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Papers by James Fourqurean
Aquatic Botany, Oct 1, 2016
Abstract Phenotypic variability is a valuable adaptive mechanism for seagrass species that exist ... more Abstract Phenotypic variability is a valuable adaptive mechanism for seagrass species that exist in a dynamic environment and can lead to significant intraspecific regional distinctions in life history. Research is lacking in studies examining the significance of within-species phenotypic variation in relation to gradients in environmental condition at a large spatial scale. These studies are essential to better understanding the potential for acclimatization and tolerance capabilities of seagrasses in declining coastal environments. Thalassia testudinum (turtlegrass) is a ubiquitous keystone seagrass species across the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico (GoM) that populates both environmentally dynamic estuaries and stable coastal environments. In order to elucidate environmentally driven distinctions in spatially separated populations, we examined characteristics of shoots exposed to widely separated distinct coastal environments with varying degrees of environmental stability and suitability. In our comparison, three sampling locations vary considerably in ambient water temperature, salinity, and water column clarity along a gradient from oscillating, higher stress conditions to stable, more favorable conditions. Shoots tended to have larger leaves with more biomass in the stable environment and also exhibited an older shoot age structure and higher horizontal expansion rate. However, shoots in the more variable, higher stress environment exhibited greater evidence of flowering and first flowered at an earlier age. The results elucidate large spatially distinct and environmentally relevant differences in morphology, growth, and life history highlighting the need for more studies regarding phenotypic variability of seagrass populations across environmental gradients.
Estuaries and Coasts, May 11, 2023
<p>Seagrasses are often considered important player... more <p>Seagrasses are often considered important players in the global carbon cycle, due to their role in sequestering and protecting sedimentary organic matter as “Blue Carbon”.  However, in shallow calcifying systems the ultimate role of seagrass meadows as a sink or source of atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> is complicated by carbonate precipitation and dissolution processes, which produce and consume CO<sub>2</sub>, respectively.  In general, microbial sulfate, iron, and nitrate reduction produce total alkalinity (TA), and the reverse reaction, the re-oxidation of the reduced species, consumes TA. Therefore, net production of TA only occurs when these reduced species are protected from re-oxidation, for example through the burial of FeS<sub>x</sub> or the escape of N<sub>2</sub>.  Seagrasses also affect benthic biogeochemistry by pumping O2 into the rhizosphere, which for example may allow for direct H2S oxidation.</p><p>Our study investigated the role of these factors and processes (seagrass density, sediment biogeochemistry, carbonate precipitation/dissolution, and ultimately air-sea CO<sub>2</sub> exchange), on CO<sub>2</sub> source-sink behavior in a shallow calcifying (carbonate content ~90%) seagrass meadow (Florida Bay, USA), dominated by Thalassia testudinum. We collected sediment cores from high and low seagrass density areas for flow through core incubations (N<sub>2</sub>, O<sub>2</sub>, DI<sup>13</sup>C, sulfide, DO<sup>13</sup>C flux), solid phase chemistry (metals, PO<sup>13</sup>C, Ca<sup>13</sup>C<sup>18</sup>O<sub>3</sub>, AVS: FeS + H<sub>2</sub>S, CRS: FeS<sub>2</sub> + S<sup>0</sup>), and porewater chemistry (major cations, DI<sup>13</sup>C, sulfide, <sup>34</sup>S<sup>18</sup>O<sub>4</sub>). An exciting aspect of this study is that it was conducted inside the footprint of an Eddy Covariance tower (air-sea CO<sub>2</sub> exchange), allowing us to directly link benthic processes with CO<sub>2</sub> sink-source dynamics.</p><p>During the course of our week long study, the seagrass meadow was a consistent source of CO<sub>2</sub> to the atmosphere (610 ± 990 µmol·m<sup>-2</sup>·hr<sup>-1</sup>).  Elevated porewater DIC near 15 cmbsf suggests rhizosphere O<sub>2</sub> induced carbonate dissolution, while consumption of DIC in the top 5-10 cm suggests reprecipitation.  With high seagrass density, enriched…
Seagrasses commonly display carbon-limited photosynthetic rates. Thus, increases in atmospheric p... more Seagrasses commonly display carbon-limited photosynthetic rates. Thus, increases in atmospheric pCO2, and consequentially oceanic CO2(aq) concentrations, may prove beneficial. While addressed in mesocosms, these hypotheses have not been tested in the field with manipulative experimentation. This study examines the effects of in situ CO2(aq) enrichment on the structural and chemical characteristics of the tropical seagrass, Thalassia testudinum. CO2(aq) availability was manipulated for 6 months in clear, open-top chambers within a shallow seagrass meadow in the Florida Keys (USA), reproducing forecasts for the year 2100. Structural characteristics (leaf area, leaf growth, shoot mass, and shoot density) were unresponsive to CO2(aq) enrichment. However, leaf nitrogen and phosphorus content declined on average by 11 and 21 %, respectively. Belowground, non-structural carbohydrates increased by 29 %. These results indicate that increased CO2(aq) availability may primarily alter the chemical composition of seagrasses, influencing both the nutrient status and resilience of these systems.
