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Berlinghof J, Montilla LM, Peiffer F, Quero GM, Marzocchi U, Meador TB, Margiotta F, Abagnale M, Wild C, Cardini U. Accelerated nitrogen cycling on Mediterranean seagrass leaves at volcanic CO 2 vents. Commun Biol 2024; 7:341. [PMID: 38503855 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06011-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Seagrass meadows form highly productive and diverse ecosystems in coastal areas worldwide, where they are increasingly exposed to ocean acidification (OA). Efficient nitrogen (N) cycling and uptake are essential to maintain plant productivity, but the effects of OA on N transformations in these systems are poorly understood. Here we show that complete N cycling occurs on leaves of the Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica at a volcanic CO2 vent near Ischia Island (Italy), with OA affecting both N gain and loss while the epiphytic microbial community structure remains largely unaffected. Daily leaf-associated N2 fixation contributes to 35% of the plant's N demand under ambient pH, while it contributes to 45% under OA. Nitrification potential is only detected under OA, and N-loss via N2 production increases, although the balance remains decisively in favor of enhanced N gain. Our work highlights the role of the N-cycling microbiome in seagrass adaptation to OA, with key N transformations accelerating towards increased N gain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Berlinghof
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn - National Institute of Marine Biology, Ecology and Biotechnology, Naples, Italy.
- Department of Marine Ecology, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany.
- Genoa Marine Centre, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn - National Institute of Marine Biology, Ecology and Biotechnology, Genova, Italy.
| | - Luis M Montilla
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn - National Institute of Marine Biology, Ecology and Biotechnology, Naples, Italy
| | - Friederike Peiffer
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn - National Institute of Marine Biology, Ecology and Biotechnology, Naples, Italy
- Department of Marine Ecology, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Grazia M Quero
- Institute for Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology, National Research Council (CNR), Ancona, Italy
| | - Ugo Marzocchi
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn - National Institute of Marine Biology, Ecology and Biotechnology, Naples, Italy
- Center for water technology (WATEC), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Travis B Meador
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Department of Ecosystem Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Francesca Margiotta
- Department of Research Infrastructures for marine biological resources, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn - National Institute of Marine Biology, Ecology and Biotechnology, Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Abagnale
- Department of Research Infrastructures for marine biological resources, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn - National Institute of Marine Biology, Ecology and Biotechnology, Naples, Italy
| | - Christian Wild
- Department of Marine Ecology, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Ulisse Cardini
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn - National Institute of Marine Biology, Ecology and Biotechnology, Naples, Italy.
- Genoa Marine Centre, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn - National Institute of Marine Biology, Ecology and Biotechnology, Genova, Italy.
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2
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Ravaglioli C, De Marchi L, Anselmi S, Dattolo E, Fontanini D, Pretti C, Procaccini G, Rilov G, Renzi M, Silverman J, Bulleri F. Ocean acidification impairs seagrass performance under thermal stress in shallow and deep water. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 241:117629. [PMID: 37967703 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Despite the effects of ocean acidification (OA) on seagrasses have been widely investigated, predictions of seagrass performance under future climates need to consider multiple environmental factors. Here, we performed a mesocosm study to assess the effects of OA on shallow and deep Posidonia oceanica plants. The experiment was run in 2021 and repeated in 2022, a year characterized by a prolonged warm water event, to test how the effects of OA on plants are modulated by thermal stress. The response of P. oceanica to experimental conditions was investigated at different levels of biological organization. Under average seawater temperature, there were no effects of OA in both shallow and deep plants, indicating that P. oceanica is not limited by current inorganic carbon concentration, regardless of light availability. In contrast, under thermal stress, exposure of plants to OA increased lipid peroxidation and decreased photosynthetic performance, with deep plants displaying higher levels of heat stress, as indicated by the over-expression of stress-related genes and the activation of antioxidant systems. In addition, warming reduced plant growth, regardless of seawater CO2 and light levels, suggesting that thermal stress may play a fundamental role in the future development of seagrass meadows. Our results suggest that OA may exacerbate the negative effects of future warming on seagrasses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Ravaglioli
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, CoNISMa, Via Derna 1, 56126, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Lucia De Marchi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università of Pisa, Via Livornese (lato monte), 56122, San Piero a Grado, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Serena Anselmi
- Bioscience Research Center, Via Aurelia Vecchia, 32, 58015, Orbetello, GR, Italy.
