The Responses of Amphibolis Griffithii to Reduced Light Availability Kathryn

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

The Responses of Amphibolis Griffithii to Reduced Light Availability Kathryn The responses of Amphibolis griffithii to reduced light availability A report on the outcomes of the SRFME Collaborative Research Project: Ecophysiology of benthic primary producers Final Report to SRFME / WAMSI and Geraldton Port Authority Kathryn McMahon and Paul Lavery Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research Edith Cowan University Report No. 2008-01 This report has been prepared to summarise the findings and management implications of the SRFME Collaborative Research Project: Ecophysiology of benthic primary producers. No portion of this material may be reproduced or communicated without the permission of ECU, unless the reproduction or communication is authorised by law. ECU 2008. The responses of Amphibolis griffithii to reduced light availability Final Report on the SRFME Collaborative Research Project: Ecophysiology of benthic primary producers. Kathryn McMahon and Paul Lavery Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research Edith Cowan University 100 Joondalup Dr, Joondalup, WA Australia Cite as: McMahon, K. and Lavery, P.S. (2007). The responses of Amphibolis griffithii to reduced light availability. Final Report on the Strategic Research Fund for the Marine Environment (SRFME) Collaborative Research Project: Ecophysiology of benthic primary producers. 148 p. Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Western Australia. iii iv ii. Table of Contents i. Preface................................................................................................................................................................... ii. Table of Contents .............................................................................................................................................. v iii. List of Figures.................................................................................................................................................vii iv. List of Tables ...................................................................................................................................................xi v. Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................................xiii 1. Executive Summary........................................................................................................................................... 1 2. Rationale and Background ................................................................................................................................ 9 3. Research Framework .......................................................................................................................................14 4. Report Format ..................................................................................................................................................15 5. Methodology ....................................................................................................................................................17 5.1 Experimental design...................................................................................................................................17 5.2 Site location ................................................................................................................................................19 5.3 Environmental parameters measured........................................................................................................20 5.4 Biological parameters measured ...............................................................................................................20 5.5 Data quality ................................................................................................................................................21 5.6 Statistical analysis ......................................................................................................................................22 6. Environmental Responses ...............................................................................................................................25 6.1 Light (PPFD) ..............................................................................................................................................25 6.2 Water temperature......................................................................................................................................25 7. Seagrass Response to PPFD Reduction Treatments......................................................................................27 7.1 Biomass.......................................................................................................................................................27 7.2 Density ........................................................................................................................................................32 7.3 Morphology ................................................................................................................................................36 7.4 Growth ........................................................................................................................................................42 7.5 Sexual reproduction ...................................................................................................................................45 7.6 Physiology ..................................................................................................................................................46 7.7 Impact – response pathway .......................................................................................................................52 8. Canopy Response to 3-months PPFD Reduction Post-summer ...................................................................57 8.1 Biomass and density ..................................................................................................................................58 8.2 Morphology ................................................................................................................................................59 8.3 Growth ........................................................................................................................................................60 8.4 Physiology ..................................................................................................................................................61 9. Recovery From 3-month PPFD Reduction Treatments ................................................................................69 9.1 Biomass.......................................................................................................................................................69 9.2 Density ........................................................................................................................................................73 v 9.3 Morphology ................................................................................................................................................74 9.4 Growth ........................................................................................................................................................78 9.5 Sexual reproduction ...................................................................................................................................80 9.6 Physiology ..................................................................................................................................................81 