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Seagrass (Thalassia testudinum) Nutrient Recycling in Florida Bay, a Carbonate-Dominated Shallow Estuary

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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
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
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.