| | - Emanuela Dattolo
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Napoli, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Centre (NBFC), Palermo, Italy.
| | - Debora Fontanini
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, CoNISMa, Via Derna 1, 56126, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Carlo Pretti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università of Pisa, Via Livornese (lato monte), 56122, San Piero a Grado, Pisa, Italy; Interuniversity Consortium of Marine Biology and Applied Ecology "G. Bacci" (CIBM), Viale N.Sauro 4, 57128, Livorno, Italy.
| | - Gabriele Procaccini
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Napoli, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Centre (NBFC), Palermo, Italy.
| | - Gil Rilov
- National Institute of Oceanography, Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, Haifa, Israel.
| | - Monia Renzi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Della Vita, Università di Trieste, Via Giorgieri, 10, 34127, Trieste, Italy.
| | - Jacob Silverman
- National Institute of Oceanography, Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, Haifa, Israel.
| | - Fabio Bulleri
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, CoNISMa, Via Derna 1, 56126, Pisa, Italy; Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca per Lo Studio Degli Effetti Del Cambiamento Climatico (CIRSEC), Università di Pisa, Italy.
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3
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Carroll EW, Freestone AL. Habitat isolation interacts with top-down and bottom-up processes in a seagrass ecosystem. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0289174. [PMID: 37494351 PMCID: PMC10370773 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Habitat loss is accelerating at unprecedented rates, leading to the emergence of smaller, more isolated habitat remnants. Habitat isolation adversely affects many ecological processes independently, but little is known about how habitat isolation may interact with ecosystem processes such as top-down (consumer-driven) and bottom-up (resource-driven) effects. To investigate the interactive influence of habitat isolation, resource availability and consumer distribution and impact on community structure, we tested two hypotheses using invertebrate and algal epibionts on temperate seagrasses, an ecosystem of ecological and conservation importance. First, we hypothesized that habitat isolation will change the structure of the seagrass epibiont community, and isolated patches of seagrass will have lower epibiont biomass and different epibiont community composition than contiguous meadows. Second, we hypothesized that habitat isolation would mediate top-down (i.e., herbivory) and bottom-up (i.e., nutrient enrichment) control for algal epibionts. We used observational studies in natural seagrass patches and experimental artificial seagrass to examine three levels of habitat isolation. We further manipulated top-down and bottom-up processes in artificial seagrass through consumer reductions and nutrient additions, respectively. We indeed found that habitat isolation of seagrass patches decreased epibiont biomass and modified epibiont community composition. This pattern was largely due to dispersal limitation of invertebrate epibionts that resulted in a decline in their abundance and richness in isolated patches. Further, habitat isolation reduced consumer abundances, weakening top-down control of algal epibionts in isolated seagrass patches. Nutrient additions, however, reversed this pattern, and allowed a top-down effect on algal richness to emerge in isolated habitats, demonstrating a complex interaction between patch isolation and top-down and bottom-up processes. Habitat isolation may therefore shape the relative importance of central processes in ecosystems, leading to changes in community composition and food web structure in marine habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth W Carroll
- Department of Biology, Holy Family University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Amy L Freestone
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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4
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Lauritano C, Montuori E, De Falco G, Carrella S. In Silico Methodologies to Improve Antioxidants' Characterization from Marine Organisms. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:710. [PMID: 36978958 PMCID: PMC10045275 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12030710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Marine organisms have been reported to be valuable sources of bioactive molecules that have found applications in different industrial fields. From organism sampling to the identification and bioactivity characterization of a specific compound, different steps are necessary, which are time- and cost-consuming. Thanks to the advent of the -omic era, numerous genome, metagenome, transcriptome, metatranscriptome, proteome and microbiome data have been reported and deposited in public databases. These advancements have been fundamental for the development of in silico strategies for basic and applied research. In silico studies represent a convenient and efficient approach to the bioactivity prediction of known and newly identified marine molecules, reducing the time and costs of "wet-lab" experiments. This review focuses on in silico approaches applied to bioactive molecule discoveries from marine organisms. When available, validation studies reporting a bioactivity assay to confirm the presence of an antioxidant molecule or enzyme are reported, as well. Overall, this review suggests that in silico approaches can offer a valuable alternative to most expensive approaches and proposes them as a little explored field in which to invest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Lauritano
- Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Via Acton 55, 80133 Napoli, Italy
| | - Eleonora Montuori
- Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Via Acton 55, 80133 Napoli, Italy
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale F. Stagno d’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Gabriele De Falco
- Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Via Acton 55, 80133 Napoli, Italy
| | - Sabrina Carrella
- Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Via Acton 55, 80133 Napoli, Italy
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5
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Rindi L, Benedetti-Cecchi L. Short-term stability of rocky intertidal biofilm to nitrogen and phosphorus pulses. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 183:105795. [PMID: 36379170 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2022.105795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Coastal environments experience both natural and anthropogenic inputs of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Agricultural fertilisers, organic run-offs, and edaphic characteristics of coastal environments may generate mosaics of nutrient concentrations that ultimately influence the coastal primary productivity. Here, we experimentally assessed the effects of repeated pulses of N and P on multiple components of ecological stability (sensitivity, resilience, temporal stability and recovery) of phototrophic rocky intertidal biofilm. We performed a repeated-pulses factorial experiment crossing increasing N and P concentrations chosen to reflect a range of nutrient enrichment conditions, from oligotrophic to eutrophic. N and P, regardless of concentration or whether they occurred in isolation or combination, enhanced biofilm's sensitivity (increased biomass or physiological performance compared to controls) without altering resilience. Our experiment illustrates how the stability of an essential coastal primary producer responds to increasing N and P supply levels. Furthermore, notwithstanding the importance of decomposing the multiple dimensions of stability, the transitory increase of the sole sensitivity indicated that rocky shore biofilm is robust against a wide range of nutrient enrichment.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Rindi
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, CoNISMa, Via Derna 1, Pisa, Italy.
| | - L Benedetti-Cecchi
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, CoNISMa, Via Derna 1, Pisa, Italy
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6
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Pazzaglia J, Santillán-Sarmiento A, Ruocco M, Dattolo E, Ambrosino L, Marín-Guirao L, Procaccini G. Local environment modulates whole-transcriptome expression in the seagrass Posidonia oceanica under warming and nutrients excess. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 303:119077. [PMID: 35276251 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The intensification of anomalous events of seawater warming and the co-occurrence with local anthropogenic stressors are threatening coastal marine habitats, including seagrasses, which form extensive underwater meadows. Eutrophication highly affects coastal environments, potentially summing up to the widespread effects of global climate changes. In the present study, we investigated for the first time in seagrasses, the transcriptional response of different plant organs (i.e., leaf and shoot apical meristem, SAM) of the Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica growing in environments with a different history of nutrient enrichment. To this end, a mesocosm experiment exposing plants to single (nutrient enrichment or temperature increase) and multiple stressors (nutrient enrichment plus temperature increase), was performed. Results revealed a differential transcriptome regulation of plants under single and multiple stressors, showing an organ-specific sensitivity depending on plants' origin. While leaf tissues were more responsive to nutrient stress, SAM revealed a higher sensitivity to temperature treatments, especially in plants already impacted in their native environment. The exposure to stress conditions induced the modulation of different biological processes. Plants living in an oligotrophic environment were more responsive to nutrients compared to plants from a eutrophic environment. Evidences that epigenetic mechanisms were involved in the regulation of transcriptional reprogramming were also observed in both plants' organs. These results represent a further step in the comprehension of seagrass response to abiotic stressors pointing out the importance of local pressures in a global warming scenario.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Pazzaglia
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80121, Naples, Italy; Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127, Trieste, Italy
| | - Alex Santillán-Sarmiento
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80121, Naples, Italy; Faculty of Engineering, National University of Chimborazo, Riobamba, Ecuador
| | - Miriam Ruocco
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80121, Naples, Italy
| | - Emanuela Dattolo
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80121, Naples, Italy
| | - Luca Ambrosino
- Department of Research Infrastructure for Marine Biological Resources, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121, Napoli, Italy
| | - Lazaro Marín-Guirao
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80121, Naples, Italy; Seagrass Ecology Group, Oceanographic Center of Murcia, Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC), Murcia, Spain
| | - Gabriele Procaccini
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, 80121, Naples, Italy.
