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Degrading seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) ecosystems: a source of dissolved matter in the Mediterranean

  • SEAGRASS ECOSYSTEMS
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Abstract

Diurnal variation of dissolved oxygen (DO), organic and inorganic carbon (DOC, DIC), nitrogen (DON, DIN), and phosphorus (DOP, DIP) flux across the sediment–water interface was assessed in fish farm impacted and pristine seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) meadows in the Aegean Sea (Greece). DIC consumption decreased by 52% and DO production decreased by 60% in the light, suggesting reduced photosynthetic performance of the plant community under the fish cages probably due to organic matter loading. In light there was 4 and 15 times higher release of dissolved inorganic and organic matter, respectively, compared to dark incubations under the cages, indicating that fish farming impact is more intense during daytime. DO was taken up, while DIC was released in the dark in both stations, representing a direct measure of mineralization. Dissolved inorganic matter flux (as the sum of DIN and DIP fluxes) was positively related to DIC flux, rendering mineralization as the main driver of nutrient flux under the cages. On average, the impacted meadow released DIN and DIP both in light and dark, while efflux of dissolved organic matter (as the sum of DOC, DON, and DOP fluxes) increased by 132% in the light and by 21% in the dark, implying that the degrading seagrass meadow is a source of dissolved matter to the surrounding water. Shoot density and leaf production were negatively correlated with both diel DIN and DIP fluxes, showing that meadow regression is accompanied by DIN and DIP release from the sediment. Hence, nutrient efflux can adequately illustrate meadow deterioration and, therefore, can be used as indicator of P. oceanica community health.

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Acknowledgements

This work is part of the IBIS Project, co-financed by E.U.-European Social Fund (75%) and the Greek Ministry of Development-GSRT (25%). Thanks are due to T. Tsagaraki, I. Glabedakis, V. Pefanis-Vassilatos, N. Kouroubalis, V. Stasinos and S. Kiparissis for assistance with sampling, M. Delefose, E. Dafnomili, S. Zivanovic, S. Iliakis, M. Anthoula, Y. Zachioti, A. Androni, E. Krasakopoulou, A. Pavlidou and K. Giamalaki for assistance in chemical analyses, K. Lika for advice in statistical analysis and two anonymous reviewers for helpful comments and criticism on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Ecology Laboratory, Biology Department, University of Crete, PO Box 2208, 71409, Heraklion, Crete, Greece

    Eugenia T. Apostolaki & Ioannis Karakassis

  2. Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, PO Box 2214, 71003, Heraklion, Crete, Greece

    Eugenia T. Apostolaki

  3. Institute of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230, Odense M, Denmark

    Marianne Holmer

  4. Department of Global Change Research, Institut Mediterrani d’Estudis Avançats (CSIC-UIB), Miquel Marquès 21, 07190, Esporles (Illes Balears), Spain

    Núria Marbà

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  1. Eugenia T. Apostolaki
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Correspondence to Eugenia T. Apostolaki.

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Guest editors: M. Holmer & N. Marbà / Dynamics and functions of seagrass ecosystems

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Apostolaki, E.T., Holmer, M., Marbà, N. et al. Degrading seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) ecosystems: a source of dissolved matter in the Mediterranean. Hydrobiologia 649, 13–23 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-010-0255-2

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