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Jiménez-Ramos R, Egea LG, Pérez-Estrada CJ, Balart EF, Vergara JJ, Brun FG. Patch age alters seagrass response mechanisms to herbivory damage. Mar Environ Res 2024; 197:106443. [PMID: 38507985 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Natural disturbances can produce a mosaic of seagrass patches of different ages, which may affect the response to herbivory. These pressures can have consequences for plant performance. To assess how seagrass patch age affects the response to herbivory, we simulated the effect of herbivory by clipping leaves of Halodule wrightii in patches of 2, 4 and 6 years. All clipped plants showed ability to compensate herbivory by increasing leaf growth rate (on average 4.5-fold). The oldest patches showed resistance response by increasing phenolic compounds (1.2-fold). Contrastingly, the concentration of phenolics decreased in the youngest patches (0.26-fold), although they had a similar leaf carbon content to controls. These results suggest that younger plants facing herbivory pressure reallocate their phenolic compounds towards primary metabolism. Results confirm the H. wrightii tolerance to herbivory damage and provides evidence of age-dependent compensatory responses, which may have consequences for seagrass colonization and growth in perturbed habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rocío Jiménez-Ramos
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Marine Research INMAR, University of Cadiz, International Campus of Excellence of the Sea (CEIMAR), 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
| | - Luis G Egea
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Marine Research INMAR, University of Cadiz, International Campus of Excellence of the Sea (CEIMAR), 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Claudia J Pérez-Estrada
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Marine Research INMAR, University of Cadiz, International Campus of Excellence of the Sea (CEIMAR), 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain; Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Del Noroeste, S.C., Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional 195, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur, 23096, La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico
| | - Eduardo F Balart
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Del Noroeste, S.C., Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional 195, Col. Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur, 23096, La Paz, B.C.S., Mexico
| | - Juan J Vergara
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Marine Research INMAR, University of Cadiz, International Campus of Excellence of the Sea (CEIMAR), 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Fernando G Brun
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Institute of Marine Research INMAR, University of Cadiz, International Campus of Excellence of the Sea (CEIMAR), 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
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Pansini A, Deroma M, Guala I, Monnier B, Pergent-Martini C, Piazzi L, Stipcich P, Ceccherelli G. The resilience of transplanted seagrass traits encourages detection of restoration success. J Environ Manage 2024; 357:120744. [PMID: 38552518 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Restoration of coastal ecosystems, particularly those dominated by seagrasses, has become a priority to recover the important ecosystem services they provide. However, assessing restoration outcomes as a success or failure remains still difficult, probably due to the unique features of seagrass species and the wide portfolio of practices used on transplanting actions. Here, several traits (maximum leaf length, number of leaves, leaf growth rate per shoot, and leaf elemental carbon and nitrogen contents) of transplanted seagrass Posidonia oceanica were compared to reference meadows in five sites of Western Mediterranean Sea in which restoration were completed in different times. Results have evidenced the resilience of transplanted P. oceanica shoots within a few years since restoration, as traits between treatments changed depending on the elapsed time since settlement. The highlighted stability of the restoration time effect suggests that the recovery of the plants is expected in four years after transplanting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Pansini
- University of Sassari, Department of Chemical, Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, via Piandanna 4, Sassari, Italy.