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7
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Pazzaglia J, Reusch TBH, Terlizzi A, Marín‐Guirao L, Procaccini G. Phenotypic plasticity under rapid global changes: The intrinsic force for future seagrasses survival. Evol Appl 2021; 14:1181-1201. [PMID: 34025759 PMCID: PMC8127715 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Coastal oceans are particularly affected by rapid and extreme environmental changes with dramatic consequences for the entire ecosystem. Seagrasses are key ecosystem engineering or foundation species supporting diverse and productive ecosystems along the coastline that are particularly susceptible to fast environmental changes. In this context, the analysis of phenotypic plasticity could reveal important insights into seagrasses persistence, as it represents an individual property that allows species' phenotypes to accommodate and react to fast environmental changes and stress. Many studies have provided different definitions of plasticity and related processes (acclimation and adaptation) resulting in a variety of associated terminology. Here, we review different ways to define phenotypic plasticity with particular reference to seagrass responses to single and multiple stressors. We relate plasticity to the shape of reaction norms, resulting from genotype by environment interactions, and examine its role in the presence of environmental shifts. The potential role of genetic and epigenetic changes in underlying seagrasses plasticity in face of environmental changes is also discussed. Different approaches aimed to assess local acclimation and adaptation in seagrasses are explored, explaining strengths and weaknesses based on the main results obtained from the most recent literature. We conclude that the implemented experimental approaches, whether performed with controlled or field experiments, provide new insights to explore the basis of plasticity in seagrasses. However, an improvement of molecular analysis and the application of multi-factorial experiments are required to better explore genetic and epigenetic adjustments to rapid environmental shifts. These considerations revealed the potential for selecting the best phenotypes to promote assisted evolution with fundamental implications on restoration and preservation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Pazzaglia
- Department of Integrative Marine EcologyStazione Zoologica Anton DohrnNaplesItaly
- Department of Life SciencesUniversity of TriesteTriesteItaly
| | - Thorsten B. H. Reusch
- Marine Evolutionary EcologyGEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research KielKielGermany
| | - Antonio Terlizzi
- Department of Life SciencesUniversity of TriesteTriesteItaly
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine OrganismsStazione Zoologica Anton DohrnNaplesItaly
| | - Lázaro Marín‐Guirao
- Department of Integrative Marine EcologyStazione Zoologica Anton DohrnNaplesItaly
- Seagrass Ecology GroupOceanographic Center of MurciaSpanish Institute of OceanographyMurciaSpain
| | - Gabriele Procaccini
- Department of Integrative Marine EcologyStazione Zoologica Anton DohrnNaplesItaly
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8
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Mishra AK, Cabaço S, de Los Santos CB, Apostolaki ET, Vizzini S, Santos R. Long-term effects of elevated CO 2 on the population dynamics of the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa: Evidence from volcanic seeps. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2021; 162:111824. [PMID: 33162054 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Population reconstruction techniques was used to assess for the first time the population dynamics of a seagrass, Cymodocea nodosa, exposed to long-term elevated CO2 near three volcanic seeps and compared them with reference sites away from the seeps. Under high CO2, the density of shoots and of individuals (apical shoots), and the vertical and horizontal elongation and production rates, were higher than at the reference sites. Nitrogen limitation effects on rhizome elongation and production rates and on biomass were more evident than CO2 as these were highest at the location where the limitation of nitrogen was highest. At the seep where the availability of CO2 was highest and nitrogen lowest, density of shoots and individuals were highest, probably due to CO2 effects on shoot differentiation and induced reproductive output, respectively. At the three seeps, there was higher short- and long-term shoot recruitment than at the reference sites, and growth rates was around zero, indicating that elevated CO2 increases the turnover of C. nodosa shoots.
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Affiliation(s)
- A K Mishra
- Marine Plant Ecology Research Group (ALGAE), Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), University of Algarve, Faro 8005-139, Portugal; School of Biological and Marine Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Plymouth, Portland Square, Drake Circus, Plymouth PL48LA, UK.
