Spatial distribution and biomass of aquatic rooted macrophytes and their relevance in the metabolism of a Mediterranean coastal lagoon

Scientia Marina

Biel Obrador¹  Joan Lluís Pretus¹  Margarita Menéndez¹ 

[1] Departament d’Ecologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona;

关键词: coastal lagoons;    macrophytes;    ruppia cirrhosa;    western mediterranean;   

DOI  :  10.3989/scimar.2007.71n157

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

This work aims tocharacterise the current autotrophic compartment of the Albufera des Graucoastal lagoon (Menorca, Balearic Islands) and toassess the relationship between the submerged macrophytes and the limnologicalparameters of the lagoon. During the study period the submerged vegetation wasdominated by the macrophyte Ruppia cirrhosa, which formed dense extensive meadows covering 79% of the surface. Anothermacrophyte species, Potamogeton pectinatus, was also observed but only forming small stands near the rushingstreams. Macroalgae were only occasionally observed. Macrophyte biomass showeda clear seasonal trend, with maximum values in July. The biomass of R. cirrhosa achieved 1760 g DW m-2, the highest biomass ever reported for this speciesin the literature. The seasonal production-decomposition cycle of themacrophyte meadows appears to drive the nutrient dynamics and carbon fluxes inthe lagoon. Despite the significant biomass accumulation and the absence of awashout of nutrients and organic matter to the sea, the lagoon did notexperience a dystrophic collapse. These results indicate that internalmetabolism is more important than exchange processes in the lagoon.

【 授权许可】

Unknown