Production Assessment of Eelgrass, Zostera marina Using the Plastochrone Method Compared with the Conventional Leaf Marking Technique

  • Published : 2004.09.01

Abstract

Since seagrasses are highly productive and provide a source of organic carbon for a wide variety of marine organisms in coastal and estuarine ecosystem, accurate assessment of seagrass production is critical to understand the functions and values of seagrasses in these ecosystems. Zieman's leaf marking technique has been mostly used to estimate seagrass leaf production rates. However, inherent problems on the traditional leaf marking technique have been discussed by the several researchers, and these problems can cause underestimation of seagrass production. To develop an accurate and reliable assessing method for seagrass production, production rates of eelgrass, Zostera marina in three bay systems on the south coast of the Korean peninsula were estimated using the conventional leaf marking technique and the plastochrone method. The plastochrone method has been recently suggested as an effective method for reliable assessments of seagrass production. In the present study, leaf production rates estimated by the plastochrone method were significantly higher than the rates derived from the traditional leaf marking technique. Annual eelgrass leaf production assessed using the leaf marking technique was about 65 to 89% of the estimated production using the plastochrone method. The differences in annual productions between assessment techniques imply that the conventional leaf marking technique significantly underestimated eelgrass leaf production. Total eelgrass productions estimated using the plastochrone method in the present study sites were about 600 to 806 g DW $m^{-2} y^{-l}$, and below-ground production accounted for about 20 to 23% of the total production. The plastochrone method was suggested to be an effective and accurate assessing method for eelgrass production.