| | - Mario Deroma
- University of Sassari, Department of Agricultural Sciences, viale Italia 39/a, Sassari, Italy
| | - Ivan Guala
- University of Sassari, Department of Chemical, Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, via Piandanna 4, Sassari, Italy; IMC - International Marine Centre, Loc. Sa Mardini, Torregrande, 09170, Oristano, Italy
| | - Briac Monnier
- University of Corsica Pasquale Paoli, CNRS UMR SPE, 6134, Campus Grimaldi BP 52, Corte, France
| | | | - Luigi Piazzi
- University of Sassari, Department of Chemical, Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, via Piandanna 4, Sassari, Italy
| | - Patrizia Stipcich
- University of Sassari, Department of Chemical, Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, via Piandanna 4, Sassari, Italy
| | - Giulia Ceccherelli
- University of Sassari, Department of Chemical, Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, via Piandanna 4, Sassari, Italy
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Casal-Porras I, Yamuza-Magdaleno A, Jiménez-Ramos R, Egea LG, Pérez-Lloréns JL, Brun FG. Effects of a chronic impact on Cymodocea nodosa community carbon metabolism and dissolved organic carbon fluxes. Sci Total Environ 2024; 906:167740. [PMID: 37827313 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Seagrass communities have been degraded worldwide experiencing elevated shoot density reduction by anthropogenic chronic pressures. This study aims to assess how a chronic (i.e., low intensity but long-lasting) impact that promotes reduced shoot density in a temperate seagrass population may affect community components and functioning. To this end, shoot density was reduced (0, 40, and 75 %) for three months in contrasting seasons (winter and summer), and assessed its effects on biotic components (i.e., seagrasses, macroalgae, macrofauna, and microphytobenthos), as well as on community carbon metabolism, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) fluxes and sediment organic matter (OM) content. Lower shoot densities enhanced the presence of macroalgae and microphytobenthos in the community, while macrofauna remained unchanged. Net community production was significantly reduced with the simulated reduction in shoot density in both seasons (up to 10-fold lower), which shifted the community in winter from being largely autotrophic (CO2 sink) to heterotrophic (CO2 source). This was due to the expected reduction in gross primary production, but also to the unexpected increase in community respiration (up to 2.2-fold higher). Since OM in the sediment was reduced in the simulated shoot density reduction treatments, the increase in sediment bacterial activity may help explain the increase in community respiration. DOC fluxes were also greatly reduced in both seasons (up to 5.5-fold lower), which coupled with the reduced net community production and loss of OM in the sediment may have a continued silent effect on blue carbon capture and storage capacity in this chronically stressed community. This study therefore highlights the importance of chronic impacts that promote the degradation of seagrass communities that may reduce their ability to provide highly valuable ecological services, including the ability to cope with the effects of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Casal-Porras
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Campus de Excelencia Internacional/Global del Mar (CEI·MAR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
| | - Alba Yamuza-Magdaleno
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Campus de Excelencia Internacional/Global del Mar (CEI·MAR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Rocío Jiménez-Ramos
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Campus de Excelencia Internacional/Global del Mar (CEI·MAR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Luis G Egea
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Campus de Excelencia Internacional/Global del Mar (CEI·MAR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - J Lucas Pérez-Lloréns
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Campus de Excelencia Internacional/Global del Mar (CEI·MAR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Fernando G Brun
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Campus de Excelencia Internacional/Global del Mar (CEI·MAR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
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Egea LG, Cavijoli-Bosch J, Casal-Porras I, Yamuza-Magdaleno A, Brun FG, Jiménez-Ramos R. Comparison of macroplastics dynamic across a tidal-dominated coastal habitat seascape including seagrasses, salt marshes, rocky bottoms and soft sediments. Mar Pollut Bull 2023; 196:115590. [PMID: 37776740 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