| | - S Cabaço
- Marine Plant Ecology Research Group (ALGAE), Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), University of Algarve, Faro 8005-139, Portugal
| | - C B de Los Santos
- Marine Plant Ecology Research Group (ALGAE), Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), University of Algarve, Faro 8005-139, Portugal
| | - E T Apostolaki
- Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Center for Marine Research (HCMR), PO Box 2214, 71003 Heraklion-Crete, Greece
| | - S Vizzini
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, via Archirafi 18, 90123 Palermo, Italy; CoNISMa, Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196 Roma, Italy
| | - R Santos
- Marine Plant Ecology Research Group (ALGAE), Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), University of Algarve, Faro 8005-139, Portugal
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9
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Helber SB, Procaccini G, Belshe EF, Santillan-Sarmiento A, Cardini U, Bröhl S, Schmid M, Reuter H, Teichberg M. Unusually Warm Summer Temperatures Exacerbate Population and Plant Level Response of Posidonia oceanica to Anthropogenic Nutrient Stress. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:662682. [PMID: 34290722 PMCID: PMC8287906 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.662682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Posidonia oceanica is a key foundation species in the Mediterranean providing valuable ecosystem services. However, this species is particularly vulnerable towards high coastal nutrient inputs and the rising frequency of intense summer heat waves, but their combined effect in situ has received little attention so far. Here, we investigated the effects of in situ nutrient addition during an unusually warm summer over a 4-month period, comparing different morphological, physiological and biochemical population metrics of seagrass meadows growing in protected areas (Ischia) with meadows already exposed to significant anthropogenic pressure (Baia - Gulf of Pozzuoli). Our study highlights that the effects of warmer than usual summer temperatures on the population level of seagrass meadows can be exacerbated if the plants are already exposed to higher anthropogenic pressures. Morphological and population level indicators mainly changed over time, possibly impacted by season and the warmer temperatures, and displayed more pronounced reductions in seagrasses from impacted sites. The additional nutrient supply had even more deleterious effects, as shown by a decrease in approximately 67% in cover in fertilized plots at high impacted sites and 33% at low impacted sites. Moreover, while rhizome starch concentration showed a seasonal increase in plants from low impacted sites it displayed a trend of a 27% decrease in fertilized plots of the high impacted sites. Epiphyte biomass was approximately four-fold higher on leaves of plants growing in impacted sites and even doubled with the additional nutrient input. Predicting and anticipating stress in P. oceanica is of crucial importance for conservation and management efforts, given the limited colonizing and reproductive ability and extremely slow growth of this ecosystem engineer. Our results suggest that monitoring efforts should focus especially on leaf area index (LAI), carbohydrate concentrations in the rhizomes, and epiphyte cover on leaves as indicators of the onset of stress in Posidonia oceanica, which can be used by decision makers to take appropriate measures before damage to the ecosystem becomes irreversible, minimize future human interference and strengthen the resilience of these important ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie B. Helber
- Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) GmbH, Bremen, Germany
- Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment, University of Oldenburg, Wilhelmshaven, Germany
- *Correspondence: Stephanie B. Helber,
| | - Gabriele Procaccini
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | - E. Fay Belshe
- Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) GmbH, Bremen, Germany
| | - Alex Santillan-Sarmiento
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
- Faculty of Engineering, National University of Chimborazo, Riobamba, Ecuador
| | - Ulisse Cardini
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | - Stefanie Bröhl
- Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) GmbH, Bremen, Germany
| | - Michael Schmid
- Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) GmbH, Bremen, Germany
| | - Hauke Reuter
- Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) GmbH, Bremen, Germany
- Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany
| | - Mirta Teichberg
- Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) GmbH, Bremen, Germany
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10
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Riccio G, Ruocco N, Mutalipassi M, Costantini M, Zupo V, Coppola D, de Pascale D, Lauritano C. Ten-Year Research Update Review: Antiviral Activities from Marine Organisms. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10071007. [PMID: 32645994 PMCID: PMC7407529 DOI: 10.3390/biom10071007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Oceans cover more than 70 percent of the surface of our planet and are characterized by huge taxonomic and chemical diversity of marine organisms. Several studies have shown that marine organisms produce a variety of compounds, derived from primary or secondary metabolism, which may have antiviral activities. In particular, certain marine metabolites are active towards a plethora of viruses. Multiple mechanisms of action have been found, as well as different targets. This review gives an overview of the marine-derived compounds discovered in the last 10 years. Even if marine organisms produce a wide variety of different compounds, there is only one compound available on the market, Ara-A, and only another one is in phase I clinical trials, named Griffithsin. The recent pandemic emergency caused by SARS-CoV-2, also known as COVID-19, highlights the need to further invest in this field, in order to shed light on marine compound potentiality and discover new drugs from the sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gennaro Riccio
- Marine Biotechnology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, CAP, 80121 Naples, Italy; (G.R.); (N.R.); (M.M.); (M.C.); (V.Z.); (D.C.); (D.d.P.)