9.7 Recovery - response pathway of A. griffithii after 3-months of PPFD reduction .................................88 10. Recovery From 6-month PPFD Reduction Treatments ..............................................................................91 10.1 Biomass and density ................................................................................................................................91 11. Recovery From 9-month PPFD Reduction Treatments ..............................................................................97 11.1 Biomass and density ................................................................................................................................97 12. Sub-lethal Indicators....................................................................................................................................102 12.1 Sub-lethal indicators of PPFD reduction ..............................................................................................102 12.2 Sub-lethal indicators of recovery from PPFD reduction .....................................................................104 12.3 Summary statistics of possible sub-lethal indicators ...........................................................................106 12.4 Potential indicators of sub-lethal reduction in light availability .........................................................109 13. Management Application of the Research Results....................................................................................115 13.1 Environmental modeling .......................................................................................................................116 13.2 Impact prediction ...................................................................................................................................125 13.3 Impact management...............................................................................................................................130
Recommended publications
  • Halophila Ovalis, Ruppia Megacarpa and Posidonia Coriacea
    Edith Cowan University Research Online Theses : Honours Theses 1998 The in vitro propagation of seagrasses : halophila ovalis, ruppia megacarpa and posidonia coriacea Melissa Grace Henry Edith Cowan University Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses_hons Part of the Botany Commons, and the Marine Biology Commons Recommended Citation Henry, M. G. (1998). The in vitro propagation of seagrasses : halophila ovalis, ruppia megacarpa and posidonia coriacea. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses_hons/742 This Thesis is posted at Research Online. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses_hons/742 THE IN VITRO PROPAGATION OF SEAGRASSES: HALOPHILA OVALIS, RUPPIA MEGACARPA AND POSIDONIA CORIACEA MELISSA GRACE HENRY THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF B.SC. (BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE) HONOURS SCHOOL OF NATURAL SCIENCES EDITH COW AN UNIVERSITY JUNE 1998 ABSTRACT Seagrass communities are of high ecological and economic significance. They provide a nursery area for commercial and recreational juvenile fish and crustacea. Seagrasses also play an important role in influencing the structure and function of many estuarine and nearshore marine environments. Unfortunately, the decline of seagrasses, as a result of human impact, has increased in recent years. This decline has become a major problem throughout the world. Current methods used to restore degraded seagrass beds are limited, the most promising being transplanting material from healthy donor beds. This approach is expensive because it is labor intensive and damages the donor bed. Consequently, large scale transplanting programmes are not considered to be feasible. An alternative to using donor material may be found in the propagation of seagrasses.
    [Show full text]
  • Global Seagrass Distribution and Diversity: a Bioregional Model ⁎ F
    Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 350 (2007) 3–20 www.elsevier.com/locate/jembe Global seagrass distribution and diversity: A bioregional model ⁎ F. Short a, , T. Carruthers b, W. Dennison b, M. Waycott c a Department of Natural Resources, University of New Hampshire, Jackson Estuarine Laboratory, Durham, NH 03824, USA b Integration and Application Network, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Cambridge, MD 21613, USA c School of Marine and Tropical Biology, James Cook University, Townsville, 4811 Queensland, Australia Received 1 February 2007; received in revised form 31 May 2007; accepted 4 June 2007 Abstract Seagrasses, marine flowering plants, are widely distributed along temperate and tropical coastlines of the world. Seagrasses have key ecological roles in coastal ecosystems and can form extensive meadows supporting high biodiversity. The global species diversity of seagrasses is low (b60 species), but species can have ranges that extend for thousands of kilometers of coastline. Seagrass bioregions are defined here, based on species assemblages, species distributional ranges, and tropical and temperate influences. Six global bioregions are presented: four temperate and two tropical. The temperate bioregions include the Temperate North Atlantic, the Temperate North Pacific, the Mediterranean, and the Temperate Southern Oceans. The Temperate North Atlantic has low seagrass diversity, the major species being Zostera marina, typically occurring in estuaries and lagoons. The Temperate North Pacific has high seagrass diversity with Zostera spp. in estuaries and lagoons as well as Phyllospadix spp. in the surf zone. The Mediterranean region has clear water with vast meadows of moderate diversity of both temperate and tropical seagrasses, dominated by deep-growing Posidonia oceanica.
    [Show full text]
  • GENOME EVOLUTION in MONOCOTS a Dissertation
    GENOME EVOLUTION IN MONOCOTS A Dissertation Presented to The Faculty of the Graduate School At the University of Missouri In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy By Kate L. Hertweck Dr. J. Chris Pires, Dissertation Advisor JULY 2011 The undersigned, appointed by the dean of the Graduate School, have examined the dissertation entitled GENOME EVOLUTION IN MONOCOTS Presented by Kate L. Hertweck A candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy And hereby certify that, in their opinion, it is worthy of acceptance. Dr. J. Chris Pires Dr. Lori Eggert Dr. Candace Galen Dr. Rose‐Marie Muzika ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I am indebted to many people for their assistance during the course of my graduate education. I would not have derived such a keen understanding of the learning process without the tutelage of Dr. Sandi Abell. Members of the Pires lab provided prolific support in improving lab techniques, computational analysis, greenhouse maintenance, and writing support. Team Monocot, including Dr. Mike Kinney, Dr. Roxi Steele, and Erica Wheeler were particularly helpful, but other lab members working on Brassicaceae (Dr. Zhiyong Xiong, Dr. Maqsood Rehman, Pat Edger, Tatiana Arias, Dustin Mayfield) all provided vital support as well. I am also grateful for the support of a high school student, Cady Anderson, and an undergraduate, Tori Docktor, for their assistance in laboratory procedures. Many people, scientist and otherwise, helped with field collections: Dr. Travis Columbus, Hester Bell, Doug and Judy McGoon, Julie Ketner, Katy Klymus, and William Alexander. Many thanks to Barb Sonderman for taking care of my greenhouse collection of many odd plants brought back from the field.