Coastal environments are usually composed by heterogeneous coastal-seascape, which can modify macroplastics accumulation dynamic. We evaluated seasonally the litter trapped on tidal-dominated habitats including two seagrass species, salt marsh, sandy beach, bare sediment and rocky bottom. Vegetated habitats showed the highest plastic accumulation in autumn-winter seasons, especially in medium-lower tidal-elevation zones. Seagrasses accumulated most of the degraded macroplastics, whereas averaged smaller sizes of litter were found in the salt marsh. The trapping ability of macrophytes was related to aboveground-biomass properties (i.e., height, width or flexibility) rather than shoot-density. Sandy beaches exhibited the highest plastics accumulation matching with the touristic-peak in the area, whereas rocky bottom was an important sink for macroplastics. This study provides authorities with comprehensible information to address the marine plastic litter problem taking into account the habitat-connectivity, the litter trap-ability of macrophytes and the tidal-elevation influence in order to improve future actions to deal with plastic pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis G Egea
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEI·MAR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Javier Cavijoli-Bosch
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEI·MAR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Isabel Casal-Porras
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEI·MAR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Alba Yamuza-Magdaleno
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEI·MAR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Fernando G Brun
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEI·MAR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Rocío Jiménez-Ramos
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEI·MAR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
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Minguito-Frutos M, Adams MP, Alcoverro T, Vilas MP, Alonso D, Mayol E, Bernardeu-Esteller J, Marín-Guirao L, Ruiz JM, Boada J. Quantifying the role of photoacclimation and self-facilitation for seagrass resilience to light deprivation. Front Plant Sci 2023; 14:1186538. [PMID: 37546272 PMCID: PMC10401047 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1186538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Light gradients are ubiquitous in marine systems as light reduces exponentially with depth. Seagrasses have a set of mechanisms that help them to cope with light stress gradients. Physiological photoacclimation and clonal integration help to maximize light capture and minimize carbon losses. These mechanisms can shape plants minimum light requirements (MLR), which establish critical thresholds for seagrass survival and help us predict ecosystem responses to the alarming reduction in light availability. Methods Using the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa as a case study, we compare the MLR under different carbon model scenarios, which include photoacclimation and/or self-facilitation (based on clonal integration) and that where parameterized with values from field experiments. Results Physiological photoacclimation conferred plants with increased tolerance to reducing light, approximately halving their MLR from 5-6% surface irradiance (SI) to ≈ 3% SI. In oligotrophic waters, this change in MLR could translate to an increase of several meters in their depth colonization limit. In addition, we show that reduced mortality rates derived from self-facilitation mechanisms (promoted by high biomass) induce bistability of seagrass meadows along the light stress gradient, leading to abrupt shifts and hysteretic behaviors at their deep limit. Discussion The results from our models point to (i) the critical role of physiological photoacclimation in conferring greater resistance and ability to recover (i.e., resilience), to seagrasses facing light deprivation and (ii) the importance of self-facilitating reinforcing mechanisms in driving the resilience and recovery of seagrass systems exposed to severe light reduction events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Minguito-Frutos
- Centre d’Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB-CSIC), Carrer d’Accés a la cala Sant Francesc, Girona, Spain
| | - Matthew P. Adams
- School of Mathematical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Centre for Data Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- School of Chemical Engineering, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Teresa Alcoverro
- Centre d’Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB-CSIC), Carrer d’Accés a la cala Sant Francesc, Girona, Spain
| | - María P. Vilas
- Department of Environment and Science, Queensland Government, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - David Alonso
- Centre d’Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB-CSIC), Carrer d’Accés a la cala Sant Francesc, Girona, Spain
| | - Elvira Mayol
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Global Change Research, IMEDEA (Mediterranean Institute for Advanced Studies) (UIB-CSIC), Esporles, Spain
| | - Jaime Bernardeu-Esteller
- Seagrass Ecology Group, Oceanographic Center of Murcia, Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC), Murcia, Spain
| | - Lázaro Marín-Guirao
- Seagrass Ecology Group, Oceanographic Center of Murcia, Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC), Murcia, Spain
| | - Juan M. Ruiz