Keywords

References

  1. Aioi, K., 1980. Seasonal changes in the standing crop of eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) in Odawa Bay, central Japan. Aquat. Bot., 8:343-354
  2. Boruns, J.J.W.M., 1985. The plastochrone interval method for the study of the productivity of seagrass; Possibilities and limitations. Aquat. Bot., 21: 71-88
  3. Bostr$\"{o}$m, C., C. Roos and O. R$\"{o}$nnberg, 2004. Shoot morphometry and production dynamics of eelgrass in the northern Baltic Sea..Aquat. Bot., 79: 183-189
  4. Chin-Leo, G. and R. Benner, 1991. Dynamics of bacterioplankton abundance and production in seagrass communities of a hypersaline lagoon. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 73: 219-230
  5. Dawes, C.J. and J.M. Lawrence, 1979. Effects of blade removal on the proximate composition of the rhizome of the seagrass Thalassia testudinnm. Banks ex K$\"{o}$nig. Aquat. Bot., 7: 255-266
  6. Dawes, C.L. and J.M. Lawrence, 1980. Seasonal changes in the proximate constituents of the seagrasses Thalassia testudinum, Halodule wrightii, and Syringodium filiforme. Aquat. Bot., 8: 371-380
  7. Dawes, C.J. and M.D. Guiry, 1992. Proximate constituents in the seagrasses Zostera marina and Z. noltii in Ireland: Seasonal changes and the effect of blade removal. Mar. Bio., 13: 307-315.
  8. Dennison, W.C., 1990. Leaf production. In: Seagrass research methods, edited by Phillips, R.C. and C.P. McRoy, UNESCO, Paris. 210 pp
  9. Durako, M.J. and M.D. Moffler, 1985. Spatial influences on temporal variations in leaf growth and chemical composition of Thalassia testudinum Banks ex K$\"{o}$nig in Tampa Bay, Florida. Gulf Res. Reports, 8: 43-49
  10. Erftemeijer, P.L.A., J, Stapel, M.J.E. Smekens and W.M.E. Drossaert, 1994. The limited effect of in situ phosphorus and nitrogen additions to seagrass beds on carbonate and terrigenous sediments in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol., 182: 123-140
  11. Fahn, A., 1990. Plant anatomy. Pergamon Press, Oxford
  12. Fonseca, M.S., 1989. Sediment stabilization by Halophila decipiens in comparison to other seagrasses. Estuarine, Costal and Shelf Sci., 29: 501-507
  13. Fourqurean, J.W. and J.C. Zieman, 1991. Photosynthesis, respiration and whole plant carbon budget of the seagrass Thalassia testudinum. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 69: 161-170
  14. Gaeckle, J.L. and F.T. Short, 2002. A plastochrone method for measuring leaf growth in eelgrass, Zostera marina L. Bull. Mar. Sci. 71: 1237-1246
  15. Gallegos, M.E., M. Merino, N. Marba and C.M. Dart, 1993. Biomass and dynamics of Thalassia testudinum in the Mexican Caribbean: elucidating rhizome growth. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 95:185-192
  16. Hartman, R.T. and D.L. Brown, 1967. Changes in the composition of the internal atmosphere of submersed vascular hydrophytes in relation to photosynthesis. Ecology, 48: 252-258
  17. Hauxwell, J.H., J. Cebri$\'{a}$n and I. Valiela, 2003. Eelgrass Zostera marina loss in temperate estuaries: relationship to landderived nitrogen loads and effect of light limitation imposed by algae. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 247: 59-73
  18. Heck, K.L.JR., and G.S. Westone, 1977. Habitat complexity and invertebrate species richness and abundance in tropical seagrass meadows. J. Biogeoger., 4: 135-142
  19. Huh, S.H. and C.L. Kitting, 1985. Trophic relationships among concentrated populations of small fishes in seagrass meadows. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol, 92: 29-43
  20. Ibarra-Obando, S.E. and R. Huerta-Tamayo, 1987. Blade production of Zostera marina L. during the summer-autumn period on the Pacific coast ofMexico. Aquat. Bot., 28: 301-315
  21. Ibarra-Obando, S.E. and C.F. Boudouresque, 1994. An improvement of the Zieman leaf marking technique for Zostera marina growth and production assessment. Aquat. Bot., 47: 293-302
  22. Jacobs, R.P.W.N., 1979. Distribution and aspects of the production and biomass of eelgrass, Zostera marina L., at Roscoff, France. Aquat. Bot., 7: 151-172
  23. Kaldy, J.E., N. Fowler and K.H. Dunton, 1999. Critical assessment of Thalassia testudinum (turtle grass) aging techniques: Implications for demographic inferences. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 181: 279-288
  24. Kaldy, J.E. and K.H. Dunton, 2000. Above- and below-ground production, biomass and reproductive ecology of Thalassia testudinum (turtle grass) in a subtropical coastal lagoon. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 193: 271-283
  25. Kentula, M.E. and C.D. Mclntire, 1986. The autecology and production dynamics of eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) in Netarts Bay, OR. Estuaries, 3: 188-199
  26. Kenworthy, W.J. and G.W. Thayer, 1984. Production and decomposition of the roots and rhizomes of seagrasses, Zostera marina and Thalassia testudinum, in temperate and subtropical marine ecosystems. Bull. Mar. Sci., 35: 364-379
  27. Koepfler, E.T., R. Benner and P.A. Montagna, 1993. Variability of dissolved organic carbon in sediments of a seagrass bed and an unvegetated area within an estuary in southern Texas.Estuaries, 16: 391-404
