 2013) or more dynamic early warning signals that indicate a potential critical transition of the system to another stable state, such as "critical slowing down" (Dakos et al, 2011;Scheffer et al, 2009). Critical slowing down is defined as "a phenomenon that happens when a monitored stable variable of the system returns more slowly to equilibrium after a small perturbation" (Dakos et al, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding seagrass resilience in temperate systems: the importance of timing of the disturbance

Soissons

Han

et al. 2016

Ecological Indicators

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a b s t r a c tTemperate seagrass meadows form valuable ecosystems in coastal environments and present a distinct seasonal growth. They are threatened by an increasing amount of stressors, potentially affecting their capacity to recover from disturbances. We hypothesized that their resilience to disturbances is affected by seasonal dynamics. Hence, we investigated the effect of the timing of the disturbance on seagrass Leaf Area Index (as a proxy for presence, or 'visible' status), recovery from disturbance (as a proxy for meadow resilience), and rhizome carbohydrates (as a proxy for longer term resilience) by a series of four disturbance-recovery field experiments spread over the growing season at two sites in Shandong Province, China. During the course of the growing season, we found the highest recovery at the start of the growing season, lowest recovery when Leaf Area Index peaked around mid-growing season, and intermediate recovery when Leaf Area Index decreased at the end of the growing season. Rhizome carbohydrates were not affected by disturbances during any of the four experimental periods and could not explain the low recovery during mid-growing season. The two sites differed in exposure and in the occurrence of incidents like a green tide and storms, which affected recovery. However, general patterns were similar; timing strongly influenced the indicator of meadow resilience and its correlation with presence during the two main seagrass growth phases. Our results emphasize the importance of carefully considering timing in the evaluation of seagrass resilience in temperate systems. Furthermore, our study implies that, to effectively protect seagrass beds, conservation management should aim at avoiding disturbances particularly during the peak of the growing season, when resilience is lowest.

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Multi-metric index based on the seagrass Zostera noltii (ZoNI) for ecological quality assessment of coastal and estuarine systems in SW Iberian Peninsula

Cited by 34 publications

References 49 publications

Assessing the ecological status of seagrasses using morphology, biochemical descriptors and microbial community analyses. A study in Halophila stipulacea (Forsk.) Aschers meadows in the northern Red Sea

Assessing the ecological status of seagrasses using morphology, biochemical descriptors and microbial community analyses. A study in Halophila stipulacea (Forsk.) Aschers meadows in the northern Red Sea

Cover versus recovery: Contrasting responses of two indicators in seagrass beds

Understanding seagrass resilience in temperate systems: the importance of timing of the disturbance

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