- Seagrass Ecology Group, Oceanographic Center of Murcia, Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC), Murcia, Spain
| | - Jordi Boada
- Centre d’Estudis Avançats de Blanes (CEAB-CSIC), Carrer d’Accés a la cala Sant Francesc, Girona, Spain
- Laboratoire d’Océanographie de Villefranche-sur-Mer, CNRS, Sorbonne Université, Villefranche sur mer, France
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Jiménez-Ramos R, Brun FG, Pérez-Lloréns JL, Vergara JJ, Delgado-Cabezas F, Sena-Soria N, Egea LG. Resistance and recovery of benthic marine macrophyte communities to light reduction: Insights from carbon metabolism and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) fluxes, and implications for resilience. Mar Pollut Bull 2023; 188:114630. [PMID: 36708615 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
A crucial factor in the long-term survival of benthic macrophyte communities under light-reduction stress is how they balance carbon metabolism during photosynthesis and respiration. In turn, the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) released by these communities, which can be highly light-dependent, stands as a source of carbon, fuelling marine communities and playing an important role in the ocean carbon sequestration. This is the first study to evaluate light-reduction stress and recovery in the seagrass Zostera noltei and the macroalga Caulerpa prolifera. Light reduction led to a significant decrease in the production of both communities from autotrophic to heterotrophic. Results indicated that most of the DOC released by vegetated coastal communities comes from photosynthetic activity, and that the net DOC fluxes can be greatly affected by shading events. Finally, both communities showed resilience underpinned by high recovery but low resistance capacity, with C. prolifera showing the highest resilience to unfavourable light conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rocío Jiménez-Ramos
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEI·MAR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Fernando G Brun
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEI·MAR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - José L Pérez-Lloréns
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEI·MAR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Juan J Vergara
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEI·MAR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Fátima Delgado-Cabezas
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEI·MAR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Noelia Sena-Soria
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEI·MAR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Luis G Egea
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina (INMAR), Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEI·MAR), Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales Universidad de Cádiz, Campus Universitario de Puerto Real, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
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Azcárate-garcía T, Beca-carretero P, Brun FG. Plant and Meadow Structure Characterisation of Posidonia oceanica in Its Westernmost Distribution Range. Diversity 2023; 15:101. [DOI: 10.3390/d15010101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Posidonia oceanica is an endemic seagrass species from the Mediterranean Sea that provides critical ecological services to coastal environments. This species is distributed from the Turkish to the Spanish coast, where its westernmost record was documented in Punta Chullera, Malaga (36°18′36.45′′ N, 5°14′54.31′′ W). Nevertheless, previous studies suggested that its distribution was even further west, although these populations were never described. In this study, we documented and characterised the only known P. oceanica population on the coast of Cadiz, in Cala Sardina (36°18′38.80′′ N, 5°15′15.13′′ W). The newly documented population of P. oceanica presented a fragmented structure, consisting of nine patches found in a rocky shallow area surrounded by the invasive algae Rugulopteryx okamurae, with a total size of 61.14 m2. Shoots had a relatively small size (21.0 ± 2.9 cm) in comparison with centrally-distributed populations. The relatively small size of the plants, alongside the observed low shoot density (437 ± 42 shoots m−2) and leaf area index (4.8 ± 0.7 m2 m−2), may indicate that this meadow could be exposed to sub-optimal environmental conditions for plant development. By contrast, the meadow showed relatively high production rates (0.03 ± 0.01 leaf day−1 shoot−1) in comparison with other Mediterranean populations. The percentage of carbon in plant leaves was 38.73 ± 1.38%, while the nitrogen and C/N were 1.38 ± 0.37% and 29.93 ± 6.57, respectively. The documentation of this meadow extends the distribution of this species to the Mediterranean coast of Cadiz, making this region the place with the highest seagrass biodiversity (four species) in the Iberian Peninsula, and potentially in Europe. This exploratory study provides a baseline to examine the potential effects of climate change, anthropogenic disturbances or the presence of invasive species.