Limnology and Oceanography-methods, Mar 1, 2011
Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, Nov 1, 2006
Marine Ecology Progress Series, Jul 28, 2009
Marine and Freshwater Research, 2012
GSA Annual Meeting in Seattle, Washington, USA - 2017, 2017
Estuaries and Coasts, Dec 21, 2022
Aquatic Botany, May 1, 2012
Aquatic Microbial Ecology, Jan 12, 2015
Marine Pollution Bulletin, Jul 1, 2010
Marine Ecology Progress Series, 1991
Aquatic Botany, Oct 1, 2016
Abstract Phenotypic variability is a valuable adaptive mechanism for seagrass species that exist ... more Abstract Phenotypic variability is a valuable adaptive mechanism for seagrass species that exist in a dynamic environment and can lead to significant intraspecific regional distinctions in life history. Research is lacking in studies examining the significance of within-species phenotypic variation in relation to gradients in environmental condition at a large spatial scale. These studies are essential to better understanding the potential for acclimatization and tolerance capabilities of seagrasses in declining coastal environments. Thalassia testudinum (turtlegrass) is a ubiquitous keystone seagrass species across the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico (GoM) that populates both environmentally dynamic estuaries and stable coastal environments. In order to elucidate environmentally driven distinctions in spatially separated populations, we examined characteristics of shoots exposed to widely separated distinct coastal environments with varying degrees of environmental stability and suitability. In our comparison, three sampling locations vary considerably in ambient water temperature, salinity, and water column clarity along a gradient from oscillating, higher stress conditions to stable, more favorable conditions. Shoots tended to have larger leaves with more biomass in the stable environment and also exhibited an older shoot age structure and higher horizontal expansion rate. However, shoots in the more variable, higher stress environment exhibited greater evidence of flowering and first flowered at an earlier age. The results elucidate large spatially distinct and environmentally relevant differences in morphology, growth, and life history highlighting the need for more studies regarding phenotypic variability of seagrass populations across environmental gradients.
Estuaries and Coasts, May 11, 2023
<p>Seagrasses are often considered important player... more <p>Seagrasses are often considered important players in the global carbon cycle, due to their role in sequestering and protecting sedimentary organic matter as “Blue Carbon”.  However, in shallow calcifying systems the ultimate role of seagrass meadows as a sink or source of atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> is complicated by carbonate precipitation and dissolution processes, which produce and consume CO<sub>2</sub>, respectively.  In general, microbial sulfate, iron, and nitrate reduction produce total alkalinity (TA), and the reverse reaction, the re-oxidation of the reduced species, consumes TA. Therefore, net production of TA only occurs when these reduced species are protected from re-oxidation, for example through the burial of FeS<sub>x</sub> or the escape of N<sub>2</sub>.  Seagrasses also affect benthic biogeochemistry by pumping O2 into the rhizosphere, which for example may allow for direct H2S oxidation.</p><p>Our study investigated the role of these factors and processes (seagrass density, sediment biogeochemistry, carbonate precipitation/dissolution, and ultimately air-sea CO<sub>2</sub> exchange), on CO<sub>2</sub> source-sink behavior in a shallow calcifying (carbonate content ~90%) seagrass meadow (Florida Bay, USA), dominated by Thalassia testudinum. We collected sediment cores from high and low seagrass density areas for flow through core incubations (N<sub>2</sub>, O<sub>2</sub>, DI<sup>13</sup>C, sulfide, DO<sup>13</sup>C flux), solid phase chemistry (metals, PO<sup>13</sup>C, Ca<sup>13</sup>C<sup>18</sup>O<sub>3</sub>, AVS: FeS + H<sub>2</sub>S, CRS: FeS<sub>2</sub> + S<sup>0</sup>), and porewater chemistry (major cations, DI<sup>13</sup>C, sulfide, <sup>34</sup>S<sup>18</sup>O<sub>4</sub>). An exciting aspect of this study is that it was conducted inside the footprint of an Eddy Covariance tower (air-sea CO<sub>2</sub> exchange), allowing us to directly link benthic processes with CO<sub>2</sub> sink-source dynamics.</p><p>During the course of our week long study, the seagrass meadow was a consistent source of CO<sub>2</sub> to the atmosphere (610 ± 990 µmol·m<sup>-2</sup>·hr<sup>-1</sup>).  Elevated porewater DIC near 15 cmbsf suggests rhizosphere O<sub>2</sub> induced carbonate dissolution, while consumption of DIC in the top 5-10 cm suggests reprecipitation.  With high seagrass density, enriched…
Seagrasses commonly display carbon-limited photosynthetic rates. Thus, increases in atmospheric p... more Seagrasses commonly display carbon-limited photosynthetic rates. Thus, increases in atmospheric pCO2, and consequentially oceanic CO2(aq) concentrations, may prove beneficial. While addressed in mesocosms, these hypotheses have not been tested in the field with manipulative experimentation. This study examines the effects of in situ CO2(aq) enrichment on the structural and chemical characteristics of the tropical seagrass, Thalassia testudinum. CO2(aq) availability was manipulated for 6 months in clear, open-top chambers within a shallow seagrass meadow in the Florida Keys (USA), reproducing forecasts for the year 2100. Structural characteristics (leaf area, leaf growth, shoot mass, and shoot density) were unresponsive to CO2(aq) enrichment. However, leaf nitrogen and phosphorus content declined on average by 11 and 21 %, respectively. Belowground, non-structural carbohydrates increased by 29 %. These results indicate that increased CO2(aq) availability may primarily alter the chemical composition of seagrasses, influencing both the nutrient status and resilience of these systems.
Limnology and Oceanography-methods, Mar 1, 2011
Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, Nov 1, 2006
Marine Ecology Progress Series, Jul 28, 2009
Marine and Freshwater Research, 2012
GSA Annual Meeting in Seattle, Washington, USA - 2017, 2017
Estuaries and Coasts, Dec 21, 2022
Aquatic Botany, May 1, 2012
Aquatic Microbial Ecology, Jan 12, 2015
Marine Pollution Bulletin, Jul 1, 2010
Marine Ecology Progress Series, 1991