| | - Nadia Ruocco
- Marine Biotechnology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, CAP, 80121 Naples, Italy; (G.R.); (N.R.); (M.M.); (M.C.); (V.Z.); (D.C.); (D.d.P.)
| | - Mirko Mutalipassi
- Marine Biotechnology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, CAP, 80121 Naples, Italy; (G.R.); (N.R.); (M.M.); (M.C.); (V.Z.); (D.C.); (D.d.P.)
| | - Maria Costantini
- Marine Biotechnology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, CAP, 80121 Naples, Italy; (G.R.); (N.R.); (M.M.); (M.C.); (V.Z.); (D.C.); (D.d.P.)
| | - Valerio Zupo
- Marine Biotechnology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, CAP, 80121 Naples, Italy; (G.R.); (N.R.); (M.M.); (M.C.); (V.Z.); (D.C.); (D.d.P.)
| | - Daniela Coppola
- Marine Biotechnology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, CAP, 80121 Naples, Italy; (G.R.); (N.R.); (M.M.); (M.C.); (V.Z.); (D.C.); (D.d.P.)
- Institute of Biosciences and BioResources (IBBR), National Research Council, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Donatella de Pascale
- Marine Biotechnology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, CAP, 80121 Naples, Italy; (G.R.); (N.R.); (M.M.); (M.C.); (V.Z.); (D.C.); (D.d.P.)
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC), National Research Council, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Chiara Lauritano
- Marine Biotechnology Department, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, CAP, 80121 Naples, Italy; (G.R.); (N.R.); (M.M.); (M.C.); (V.Z.); (D.C.); (D.d.P.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-081-5833-221
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Rubio L, García-Pérez D, Davies JM, Fernández JA. Short-Term Response of Cytosolic N O 3 - to Inorganic Carbon Increase in Posidonia oceanica Leaf Cells. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:955. [PMID: 32670341 PMCID: PMC7330836 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere has increased over the past 200 years and is expected to continue rising in the next 50 years at a rate of 3 ppm·year-1. This increase has led to a decrease in seawater pH that has changed inorganic carbon chemical speciation, increasing the dissolved HC O 3 - . Posidonia oceanica is a marine angiosperm that uses HC O 3 - as an inorganic carbon source for photosynthesis. An important side effect of the direct uptake of HC O 3 - is the diminution of cytosolic Cl- (Cl-c) in mesophyll leaf cells due to the efflux through anion channels and, probably, to intracellular compartmentalization. Since anion channels are also permeable to N O 3 - we hypothesize that high HC O 3 - , or even CO2, would also promote a decrease of cytosolic N O 3 - ( N O 3 - c ). In this work we have used N O 3 - - and Cl--selective microelectrodes for the continuous monitoring of the cytosolic concentration of both anions in P. oceanica leaf cells. Under light conditions, mesophyll leaf cells showed a N O 3 - c of 5.7 ± 0.2 mM, which rose up to 7.2 ± 0.6 mM after 30 min in the dark. The enrichment of natural seawater (NSW) with 3 mM NaHCO3 caused both a N O 3 - c decrease of 1 ± 0.04 mM and a Cl c - decrease of 3.5 ± 0.1 mM. The saturation of NSW with 1000 ppm CO2 also produced a diminution of the N O 3 - c , but lower (0.4 ± 0.07 mM). These results indicate that the rise of dissolved inorganic carbon ( HC O 3 - or CO2) in NSW would have an effect on the cytosolic anion homeostasis mechanisms in P. oceanica leaf cells. In the presence of 0.1 mM ethoxyzolamide, the plasma membrane-permeable carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, the CO2-induced cytosolic N O 3 - diminution was much lower (0.1 ± 0.08 mM), pointing to HC O 3 - as the inorganic carbon species that causes the cytosolic N O 3 - leak. The incubation of P. oceanica leaf pieces in 3 mM HC O 3 - -enriched NSW triggered a short-term external N O 3 - net concentration increase consistent with the N O 3 - c leak. As a consequence, the cytosolic N O 3 - diminution induced in high inorganic carbon could result in both the decrease of metabolic N flux and the concomitant biomass N impoverishment in P. oceanica and, probably, in other aquatic plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lourdes Rubio
- Departamento de Botánica y Fisiología Vegetal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Delia García-Pérez
- Departamento de Botánica y Fisiología Vegetal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Julia M. Davies
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - José A. Fernández
- Departamento de Botánica y Fisiología Vegetal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
