Environmental influences on growth and morphology of Thalassia testudinum

Marine ecology progress series

, Thomas K. Frazer¹  Savanna C. Barry²  *, Charles A. Jacoby³ 

[1] Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32653, USA;Nature Coast Biological Station, University of Florida, Cedar Key, FL 32625, USA. Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32653, USA;Soil and Water Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32603, USA

关键词: Seagrass;    Nutrients;    Environmental gradients;    Stable isotopes;    Gulf of Mexico;    Phenotypic plasticity;    Phosphorus;   

DOI  :  10.3354/meps12112

学科分类：海洋学与技术

来源: Inter-Research

【 摘 要 】

Key metrics of Thalassia testudinum aboveground morphology vary along a spatial gradient in concentrations of total phosphorus in the water column that has persisted for over a decade off the central Gulf of Mexico coast of peninsular Florida. Leaf area shoot^–1, shoot density, shoot height, and areal biomass of T. testudinum, the dominant seagrass, were measured at sites along this gradient. The roles of differential production and nutrient supply were assessed as potential drivers of these relationships via growth rates, quantities of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), and stable isotope ratios of leaves (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N). Leaf area shoot^–1, shoot height, and shoot production were positively correlated with total P (TP), whereas shoot density and leaf N:P and leaf C:P ratios were negatively correlated with TP. There were no significant relationships with TP for epiphyte load, areal biomass, areal production rate, or leaf C:N ratio. The results also suggested that T. testudinum maintained a relatively uniform aboveground biomass and specific growth rate across the range of P concentrations observed in the water column during this study. The findings highlight the extent of morphological plasticity of T. testudinum. Collectively, the morphology, growth rate, elemental content, and stable isotope findings offer compelling evidence that T. testudinum along the Gulf coast of peninsular Florida balances shoot morphology and density to maintain growth and survival across a wide range of nutrient supply.

【 授权许可】

Unknown