    [Show full text]
  • Contemporary Reliance on Bicarbonate Acquisition Predicts Increased Growth of Seagrass Amphibolis Antarctica in a High-CO2 World
    Volume 2 • 2014 10.1093/conphys/cou052 Research article Contemporary reliance on bicarbonate acquisition predicts increased growth of seagrass Amphibolis antarctica in a high-CO2 world Owen W. Burnell1*, Sean D. Connell1, Andrew D. Irving2, Jennifer R. Watling1 and Bayden D. Russell1 1School of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia 2School of Medical and Applied Sciences, Central Queensland University, Bruce Highway, Rockhampton, QLD 4702, Australia *Corresponding author: School of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia. Tel: +61 8 8313 6125. Email: [email protected] − Rising atmospheric CO2 is increasing the availability of dissolved CO2 in the ocean relative to HCO3 . Currently, many marine − primary producers use HCO3 for photosynthesis, but this is energetically costly. Increasing passive CO2 uptake relative to − HCO3 pathways could provide energy savings, leading to increased productivity and growth of marine plants. Inorganic carbon-uptake mechanisms in the seagrass Amphibolis antarctica were determined using the carbonic anhydrase inhibitor acetazolamide (AZ) and the buffer tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (TRIS). Amphibolis antarctica seedlings were also main- tained in current and forecasted CO2 concentrations to measure their physiology and growth. Photosynthesis of A. antarctica − was significantly reduced by AZ and TRIS, indicating utilization of HCO3 -uptake mechanisms. When acclimated plants were switched between CO2 treatments, the photosynthetic rate was dependent on measurement conditions but not growth con- ditions, indicating a dynamic response to changes in dissolved CO2 concentration, rather than lasting effects of acclimation. At forecast CO2 concentrations, seedlings had a greater maximum electron transport rate (1.4-fold), photosynthesis (2.1-fold), below-ground biomass (1.7-fold) and increase in leaf number (2-fold) relative to plants in the current CO2 concentration.
    [Show full text]
  • The Global Distribution and Status of Seagrass Ecosystems
    The global distribution and status of seagrass ecosystems ^^ ^^^H Discussion paper prepared for tlie UNEP-WCWIC Global Seagrass Workshop St Pete's Beach, Florida, 9 November, 2001 Prepared by: Mark D. Spalding, Michelle L. Taylor, Sergio Martins, Edmund P. Green, and Mary Edwards WA.. WORLD CONSERVATION MONITORING CENTRE Digitized by tine Internet Archive in 2010 witii funding from UNEP-WCIVIC, Cambridge Iittp://www.archive.org/details/globaldistributi01spal The global distribution and status of seagrass ecosystems Discussion paper prepared for tlie UNEP-WCIVIC Global Seagrass Workshop St Pete's Beach, Florida, 9 November, 2001 Prepared by: Mark D. Spalding, Michelle L. Taylor, Sergio Martins, Edmund P. Green, and Mary Edwards With assistance from: Mark Taylor and Corinna Ravilious Table of Contents Introduction to the workshop 2 The global distribution and status of seagrass ecosystems 3 Introduction 3 Definitions 3 The diversity of seagrasses 3 Species distribution 4 Associated Species 6 Productivity and biomass 7 The distribution and area of seagrass habitat 8 The value of seagrasses 13 Threats to seagrasses 13 Management Interventions 14 Bibliography; 16 29 Annex 1 : Seagrass Species Lists by Country Annex 2 - Species distribution maps 34 Annex 3 - Seagrass distribution maps 68 74 Annex 4 -Full list of MPAs by country ; /4^ ] UNEP WCMC Introduction to the workshop The Global Seagrass Workshop of 9 November 2001 has been set up with the expressed aim to develop a global synthesis on the distribution and status of seagrasses world-wide. Approximately 20 seagrass experts from 14 counu-ies, representing all of the major seagrass regions of the world have been invited to share their knowledge and expertise.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Phylogenetic Regionalization of Marine Plants Reveals Close Evolutionary Affinities Among Disjunct Temperate Assemblages Barna