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Qui-Minet ZN, Coudret J, Davoult D, Grall J, Mendez‐Sandin M, Cariou T, Martin S. Combined effects of global climate change and nutrient enrichment on the physiology of three temperate maerl species. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:13787-13807. [PMID: 31938482 PMCID: PMC6953553 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2018] [Revised: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Made up of calcareous coralline algae, maerl beds play a major role as ecosystem engineers in coastal areas throughout the world. They undergo strong anthropogenic pressures, which may threaten their survival. The aim of this study was to gain insight into the future of maerl beds in the context of global and local changes. We examined the effects of rising temperatures (+3°C) and ocean acidification (-0.3 pH units) according to temperature and pH projections (i.e., the RCP 8.5 scenario), and nutrient (N and P) availability on three temperate maerl species (Lithothamnion corallioides, Phymatolithon calcareum, and Lithophyllum incrustans) in the laboratory in winter and summer conditions. Physiological rates of primary production, respiration, and calcification were measured on all three species in each treatment and season. The physiological response of maerl to global climate change was species-specific and influenced by seawater nutrient concentrations. Future temperature-pH scenario enhanced maximal gross primary production rates in P. calcareum in winter and in L. corallioides in both seasons. Nevertheless, both species suffered an impairment of light harvesting and photoprotective mechanisms in winter. Calcification rates at ambient light intensity were negatively affected by the future temperature-pH scenario in winter, with net dissolution observed in the dark in L. corallioides and P. calcareum under low nutrient concentrations. Nutrient enrichment avoided dissolution under future scenarios in winter and had a positive effect on L. incrustans calcification rate in the dark in summer. In winter conditions, maximal calcification rates were enhanced by the future temperature-pH scenario on the three species, but P. calcareum suffered inhibition at high irradiances. In summer conditions, the maximal calcification rate dropped in L. corallioides under the future global climate change scenario, with a potential negative impact on CaCO3 budget for maerl beds in the Bay of Brest where this species is dominant. Our results highlight how local changes in nutrient availability or irradiance levels impact the response of maerl species to global climate change and thus point out how it is important to consider other abiotic parameters in order to develop management policies capable to increase the resilience of maerl beds under the future global climate change scenario.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zujaila Nohemy Qui-Minet
- Sorbonne UniversitésCNRSUMR 7144 Adaptation et Diversité en Milieu MarinStation Biologique de RoscoffRoscoffFrance
| | - Jérôme Coudret
- Sorbonne UniversitésCNRSUMR 7144 Adaptation et Diversité en Milieu MarinStation Biologique de RoscoffRoscoffFrance
| | - Dominique Davoult
- Sorbonne UniversitésCNRSUMR 7144 Adaptation et Diversité en Milieu MarinStation Biologique de RoscoffRoscoffFrance
| | - Jacques Grall
- Université de Bretagne OccidentaleIUEMPlouzanéFrance
| | - Miguel Mendez‐Sandin
- Sorbonne UniversitésCNRSUMR 7144 Adaptation et Diversité en Milieu MarinStation Biologique de RoscoffRoscoffFrance
| | - Thierry Cariou
- Sorbonne UniversitésCNRS, FR2424Station Biologique de RoscoffRoscoffFrance
| | - Sophie Martin
- Sorbonne UniversitésCNRSUMR 7144 Adaptation et Diversité en Milieu MarinStation Biologique de RoscoffRoscoffFrance
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Del Pasqua M, Gambi MC, Caricato R, Lionetto MG, Giangrande A. Effects of short-term and long-term exposure to ocean acidification on carbonic anhydrase activity and morphometric characteristics in the invasive polychaete Branchiomma boholense (Annelida: Sabellidae): A case-study from a CO 2 vent system. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2019; 144:203-212. [PMID: 30709638 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2019.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2018] [Revised: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to test the effects of short- and long-term exposure to high pCO2 on the invasive polychaete Branchiomma boholense (Grube, 1878), (Sabellidae), through the implementation of a transplant experiment at the CO2 vents of the Castello Aragonese at the island of Ischia (Italy). Analysis of carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity, protein tissue content and morphometric characteristics were performed on transplanted individuals (short-term exposure) as well as on specimens resident to both normal and low pH/high pCO2 environments (long-term exposure). Results obtained on transplanted worms showed no significant differences in CA activity between individuals exposed to control and acidified conditions, while a decrease in weight was observed under short-term acclimatization to both control and low pH, although at low pH the decrease was more pronounced (∼20%). As regard individuals living under chronic exposure to high pCO2, the morphometric results revealed a significantly lower (70%) wet weight of specimens from the vents with respect to animals living in high pH/low pCO2 areas. Moreover, individuals living in the Castello vents showed doubled values of enzymatic activity and a significantly higher (50%) protein tissue content compared to specimens native from normal pH/low pCO2. The results of this study demonstrated that B. boholense is inclined to maintain a great homeostatic capacity when exposed to low pH, although likely at the energetic expense of other physiological processes such as growth, especially under chronic exposure to high pCO2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Del Pasqua
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), University of Salento, CoNISMa Unit, 73100, Lecce, Italy.
