Experimental assessment of critical anthropogenic sediment burial in eelgrass Zostera marina

MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN

卷:100

Article

Munkes, Britta¹  Schubert, Philipp R.¹  Karez, Rolf²  Reusch, Thorsten B. H.¹ 

[1] Evolutionary Ecol Marine Fishes, GEOMAR Helmholtz Ctr Ocean Res Kiel, D-24105 Kiel, Germany

[2] State Agcy Agr Environm & Rural Areas Schleswig H, D-24220 Flintbek, Germany

关键词: Mortality;    Seagrass;    Sedimentation;    Carbohydrates;    Baltic Sea;   

DOI  :  10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.09.013

来源: Elsevier

【 摘 要 】

Seagrass meadows, one of the world's most important and productive coastal habitats, are threatened by a range of anthropogenic actions. Burial of seagrass plants due to coastal activities is one important anthropogenic pressure leading to the decline of local populations. In our study, we assessed the response of eelgrass Zostera marina to sediment burial from physiological, morphological, and population parameters. In a full factorial field experiment, burial level (5-20 cm) and burial duration (4-16 weeks) were manipulated. Negative effects were visible even at the lowest burial level (5 cm) and shortest duration (4 weeks), with increasing effects over time and burial level. Buried seagrasses showed higher shoot mortality, delayed growth and flowering and lower carbohydrate storage. The observed effects will likely have an impact on next year's survival of buried plants. Our results have implications for the management of this important coastal plant. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

【 授权许可】

Free