    Phylogenetic regionalization of marine plants reveals close evolutionary affinities among disjunct temperate assemblages Barnabas H. Darua,b,*, Ben G. Holtc, Jean-Philippe Lessardd,e, Kowiyou Yessoufouf and T. Jonathan Daviesg,h aDepartment of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Harvard University Herbaria, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA bDepartment of Plant Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield 0028, Pretoria, South Africa cDepartment of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park Campus, Ascot SL5 7PY, United Kingdom dQuebec Centre for Biodiversity Science, Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0G4, Canada eDepartment of Biology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, H4B 1R6, Canada; fDepartment of Environmental Sciences, University of South Africa, Florida campus, Florida 1710, South Africa gDepartment of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0G4, Canada hAfrican Centre for DNA Barcoding, University of Johannesburg, PO Box 524, Auckland Park, Johannesburg 2006, South Africa *Corresponding author Email: [email protected] (B.H. Daru) Running head: Phylogenetic regionalization of seagrasses 1 Abstract While our knowledge of species distributions and diversity in the terrestrial biosphere has increased sharply over the last decades, we lack equivalent knowledge of the marine world. Here, we use the phylogenetic tree of seagrasses along with their global distributions and a metric of phylogenetic beta diversity to generate a phylogenetically-based delimitation of marine phytoregions (phyloregions). We then evaluate their evolutionary affinities and explore environmental correlates of phylogenetic turnover between them. We identified 11 phyloregions based on the clustering of phylogenetic beta diversity values. Most phyloregions can be classified as either temperate or tropical, and even geographically disjunct temperate regions can harbor closely related species assemblages.
    [Show full text]
  • Plastid Phylogenomic Analyses Resolve Tofieldiaceae As the Root of the Early Diverging Monocot Order Alismatales
    GBE Plastid Phylogenomic Analyses Resolve Tofieldiaceae as the Root of the Early Diverging Monocot Order Alismatales Yang Luo1,2,3,y, Peng-Fei Ma1,2,y, Hong-Tao Li2, Jun-Bo Yang2, Hong Wang1,2,*, and De-Zhu Li1,2,* 1Key Laboratory for Plant Diversity and Biogeography of East Asia, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China 2Germplasm Bank of Wild Species, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan, China 3Kunming College of Life Science, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China yThese authors contributed equally to this work. *Corresponding author: E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]. Accepted: December 23, 2015 Data deposition: The genomes sequences have been deposited at GenBank under the accession numbers KT89950–KT89952. Abstract The predominantly aquatic order Alismatales, which includes approximately 4,500 species within Araceae, Tofieldiaceae, and the core alismatid families, is a key group in investigating the origin and early diversification of monocots. Despite their importance, phylogenetic ambiguity regarding the root of the Alismatales tree precludes answering questions about the early evolution of the order. Here, we sequenced the first complete plastid genomes from three key families in this order: Potamogeton perfoliatus (Potamogetonaceae), Sagittaria lichuanensis (Alismataceae), and Tofieldia thibetica (Tofieldiaceae). Each family possesses the typical quadripartite structure, with plastid genome sizes of 156,226, 179,007, and 155,512 bp, respectively. Among them, the plastid genome of S. lichuanensis is the largest in monocots and the second largest in angiosperms. Like other sequenced Alismatales plastid genomes, all three families generally encode the same 113 genes with similar structure and arrangement.
