Differential use of thalassia testudinum habitats by. Assessing the health of thalassia testudinum at the landscape scale using chlorophyll fluorescence michael j. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. Of these, 6 are known throughout the tropical western hemisphere, while halophila johnsonii is known only from coastal lagoons of eastern florida. Biomass and dynamics of thalassia testudinum in the.
Pdf effects of seagrass thalassia testudinum on sediment. In climax tropical seagrass communities dominated by thalassia testudinum turtlegrass, natural recovery in these disturbances can take several years to decades, and in some environmental conditions may not occur at all. Thalassia testudinum meadows under different environmental characteristics in nuevitas bay. Pdf thalassia testudinum leaf dynamics in a mexican caribbean. The impact of human activities on mexican caribbean zones is reflected in the partial or total.
Direct contribution of the seagrass thalassia testudinum. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. Pdf using habitat suitability models to predict changes. Thalassia testudinum is one of the most important seagrass species along the coasts of the caribbean and the gulf of mexico and is the subject of this study. Here we present evidence that seagrass detritus from the widespread species, thalassia testudinum, is an important source of ocean color and uvprotective substances in a low latitude coastal shelf region of the united states. Cpr thalassia testudinum university of southern mississippi. The present study was designed to determine the uptake and release rates of various trace metal cations by turtle grass and its community in order to provide the coefficients of our previously described computer model intended to simulate trace metal cycling in subtropical and tropical estuaries. Unlimited viewing of the articlechapter pdf and any associated supplements and figures. Aerial productivity, leaf turnover rate, leaf area, shoot density and total biomass of thalassia testudinum were assessed during the period. Thalassia testudinum response to the interactive stressors hypersalinity, sul. Thalassia testudinum is a perennial grass growing from a long, jointed rhizome. Structural variation of potentially toxic epiphytic. Trace metals in the seagrass thalassia testudinum from the mexican caribbean coast. While every effort has been made to provide the most reliable and uptodate information available, ultimate legal requirements with respect to species are contained in.
Itis taxonomy is based on the latest scientific consensus available, and is provided as a general reference source for interested parties. Thalassia testudinum, a seagrass, in the florida keys national marine sanctuary fknms, u. Seagrasses are vital members of coastal systems, which provide several important ecosystem services such as improvement of water quality, shoreline protection, and serving as shelter, food, and nursery to many species, including economically important fish. Seagrasses are fully marine angiosperms flowering plants. Seagrass beds contribute to oceanic carbonate lime mud production by providing a habitat for a wide variety of calcifying organisms and acting as efficient sediment traps. Thalassia testudinum extract is more cytotoxic and produced more dna damage on human hepatoma cells than to. Some nodes are leafless but others bear a tuft of several erect, linear leaf blades. This study was undertaken to determine the relationships between the biomass, morphometry, and density of short shoots ss of the tropical seagrass thalassia testudinum and the physicalenvironmental forcing in the region. Thalassia testudinum banks ex konig is a longlived tropical seagrass specie that requires specific hydrological conditions for its.
It forms meadows in shallow sandy or muddy locations in the caribbean sea and the gulf of mexico. Thalassia testudinum dutch caribbean biodiversity database. Thalassia testudinum, 92 of which have been recorded from the south florida area, 20 to 25 per cent of the total algal flora. Thalassia recolonization in restored vessel injuries. Methods were developed for the study of turtle grass, thalassia testudinum konig, which allow. Effects of seagrass thalassia testudinum on sediment redox. Click here to download the entire set zipped, 26 mb. After planting the refugium with some turtle grass thalassia testudinum on 214 i am very happy with its appearance. Seagrasses play a variety of important ecological roles in coastal ecosystems. Thalassia on integrated taxonomic information system. This research was undertaken as a multisite study specifically addressing chronic light reduction and the responses of the seagrass community to this stress. Thalassia testudinum response to the interactive stressors.
