Benthic Autotrophy in Netarts Bay, Oregon
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NETARTS BA) OREGON Final TechnicalReport to the Environ mental Protection Agency BENTHIC AUTOTROPHY IN NETARTS BAY, OREGON E ST U AR E In Reference to BIOLOGICAL Jiiiii( / EPA Research P ROCESSES \PRocE Grant No. R806780 (ACRO- OregonState University May I, 1983 7 ZOSTERA ALGAL / ss xposil PRIMARY PRIMARY \ 'ROD PROD1T O(TRITAL) PRETIO BENThIC AUTOTROPHY IN NETARTS BAY, OREGON Final Report Submitted June 1, 1983, to the Environmental Protection Agency 200 S.W. 35th Street Corvallis, OR97331 Prepared by C. David Mclntire, Professor and Michael W. Davis, Mary E. Kentula, and Mark Whiting Research Assistants Department of Botany and Plant Pathology Oregon State University Corvallis, OR 97331 in reference to EPA Research Grant No. R806780 entitled: "Relationships Between Nutrient Fluxes and Benthic Plant Processes in Netarts Bay, Oregon TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction Background . .. .......... ....... Conceptual Framework for the Research Ecosystem Processes and Process Capacity ATentative Model of Estuarine Processes Netarts Bay . ............ ...... ...... EPARhodanuLneStudiesofl978andl979 ...... Some Relevant Literature ......... ........... ....... Benthic Microflora ...... .......... ...... Zostera and Macroalgae . .. Some Relevant Laboratory Studies ............................... Columbia River Project . ..... .. TheAlgaiPrimaryProductionSubsystetu... ........... Production Dynamics of Sediment-Associated Algae in Netarts Bay, Oregon . ....... Sampling Strategy ............... Methods . , . .. , ........ Primary Production . .......... Biomass . a * . .. ...... a a . Sediment Properties . ......... .......... Physical and Chemical Variables Data Analysis . .. ........ Results . .. ....... Physical Properties . * . .. Organic Matter . .. a a . a . a . a a . a a Chlorophyll a Concentration . ...... a a a . .. Primary Production . ......... a . a . a aa a . a a Relationships Among Variables .. .. ......... ... .. .. Interpretation of AutotrophicPatterns .................. ..... Experimental Studies of Estuarine Benthic Algae Yaquina Bay . a a . ...................... a a a a . a a . ....... Methods ................................. .......... .... ....... Primary Production . a a a .a . ..... a a a Biomass . a a a a . a a a a . a a . a a a . a a a . a . Isolation of DiatomAssemblages Physical Variables * . ......... a . * a a a . a a a a. a a . a a a Results .. ...... ............... ....a.... .aaaa.. .a.a..... I.. Experiments withlntact Sediment Cores Experiments with Isolated Epipelic Diatoms ...... Experiments with Isolated Macroalgae ... .......... Interpretation of Experiments ...... .. a . a ......... a a . ....... Effects of Estuarine Infauna on Sediment-Associated Microalgae Study Site ....... ......... ..... .. ............ Methods ....................................... -3- -Experimental Design . Metabolic Activity .......................................... Chlorophyll a Analysis ...................................... Macrofaunal Abundance ....................................... Statistical Analysis ........................................ Results ....... ................................................. Field Defaunation Experiment ................................ Laboratory Defaunation Experiment ........................... Interpretation of Defaunation Experiments ...................... The Diatom Flora of Netarts Bay ................................... Sampling ..... .................................................. Methods ........ ................................................ Data Analysis .................................................. Results ........................................................ StructureofEnvironmentalflata ............................. The Diatom Flora ............................................ AutecologyofSelectedTaxa ................................. Community Patterns .......................................... The Zostera Primary Production Subsystem ............................ Materials and Methods ............................................. DescriptionoflntensiveStudyArea ............................ SelectionofQuadratandSampleSize. .......................... Measurement of Biomass ......................................... MeasurementofPrimaryProduction .............................. Short Marking Methbd ........................................ RadjoactiveCarbon(14C) Method............................. Data Analysis .................................................. Morphometrics and Autecology of Zostera marina L. in Netarts Bay Sexual Reproduction ............................................. Vegetative Growth .............................................. ProductionDynamicsofZostera .................................... Biomass ...... .................................................. Primary Production ............................................. Relationship Between Zostera and Epiphytic Assemblages ............ Description of EpiphyticAssemblages ........................... Biomass .... .................................................... Production . .................................................... Components of Variance ......................................... Bioenergetics of the Zostera Primary Production Subsystem ......... Discussion ......... ............................................... References .... ...................................................... Appendixl........... INTRODUCTION This final report was prepared primarily for the information of persons having the responsibility of judging the merit of research supported by a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA No. R806780). The research program was initiated September 1, 1979 and the original project and budget periods extended from this date to August 30, 1981.Extensions of the project and budget periods were requested in May, 1981 and again in January, 1982. These extensions were granted, and the termination date for the project and budget periods was reset to August 30, 1982. Although scientists and other individuals interested in the production dynamics of benthic plants in estuaries may find this report an informative summary of our work during the prOject period, it is not intended to be a definitive publication and should not be evaluated as such. Instead, five manuscripts representing segments of the research presented in this report are in preparation for submission to refereed professional journals. The primary purpose of the final report is to integrate the various aspects of the research and to provide an outlet for the data that can be made available to other scientists. The general objective of research supported by EPA Grant No. R806780 was to determine mechanisms that control the production dynamics of benthic plants and associated epiphytes in Netarts Bay relative to physical processes and changing patterns of nutrient distribution. In particular, we were especially concerned with biological processes that were related to the patterns of nutrient flux determined by the EPA dye studies of August, 1978 and January, 1979. These studies involved the introduction of Rhodamine dye and subsequent -5- comparisons of the dye concentration with concentrations of substances of interest at selected stations in the estuary. Nutrients of interest included dissolved organic carbon (DOC), particulate organic carbon (POC), nitrate- nitrate (NO2-NO3), orthophosphorous (Ortho-P), ammonia nitrogen (NH3), and molybdate reactive silica (Si); in addition, temperature, salinity, turbidity, fluorescence at 460 nm and 660 nm, and Rhodamine concentrations also were monitored, The results of the EPA investigation suggested that nutrient dynamics were strongly related to biological processes associated with large areas of seagrass (Zostera marina) during August; but in January, correspond- ing patterns were more closely related to physical processes. Therefore, our general objective stated above was compatible with the EPA's research program at Netarts Bay and provided the basis for a detailed examination of benthic plant processes in the estuary. For research purposes, it was convenient to partition our work on benthic plant processes in Netarts Bay into two subsystems: Zostera Primary Produc- tion and Algal Primary Production. These subsystems are part of a tentative conceptual model of the entire estuarine ecosystem, the details of which are described in the next section of this report. The research approach involved an intensive field investigation of the two subsystems during a two-year period and some concurrent experimental work on the Algal Primary Production subsystem. The sampling strategy in the field was carefully designed to take advantage of the existing knowledge of nutrient distribution and circulation in the estuary. This report is organized into three major subsections: Background, The Algal Primary Production Subsystem, and The Zostera Primary Production Subsystem. In the Background section, we present a conceptual framework for the research, briefly describe the estuary, review the EPA dye studies of 1978 and 1979, and present a review of relevant literature. The Algal Primary Production Subsystem section is concerned with the production dynamics of benthic micro and macroalgae relative to sediment properties and other physical and biological variables. In this section, we also present the results of laboratory studies designed to establish functional relationships between algal primary production and selected physical and biological factors. The Zostera Primary