    [Show full text]
  • Marine Ecology Progress Series 456:43
    Vol. 456: 43–51, 2012 MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES Published June 7 doi: 10.3354/meps09647 Mar Ecol Prog Ser One species of seagrass cannot act as a surrogate for others in relation to providing habitat for other taxa B. M. Hamilton1,2,*, P. G. Fairweather1,2, B. McDonald2 1School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia 2Marine Parks Project, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, GPO Box 1047, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia ABSTRACT: Epibiotic assemblages provide an important source of primary and secondary production in seagrass habitats. Surrogates for biodiversity, such as broad-scale habitat types, have been used in selecting marine park boundaries and zones. As a preliminary test of one assumption of surrogacy that in effect treats all seagrass species as equal, the epibiotic assem- blages of pairs of seagrass species, including the regionally rare Posidonia coriacea, were sampled between homogeneous or heterospecific patches at 3 separate locations in South Australia. Three seagrass species, each with distinct morphology, had distinguishable epifaunal assemblages. Free-living epifauna showed clear selection between seagrass species with movement likely over small scales within heterospecific patches, but no such distinction was shown when the same sea- grass species pair was separated rather than intermingled. Epiphytic sessile species showed less well-defined specificity among seagrass species, but there were still significant differences in epi- phytic species richness. The results of this preliminary study suggest that marine conservation planning needs to consider seagrass habitat on a species-by-species basis, including how they are arranged within localised patches.
    [Show full text]
  • Seagrass Meadows - Encyclopedia of Earth
    Seagrass meadows - Encyclopedia of Earth http://www.eoearth.org/article/Seagrass_meadows Encyclopedia of Earth Seagrass meadows Lead Author: Carlos M. Duarte (other articles) Article Topics: Oceans and Marine ecology This article has been reviewed and approved by the following Topic Table of Contents Editor: Jean-Pierre Gattuso (other articles) 1 Introduction Last Updated: September 21, 2008 2 Adaptations to Colonize the Sea 3 Seagrass Distribution and Habitat 4 Seagrass Functions 5 Conservation Issues Introduction 6 Further Reading Seagrasses are angiosperms that are restricted to life in the sea. Seagrasses colonized the sea, from terrestrial angiosperm ancestors, about 100 million years ago, which indicates a relatively early appearance of seagrasses in angiosperm evolution. With a rather low number of species (about 50-60), seagrass comprise < 0.02% of the angiosperm flora. Seagrasses are assigned to two families, Potamogetonaceae and Hydrocharitaceae, encompassing 12 genera of angiosperms containing about 50 species (Table 1). Three of the genera, Halophila , Zostera and Posidonia , which may have evolved from lineages that appeared relatively early in seagrass evolution, comprise most (55%) of the species, while Enhalus , the most recent seagrass genus, is represented by a single species ( Enhalus acoroides , Photo 1: Posidonia oceanica meadow in the NW Table 1). Most seagrass meadows are monospecific, but Mediterranean. (Photograph by M. Sanfélix) may develop multispecies, with up to 12 species, meadows in subtropical and tropical waters. Adaptations to Colonize the Sea The colonization of the sea required a number of key adaptations including (1) blade or subulate leaves with sheaths, fitted for high-energy environments; (2) hydrophilous pollination, allowing submarine pollination (except for the genus Enhalus ) and subsequent propagule dispersal; and (3) extensive lacunar systems allowing the internal gas flow needed to maintain the oxygen supply required by their below-ground structures in anoxic sediments.
    [Show full text]
  • Extinction Risk Assessment of the World's Seagrass Species
    Author version: Biol. Conserv.: 144(7); 2011; 1961-1971. Extinction risk assessment of the world’s seagrass species Frederick T. Short a,*, Beth Polidoro b, Suzanne R. Livingstone b, Kent E. Carpenter b, Salomao Bandeira c, Japar Sidik Bujang d, Hilconida P. Calumpong e, Tim J.B. Carruthers f, Robert G. Coles g, William C. Dennison f, Paul L.A. Erftemeijer h, Miguel D. Fortes i, Aaren S. Freeman a, T.G. Jagtap j, Abu Hena M. Kamal k, Gary A. Kendrick l, W. Judson Kenworthy m, Yayu A. La Nafie n, Ichwan M. Nasution o, Robert J. Orth p, Anchana Prathep q, Jonnell C. Sanciangco b, Brigitta van Tussenbroek r, Sheila G. Vergara s, Michelle Waycott t, Joseph C. Zieman u *Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 603 862 5134; fax: +1 603 862 1101. [email protected] (F.T. Short), a University of New Hampshire, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Jackson Estuarine Laboratory, 85 Adams Point Road, Durham, NH 03824, USA b IUCN Species Programme/SSC/Conservation International, Global Marine Species Assessment, Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USA c Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Department of Biological Sciences, 1100 Maputo, Mozambique d Universiti Putra Malaysia Bintulu Sarawak Campus, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, Sarawak, Malaysia e Silliman University, Institute of Environmental and Marine Sciences, Dumaguete City 6200, Philippines f University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Cambridge, MD 21613, USA g Northern Fisheries Centre, Fisheries Queensland, Cairns, Queensland 4870, Australia h Deltares (Formerly Delft Hydraulics), 2600 MH Delft, The Netherlands i University of the Philippines, Marine Science Institute CS, Diliman, QC 1101, Philippines j National Institute of Oceanography, Donapaula, Goa-403 004, India k University of Chittagong, Institute of Marine Sciences and Fisheries, Chittagong 4331, Bangladesh l The University of Western Australia, Oceans Institute and School of Plant Biology Crawley, 6009, W.