Assessment of the cytotoxic potential of an aqueous. Gibson abstract a survey was conducted in monospecific beds of two seagrasses, halodule wrightii ascherson and thalassia testudinum banks ex knig and the macroalgae caulerpa prolifera forsskl lamouroux in lassing. Productivity and biomass of thalassia testudinum as related to water column nutrient availability and epiphyte levels. Here, the leaf photoacclimatory plasticity and efficiency of the tropical seagrass thalassia testudinum were examined mesocosms were used to compare the variability induced by three light conditions, two leaf sections and the variability observed at the collection site. A mechanism forthalassia testudinum short shoot mortality in florida bay, p. Caribbean seagrasses as a food source for the emerald. Largescale patterns in seagrass thalassia testudinum demographics in south florida authors. Maddenc, claus kyhnhansenc a aquatic plant ecology laboratory, biological sciences department, florida atlantic university, 777 glades road, boca raton, fl 33431, usa binstitute of biology, university of southern denmark. Largescale patterns in seagrass thalassia testudinum. The atlas of florida plants provides a source of information for the distribution of plants within the state and taxonomic information. The rhizome is buried in the substrate 5 to 10 cm 2 to 4 in deep, exceptionally down to 25 centimetres 9. Thalassia testudinum, commonly known as turtle grass, is a species of marine seagrass.
The overall objective of this task is to develop quantitative relationships for assessing. Biomass, productivity and density of the seagrass thalassia. Download pdf 4 mb abstract i investigated how photosynthetic performance of thalassia testudinum changed along a naturally occurring salinity gradient in florida bay, and to laboratory controlled hyper and hypoosmotic stress. Department of agriculture agricultural research service. Thalassia testudinum is the dominant seagrass in southeast florida as well as the florida gulf coast. Phenology, sexual reproduction, and the factors affecting. Neuroprotective and antioxidant effects of thalassia. Epiphytes of the sea grass, thalassia testudinum, in. Thalassia testudinum is the most widely distributed species on the western hambrook, 1979. Using habitat suitability models to predict changes in seagrass distribution caused by water management practices1. Joint conference on the science and restoration of the greater everglades and florida bay ecosystem from kissimmee to the keys, palm harbor, florida.
The structure and productivity of the thalassia testudinum. A total of 26,847 penaeids were collected on a fortnightly basis from june 2001 to may 2002. Thalassia at germplasm resources information network. View the article pdf and any associated supplements and figures for a period of 48 hours.
Thalassia covers large areas in the sublittoral zone, occupying approximately 70% of the cariaco gulf and many square kilometers along the coast of. Rates of c 2 h 2 reduction were higher in anaerobic than in aerobic assays and were linear for several hours after an initial lag period of 12 h. More than 4000 ha of seagrass beds have been completely lost in recurring episodes of mortality since summer 1987. In addition, the water quality at all the sites was.
Thalassia testudinum in the germplasm resources information network grin, u. Productivity and biomass of thalassia testudinum as. Here we provide evidence for the direct implication of thalassia testudinum in the precipitation of aragonite needles. The seagrass ecosystem and resources in latin america. Seagrass beds only occur in the shallow water photic zone. Species of thalassia are the most abundant marine plant in the caribbean. In laboratory experiments, we demonstrate that the gastropod smaragdia viridis linnaeus, 1758 feeds. Puerto vargas, punta cahuita and rio perezoso, in cahuita. Restoration of tropical seagrass beds using wild bird. N 2 fixation c 2 h 2 reduction associated with the roots, rhizomes, and sediments rhizosphere cores of the seagrass thalassia testudinum was measured at sites in south florida soldier key, biscayne bay and the bahamas bimini harbor. The website also provides access to a database and images of herbarium specimens found at the university of south florida and other herbaria.
