Variations in eelgrass (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Zostera marina</Emphasis> L.) morphology and internal nutrient composition as influenced by increased temperature and water column nitrate |
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| Authors: | Email author" target="_blank">Brant?W?TouchetteEmail author JoAnn?M?Burkholder Howard?B?Glasgow |
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| Institution: | 1.Elon University, Center for Environmental Studies,Department of Biology,Elon;2.Department of Botany,North Carolina State University,Raleigh |
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| Abstract: | In an experimental mesocosm system, we evaluated changes in morphology and tissue nutrient content (carbon C], nitrogen N],
phosphorus P]) of eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) as influenced by increased temperature and nitrate. During the late summer-fall growing season (14 weeks, August through
mid-November), control plants were compared to plants grown at elevated temperatures (3°C to 4°C above ambient, based on 20-yr
weekly means) and elevated water column nitrate enrichment (8 μM NO3
−, pulsed daily). Both increased temperature and increased nitrate led to declines in shoot density (by 40% and 48% for nitrate
and temperature treatments, respectively), as well as decreased leaf and root production. High temperature promoted increased
total C content of leaf tissues, whereas high nitrate increased the percentage of N in belowground tissues and depressed the
C∶N ratio in aboveground tissues. The data indicated that increases in nitrate or temperature can significantly reduce the
size ofZ. marine shoots and can also alter the internal C and N content. This reduction was not associated with significant increases in light-attenuating
algae as we controlled epiphytic growth, so we suggest that a direct physiological mechanism or other mechanism was involved. |
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