  28. Lee, K.-S. and K. H. Dunton, 1996. Effects of in situ light reduction on the maintenance, growth and partitioning of carbon resources in Thalassia testudinum. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol., 210: 53-73
  29. Mann, K.H., 1988. Production and use of detritus in various freshwater, estuarine, and coastal marine ecosystems. Limnol Oceanogr., 33:910-930
  30. McRoy, C.P. and C. McMillan, 1977. Production ecology and physiology of seagrasses. In: Seagrass ecosystems: a Scientific perspective, edited by McRoy, C.P. and C. Helfferich, Dekker, New York, pp. 53-81
  31. Mukai, H., K. Aioi, I. Koike, M. Ohtsu and A. Hattori, 1979. Growth and organic production of eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) in temperate waters of the Pacific coast of Japan. Part I. Growth analysis in springsummer. Aquat. Bot., 7: 47-56
  32. Ogden, J.C., 1980. Faunal relationships in Caribbean seagrass beds. In: Handbook of seagrass biology, an ecosystem perspective edited by Phillips, R.C. and C.P. McRoy, Garland STPM Press, New York. pp. 173-198
  33. Olesen, B., 1999. Reproduction in Danish eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) stands: size-dependence and biomass partitioning. Aquat. Bot., 65: 209-219
  34. Opsahl, S. and R. Benner, 1993. Decomposition of senescent blades of seagrass Halodule wrightii in a subtropical lagoon. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 94: 191-205
  35. Orth, R.J., K.L.JR., Heck and J.V. Montfrans, 1984. Faunal communities in seagrass beds: A review of the influence of plantst ructure and prey characteristics on predator-prey relationships. Estuaries, 7: 339-350
  36. Patriquin, D., 1973. Estimation of growth rate, Production and age of the marin angiosperm Thalassia testudinum K$\"{o}$nig. Carb. J. Sci., 13: 1-2
  37. Peduzzi, P. and G.J. Herndl, 1991. Decomposition and significance of seagrass leaf litter Cymodocea nodosa for the microbial food web in coastal waters (Gulf of Trieste, Northern Adriatic Sea). Mar. Ecol. Pros. Ser., 71: 163-174
  38. Penhale, P.A., 1977. Macrophyte-epiphyte biomass and productivity in an eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) community. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol., 26: 211-224.
  39. Pirc, H., 1985. Growth dynamics in Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile I. Seasonal changes of soluble carbohydrates, starch, free amino acids, nitrogen and organic anions in different parts of the plant. P. S. Z. N. I. Mar. Ecol, 6: 141-165
  40. Powell, G.V.N., W.J. Kenworthy and J.W. Fourqurean, 1989. Experimental evidence for nutrient limitation of seagrass growth in a tropical estuary with restricted circulation. Bull. Mar. Sci., 44: 324-340
  41. Robertson, A.I. and K.H. Mann, 1984. Disturbance by ice and life-history adaptations of the seagrass Zostera marina. Mar. Biol., 80: 131-141
  42. Roman, C.T. and K.W. Able, 1988. Production ecology of eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) in a Cape Cod salt marsh estuarine system, MA. Aquat. Bot., 32: 353-363
  43. SAS Institute, Inc. 1989. SAS/STAT guide for personal computers, version 6, 4th edn. SAS Institute, Cary, NC
  44. Sand-Jensen, K., 1975. Biomass, net production and growth dynamics in an eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) Population in Vellerup Vig, Denmark. Ophelia, 14: 185-201
  45. Schmidt, A., 1924. Histologische Studien an phanerogamen Vegetationspunkten. Bot. Arch., 8: 345-404
  46. Short, F.T. and C.M. Duarte, 2001. Methods for the measurement of seagrass growth and production, In: Global seagrass research methods, edited by Short, F.T. and R.G. Coles, Elsevier. Amsterdam
  47. Short, F.T., 1987. Effects of sediment nutrients on seagrasses: literature review and mesocosm experiment. Aquat. Bot. 27: 41-57
  48. Summerson, H.C. and C.H. Peterson, 1984. Role of predation in organizing benthic communities of a temperate-zone seagrass bed. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 15: 63-77
  49. Thom, R,M., 1990. Spatial and temporal patterns in plant standing-stock and primary production in a temperate seagrass system. Bot. Mar., 33: 497-510
  50. Vermaat, J.E., M.J.M. Hootsmans and P.H. Nienhuis, 1987. Seasonal dynamics and leaf growth of Zostera noltii Hornem., a perennial intertidal seagrass. Aquat. Bot., 28: 287-299
  51. Ward, L.G., W.M. Kemp and W.R. Boynton, 1984. The influence of waves and seagrass communities on suspended particulates in an estuarine embayment. Mar. Geol., 59: 85-103
  52. Wium-Andersen, S. and J. Borum, 1984. Biomass variation and autotrophic production of an epiphytemacrophyte community in a coastal Danish area: I. Eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) biomass and net production. Ophelia, 23: 33-46
  53. Zieman, J.C., 1974. Methods for the study of the growth and production of turtle grass, Thalassia testudinum K$\"{o}$nig. Aquaculture, 4: 139-143
  54. Zieman, J.C. and R.G. Wetzel, 1980. Productivity in seagrasses: methods and rates, In: Handbook of seagrass biology: an ecosystem perspective, edited by Phillips, R.C. and C. P. McRoy, Garland STPM Press, New York