    [Show full text]
  • Variation, Adaptation and Reproductive Biology In
    University of New Hampshire University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository Doctoral Dissertations Student Scholarship Winter 1983 VARIATION, ADAPTATION AND REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY IN RUPPIA MARITIMA L POPULATIONS FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE COASTAL AND ESTUARINE TIDAL MARSHES FRANK AD VID RICHARDSON University of New Hampshire, Durham Follow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/dissertation Recommended Citation RICHARDSON, FRANK DAVID, "VARIATION, ADAPTATION AND REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY IN RUPPIA MARITIMA L POPULATIONS FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE COASTAL AND ESTUARINE TIDAL MARSHES" (1983). Doctoral Dissertations. 1417. https://scholars.unh.edu/dissertation/1417 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Scholarship at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INFORMATION TO USERS This reproduction was made from a copy of a document sent to us for microfilming. While the most advanced technology has been used to photograph and reproduce this document, the quality of the reproduction is heavily dependent upon the quality of the material submitted. The following explanation of techniques is provided to help clarify markings or notations which may appear on this reproduction. 1. The sign or “target” for pages apparently lacking from the document photographed is “Missing Page(s)”. If it was possible to obtain the missing page(s) or section, they are spliced into the film along with adjacent pages. This may have necessitated cutting through an image and duplicating adjacent pages to assure complete continuity. 2.
    [Show full text]
  • Seagrass Epiphytes at a Glance
    1 SEA-GRASS EPIPHYTES (“HANGERS-ON”) AT A GLANCE BACKGROUND Sea-grasses are grass-like, aquatic, flowering plants, 4. with true leaves, stems and roots. They grow in sand and mud (sedimentary aquatic environments, or soft “bottoms”) trapping sediment, their horizontal stems helping to prevent mobile substrates from 4. washing away during storms. Algae require harder, stable surfaces on which to 2. grow – they attach to rock (hard “bottoms”), shells, port structures such as jetty piles or even ships hulls. In addition, some algae and also some animal colonies either preferentially or incidentally grow permanently attached to already-established algae or sea-grasses, a “lifestyle” or niche called epiphytism. The series of pictures below is designed to introduce you to some sea-grass epiphytes of southern Australian seas. Certainly not all of them, as there may be as many as 117 algal species according to 1. one worker.1. Also, small, mobile animals that graze microscopic films of living organisms that grow on sea-grasses, are not included. Below, you will find pictures of only the commonest and more easily observable epiphytes, posted as a series of panels containing similar-looking organisms. To locate the sea-grasses that act as substrates for them, go to Pictured Keys.....-Major Groups - sea grasses, on this Website FACTS ABOUT SEA-GRASS EPIPHYTES • 1.most attach to the surface of sea-grasses and do not use them for nutrition (however, for parasites and intimate 3. anatomical connections, see Algal intimates, on this website) • 1.in some sea-grass meadows, epiphytes may be only 25% of the total weighable material (the biomass) but perform more algal epiphytes on a pressed than 60% of the photosynthesis (the productivity) • 2.sea-grasses host similar epiphytes specimen of the sea-grass Amphibolis • some epiphytes prefer shallow water communities, others the antarctica at the State Herbarium of plant tips, some the jointed parts of the stem South Australia.
    [Show full text]