| | - Maria Cristina Gambi
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn di Napoli, Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Villa Dohrn- Benthic Ecology Center, Punta S. Pietro, 80077, Ischia (Napoli), Italy
| | - Roberto Caricato
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), University of Salento, CoNISMa Unit, 73100, Lecce, Italy
| | - Maria Giulia Lionetto
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), University of Salento, CoNISMa Unit, 73100, Lecce, Italy
| | - Adriana Giangrande
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (DiSTeBA), University of Salento, CoNISMa Unit, 73100, Lecce, Italy; Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn di Napoli, Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Villa Dohrn- Benthic Ecology Center, Punta S. Pietro, 80077, Ischia (Napoli), Italy
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14
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González-Delgado S, Hernández JC. The Importance of Natural Acidified Systems in the Study of Ocean Acidification: What Have We Learned? ADVANCES IN MARINE BIOLOGY 2018; 80:57-99. [PMID: 30368306 DOI: 10.1016/bs.amb.2018.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Human activity is generating an excess of atmospheric CO2, resulting in what we know as ocean acidification, which produces changes in marine ecosystems. Until recently, most of the research in this area had been done under small-scale, laboratory conditions, using few variables, few species and few life cycle stages. These limitations raise questions about the reproducibility of the environment and about the importance of indirect effects and synergies in the final results of these experiments. One way to address these experimental problems is by conducting studies in situ, in natural areas where expected future pH conditions already occur, such as CO2 vent systems. In the present work, we compile and discuss the latest research carried out in these natural laboratories, with the objective to summarize their advantages and disadvantages for research to improve these investigations so they can better help us understand how the oceans of the future will change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara González-Delgado
- Marine Community Ecology and Climate Change, Departamento de Biología Animal, Edafología y Geología, Facultad de Ciencias (Biología), Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - José Carlos Hernández
- Marine Community Ecology and Climate Change, Departamento de Biología Animal, Edafología y Geología, Facultad de Ciencias (Biología), Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.
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Molecular level responses to chronic versus pulse nutrient loading in the seagrass Posidonia oceanica undergoing herbivore pressure. Oecologia 2018; 188:23-39. [PMID: 29845353 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-018-4172-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Accepted: 05/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Seagrasses are key marine foundation species, currently declining due to the compounded action of global and regional anthropogenic stressors. Eutrophication has been associated with seagrass decline, while grazing has been traditionally considered to be a natural disturbance with a relatively low impact on seagrasses. In the recent years, this assumption has been revisited. Here, by means of a 16-month field-experiment, we investigated the molecular mechanisms driving the long-term response of Posidonia oceanica to the combination of nutrient enrichment, either as a chronic (press) or pulse disturbance, and herbivory. Changes in expression levels of 19 target genes involved in key steps of photosynthesis, nutrient assimilation, chlorophyll metabolism, oxidative-stress response and plant defense were evaluated through reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). High herbivore pressure affected the molecular response of P. oceanica more dramatically than did enhanced nutrient levels, altering the expression of genes involved in plant tolerance and resistance traits, such as photosynthesis and defense mechanisms. Genes involved in carbon fixation and N assimilation modulated the response of plants to high nutrient levels. Availability of resources seems to modify P. oceanica response to herbivory, where the upregulation of a nitrate transporter gene was accompanied by the decline in the expression of nitrate reductase in the leaves, suggesting a change in plant-nutrient allocation strategy. Finally, press and pulse fertilizations altered nitrate uptake and reduction-related genes in opposite ways, suggesting that taking into account the temporal regime of nutrient loading is important to assess the physiological response of seagrasses to eutrophication.
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