Effects of Fine Sediment on Seagrass Meadows: A Case Study of Zostera muelleri in Pāuatahanui Inlet, New Zealand
| Autor: | Fleur E. Matheson, Merilyn Manley-Harris, Ian Hawes, Robert J. Davies-Colley, Iñigo Zabarte-Maeztu, Megan Oliver |
|---|---|
| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Rok vydání: | 2020 |
| Předmět: |
0106 biological sciences
010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences photosynthetically available radiation (PAR) Ocean Engineering fine sediment Zostera muelleri 01 natural sciences redox potential lcsh:Oceanography lcsh:VM1-989 Abundance (ecology) pollution lcsh:GC1-1581 0105 earth and related environmental sciences Water Science and Technology Civil and Structural Engineering sulfide biology Ecology 010604 marine biology & hydrobiology Sediment lcsh:Naval architecture. Shipbuilding. Marine engineering Sedimentation biology.organism_classification Substrate (marine biology) Bulk density Seagrass Habitat mud Environmental science sedimentation rhizosphere |
| Zdroj: | Journal of Marine Science and Engineering Volume 8 Issue 9 Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, Vol 8, Iss 645, p 645 (2020) |
| ISSN: | 2077-1312 |
| DOI: | 10.3390/jmse8090645 |
| Popis: | Seagrass meadows are vulnerable to fine sediment (mud) pollution, with impacts usually attributed to reduction in submerged light. Here we tested two non-exclusive hypotheses, that mud particles (< 63 µ m) impact seagrasses through both (1) the light climate and (2) changes in substrate physico-chemistry. We tested these hypotheses in Pāuatahanui Inlet, New Zealand, by comparing seagrass presence, abundance, and health, together with light climate and substrate physico-chemistry at contrasting habitats where (1) seagrass used to thrive but no longer grows (historical seagrass), (2) seagrass still persists (existing seagrass) and (3) seagrass has been present recently, but not currently (potential seagrass). Historical seagrass substrate had significantly higher mud (35% average), bulk density (1.5 g cm&minus 3), porewater ammonium concentration (65 µ M), and a more reduced redox profile (negative redox at only 2 cm soil depth) as well as a lower light availability when submerged compared to other habitats, while total daily light exposure differed little between habitats. This suggests that failure of seagrass to recolonize historical seagrass habitat reflects substrate muddiness and consequent unfavorable rhizosphere conditions. Our results provide evidence for the multi-stressor effects of fine sediment on seagrasses, with substrate suitability for seagrass being detrimentally affected even where light exposure seems sufficient. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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