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Seagrass (Thalassia testudinum) Nutrient Recycling in Florida Bay, a Carbonate-Dominated Shallow Estuary
- Date Issued:
- 2007
- Summary:
- Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) senescent leaf retention, as a measure of resorption, and the subsequent decay of senescent leaves, roots and rhizomes were examined for the dominant tropical seagrass species, Thalassia testudinum, across a nutrient gradient in Florida Bay. Leaf nutrient loss while still attached to the short shoot, from both resorption and decay, was highest at the nutrient-rich (88% P; 51% N) compared to nutrient-poor site ( 49% P; 25% N). High nutrient loss rates by attached leaves (0.37-2.5 mg P and 6.5-34 mg N m^-2 d^-1) represented significant recycling (46-87% P and 17-48% N) oftotal estimated external nutrient loads to the bay. In contrast, senescent leaf, rhizome and root nutrient loss rates were > 1 00-fold lower than intact leaves. In tropical /subtropical estuaries dominated by T testudinum, seagrasses may be acting as nutrient pumps, translocating high porewater nutrients to the overlying waters and promoting phytoplankton blooms in the bay.
Title: | Seagrass (Thalassia testudinum) Nutrient Recycling in Florida Bay, a Carbonate-Dominated Shallow Estuary. |
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Name(s): |
Rosch, Kara Baca Koch, Marguerite, Thesis advisor Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor |
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Type of Resource: | text | |
Genre: | Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation | |
Date Created: | 2007 | |
Date Issued: | 2007 | |
Publisher: | Florida Atlantic University | |
Place of Publication: | Boca Raton, Fla. | |
Physical Form: | application/pdf | |
Extent: | 52 p. | |
Language(s): | English | |
Summary: | Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) senescent leaf retention, as a measure of resorption, and the subsequent decay of senescent leaves, roots and rhizomes were examined for the dominant tropical seagrass species, Thalassia testudinum, across a nutrient gradient in Florida Bay. Leaf nutrient loss while still attached to the short shoot, from both resorption and decay, was highest at the nutrient-rich (88% P; 51% N) compared to nutrient-poor site ( 49% P; 25% N). High nutrient loss rates by attached leaves (0.37-2.5 mg P and 6.5-34 mg N m^-2 d^-1) represented significant recycling (46-87% P and 17-48% N) oftotal estimated external nutrient loads to the bay. In contrast, senescent leaf, rhizome and root nutrient loss rates were > 1 00-fold lower than intact leaves. In tropical /subtropical estuaries dominated by T testudinum, seagrasses may be acting as nutrient pumps, translocating high porewater nutrients to the overlying waters and promoting phytoplankton blooms in the bay. | |
Identifier: | FA00000822 (IID) | |
Degree granted: | Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2007. | |
Note(s): | Charles E. Schmidt College of Science | |
Subject(s): |
Estuarine ecology--Florida--Florida Bay Seagrasses--Florida--Florida Bay Stream ecology--Methodology Climatic changes |
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Held by: | Florida Atlantic University Libraries | |
Sublocation: | Digital Library | |
Persistent Link to This Record: | http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000822 | |
Use and Reproduction: | Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder. | |
Use and Reproduction: | http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ | |
Host Institution: | FAU | |
Is Part of Series: | Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections. |