Thalassia is a marine seagrass genus comprising two known species. Patterns of fish and urchin grazing on caribbean coral. The stations were sited at fort augusta, old coal wharf eutrophic, harbor sites, hellshire coast mesotrophic and port royal cays oligotrophic. The lower part of this photo shows a crosssection through a root system of a thalassia seagrass bed. Cesi assessment project 973 everglades national park u. The pattern of turtle grazing on thalassia testudinum in st. Two groups of epiphytes are recognized, the yeararound species and the seasonal annuals. Pdf biomass and growth of the turtle grass thalassia testudinum. Thalassia testudinum as they begin developing into seedlings while still inside the fruit. Most gastropods inhabiting seagrass meadows are believed to feed on epiphytes rather than directly on living seagrass tissues.
N2 fixation in the rhizosphere of thalassia testudinum. Thalassia at national center for biotechnology information. Pacific turtlegrass shores of the western and central indopacific thalassia testudinum banks ex k. Thalassia testudinum blades attained higher growth rates and greater length at the more perturbed stations, and blade growth rate was positively. Largescale patterns in seagrass thalassia testudinum demographics in south florida. Community composition of crustaceans and gastropods on. This work was conducted and completed as part of the requirements necessary to earn a master of science degree.
I cant wait for the grass to spread throughout the bottom of the tank. The effects of varying levels of eutrophication on. Thalassia meaning and origin of the name thalassia. Distichlis spicata photo cpr thalassia testudinum inflorescence photo cpr thalassia testudinum photo cpr. Trace metals in the seagrass thalassia testudinum from the.
Density of penaeidae was assessed in habitats of thalassia testudinum with different relative location inshore zone and coastal lagoon and sediment type fine sand and coarse sand during three weather seasons in the yucatan peninsula, mexico. Spectral reflectance of three western atlantic subtropicaltropical dominant benthic seagrasses thalassia testudinum, halodule wrightii and syringodium filiforme measured in the laboratory by unispec spectral analysis system over 400 nm are compared to five western atlantic dominant benthic and intertidal algae fucus vesiculosus, ulva lactuca, halimeda incrassata, udotea flabellum. Monitoring of physically restored seagrass meadows reveals a slow rate of recovery for thalassia testudinum. Pdf monitoring of physically restored seagrass meadows. The thalassia testudinum dominated seagrass community in the buccoo reef bon accord lagoon marine park, measures 0. Thalassia testudinum leaf dynamics in a mexican caribbean coral reef lagoon. Shoots and rhizomes of thalassia testudinum were collected in 12 to 24 depending on plant density replicated cores 20. Thalassia testudinum an overview sciencedirect topics.
A flat bladed, dark green sea grass featuring an extensive root system that securely anchors and protects the plants from tidal surge, storms and ocean currents. Leaf photoacclimatory responses of the tropical seagrass. The effects of cropping on the growth of thalassia testudinum konig. Pdf thalassia testudinum biomass, blade growth and production in relation to. A study of blade growth in thalassia testudinum has been carried out in order to evaluate the production potential of this seagrass in jamaica. Methods for the study of the growth and production of turtle grass. View enhanced pdf access article on wiley online library html view download pdf for offline viewing. Croix seagrass beds begins with the establishment of a grazing plot by.
As well, thalassia testudinum meadows were continuous and abundant in this sampling site, representing a greater availability of substrate for the settlement of these potentially harmful dinoflagellates. Canopy height maps for seagrass species were added on march 31, 2015. Measurement differences between the two methods were insignificant when the 14c uptake technique was corrected for sediment 14c uptake %. Seagrass canopies harbor many different mollusc species, but information about the interaction of these seagrass residents with their host plants remains scarce.
The only issue i had with the turtle grass was a bunch of hitchhikers came with it. However, it is not a legal authority for statutory or regulatory purposes. A 6day in situ comparison between the wetzel inorganic 14c uptake and zieman leafbiomass techniques for measuring net primary production rates in the seagrass thalassia testudinum was performed in the northeastern gulf of mexico. Thalassia is a marine seagrass genus comprising two species.
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