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Conte C, Apostolaki ET, Vizzini S, Migliore L. A Tight Interaction between the Native Seagrass Cymodocea nodosa and the Exotic Halophila stipulacea in the Aegean Sea Highlights Seagrass Holobiont Variations. Plants (Basel) 2023; 12:350. [PMID: 36679063 PMCID: PMC9863530 DOI: 10.3390/plants12020350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Seagrasses harbour bacterial communities with which they constitute a functional unit called holobiont that responds as a whole to environmental changes. Epiphytic bacterial communities rapidly respond to both biotic and abiotic factors, potentially contributing to the host fitness. The Lessepsian migrant Halophila stipulacea has a high phenotypical plasticity and harbours a highly diverse epiphytic bacterial community, which could support its invasiveness in the Mediterranean Sea. The current study aimed to evaluate the Halophila/Cymodocea competition in the Aegean Sea by analysing each of the two seagrasses in a meadow zone where these intermingled, as well as in their monospecific zones, at two depths. Differences in holobionts were evaluated using seagrass descriptors (morphometric, biochemical, elemental, and isotopic composition) to assess host changes, and 16S rRNA gene to identify bacterial community structure and composition. An Indicator Species Index was used to identify bacteria significantly associated with each host. In mixed meadows, native C. nodosa was shown to be affected by the presence of exotic H. stipulacea, in terms of both plant descriptors and bacterial communities, while H. stipulacea responded only to environmental factors rather than C. nodosa proximity. This study provided evidence of the competitive advantage of H. stipulacea on C. nodosa in the Aegean Sea and suggests the possible use of associated bacterial communities as an ecological seagrass descriptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Conte
- PhD Program in Evolutionary Biology and Ecology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Laboratory of Ecology and Ecotoxicology, Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Eugenia T. Apostolaki
- Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, P.O. Box 2214, 71003 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Salvatrice Vizzini
- Department of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, Via Archirafi 18, 90123 Palermo, Italy
- CoNISMa, National Interuniversity Consortium for Marine Sciences, Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196 Roma, Italy
| | - Luciana Migliore
- Laboratory of Ecology and Ecotoxicology, Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
- eCampus University, Via Isimbardi 10, 22060 Novedrate (CO), Italy
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Gemal EL, Green TGA, Cary SC, Colesie C. High Resilience and Fast Acclimation Processes Allow the Antarctic Moss Bryum argenteum to Increase Its Carbon Gain in Warmer Growing Conditions. Biology (Basel) 2022; 11:biology11121773. [PMID: 36552282 PMCID: PMC9775354 DOI: 10.3390/biology11121773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Climate warming in Antarctica involves major shifts in plant distribution and productivity. This study aims to unravel the plasticity and acclimation potential of Bryum argenteum var. muticum, a cosmopolitan moss species found in Antarctica. By comparing short-term, closed-top chamber warming experiments which mimic heatwaves, with in situ seasonal physiological rates from Cape Hallett, Northern Victoria Land, we provide insights into the general inherent resilience of this important Antarctic moss and into its adaptability to longer-term threats and stressors associated with climate change. Our findings show that B. argenteum can thermally acclimate to mitigate the effects of increased temperature under both seasonal changes and short-term pulse warming events. Following pulse warming, this species dramatically increased its carbon uptake, measured as net photosynthesis, while reductions in carbon losses, measured as dark respiration, were not observed. Rapid growth of new shoots may have confounded the effects on respiration. These results demonstrate the high physiological plasticity of this species, with acclimation occurring within only 7 days. We show that this Antarctic moss species appears to have a high level of resilience and that fast acclimation processes allow it to potentially benefit from both short-term and long-term climatic changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma L. Gemal
- Global Change Research Institute, School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FE, UK
- Department of Physical Geography, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - T. G. Allan Green
- International Centre for Terrestrial Antarctic Research, University of Waikato, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
- Unidad de Botánica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, E-28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - S. Craig Cary
- International Centre for Terrestrial Antarctic Research, University of Waikato, Hamilton 3240, New Zealand
| | - Claudia Colesie
- Global Change Research Institute, School of GeoSciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FE, UK
- Correspondence:
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de los Santos CB, Egea LG, Martins M, Santos R, Masqué P, Peralta G, Brun FG, Jiménez-ramos R. Sedimentary Organic Carbon and Nitrogen Sequestration Across a Vertical Gradient on a Temperate Wetland Seascape Including Salt Marshes, Seagrass Meadows and Rhizophytic Macroalgae Beds. Ecosystems 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-022-00801-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Jiménez-Ramos R, Tomas F, Reynés X, Romera-Castillo C, Pérez-Lloréns JL, Egea LG. Carbon metabolism and bioavailability of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) fluxes in seagrass communities are altered under the presence of the tropical invasive alga Halimeda incrassata. Sci Total Environ 2022; 839:156325. [PMID: 35649455 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Seagrass beds act as blue carbon sinks globally as they enhance the trapping of recalcitrant (i.e., low biodegradability) organic carbon in their sediments. Recent studies also show that the recalcitrant fraction of the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) pool in seawater has an important role as long-term carbon sequestration in oceans. Although seagrasses are known for the large amount of DOC they export, little attention has been given to its biodegradability, which ultimately determinates its fate in the coastal carbon cycle. In turn, invasive algae are a major global concern in seagrass ecosystems since they can deeply modify their structure and functions, which may affect carbon metabolism and DOC release. This work assesses how the presence of Halimeda incrassata, an invasive tropical calcareous macroalga, modifies carbon metabolism and DOC fluxes in invaded areas dominated by the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa. Our results show that stands with the presence of this seagrass (i.e., both monospecific and mixed meadow) had the highest production values, acting as high DOC producers in both winter (mainly of labile DOC; DOCL) and summer (mainly as recalcitrant DOC; DOCR). In contrast, monospecific H. incrassata beds exhibited low production values, and the presence of this macroalga (either as monospecific beds or mixed with C. nodosa) triggered the shift from a net DOC-producing-system in summer (mainly DOCL) to a net DOC-consuming-system in winter. This work thus suggests that C. nodosa meadows have the potential to export a significant fraction of both labile and recalcitrant DOC, and that the spread of this invasive alga might decrease the C export capacity of seagrass meadows. Such shift would imply the reduction of a quick and efficient transfer of carbon and energy to higher trophic levels, and might reduce the blue carbon potential of seagrasses as dissolved form in the water column.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Jiménez-Ramos
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Cadiz, International Campus of Excellence of the Sea (CEI·MAR), 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain; Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats, IMEDEA, UIB-CSIC, Mallorca, Spain.
| | - F Tomas
- Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats, IMEDEA, UIB-CSIC, Mallorca, Spain.
| | - X Reynés
- Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats, IMEDEA, UIB-CSIC, Mallorca, Spain
| | | | - J L Pérez-Lloréns
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Cadiz, International Campus of Excellence of the Sea (CEI·MAR), 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
| | - L G Egea
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Cadiz, International Campus of Excellence of the Sea (CEI·MAR), 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
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Curcio AC, Peralta G, Aranda M, Barbero L. Evaluating the Performance of High Spatial Resolution UAV-Photogrammetry and UAV-LiDAR for Salt Marshes: The Cádiz Bay Study Case. Remote Sensing 2022; 14:3582. [DOI: 10.3390/rs14153582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Salt marshes are very valuable and threatened ecosystems, and are challenging to study due to their difficulty of access and the alterable nature of their soft soil. Remote sensing methods in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) offer a great opportunity to improve our knowledge in this type of complex habitat. However, further analysis of UAV technology performance is still required to standardize the application of these methods in salt marshes. This work evaluates and tunes UAV-photogrammetry and UAV-LiDAR techniques for high-resolution applications in salt marsh habitats, and also analyzes the best sensor configuration to collect reliable data and generate the best results. The performance is evaluated through the accuracy assessment of the corresponding generated products. UAV-photogrammetry yields the highest spatial resolution (1.25 cm/pixel) orthomosaics and digital models, but at the cost of large files that require long processing times, making it applicable only for small areas. On the other hand, UAV-LiDAR has proven to be a promising tool for coastal research, providing high-resolution orthomosaics (2.7 cm/pixel) and high-accuracy digital elevation models from lighter datasets, with less time required to process them. One issue with UAV-LiDAR application in salt marshes is the limited effectiveness of the autoclassification of bare ground and vegetated surfaces, since the scattering of the LiDAR point clouds for both salt marsh surfaces is similar. Fortunately, when LiDAR and multispectral data are combined, the efficiency of this step improves significantly. The correlation between LiDAR measurements and field values improves from R2 values of 0.79 to 0.94 when stable reference points (i.e., a few additional GCPs in rigid infrastructures) are also included as control points. According to our results, the most reliable LiDAR sensor configuration for salt marsh applications is the nadir non-repetitive combination. This configuration has the best balance between dataset size, spatial resolution, and processing time. Nevertheless, further research is still needed to develop accurate canopy height models. The present work demonstrates that UAV-LiDAR technology offers a suitable solution for coastal research applications where high spatial and temporal resolutions are required.
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