Evidence for the influence of seagrasses on the benthic nitrogen cycle in a coastal plain estuary near Beaufort, North Carolina (USA) (original) (raw)
Abstract
A study was undertaken to evaluate the interrelationship between the presence of seagrasses, Zostera marina and Halodule wrightii, and the physical and chemical properties of sediments in a coastal plain estuary near Beaufort, North Carolina. In sediments underlying a cover of seagrass, silt-clay, organic matter, exchangeable ammonium, ammonium dissolved in pore waters and total nitrogen were larger than in unvegetated profiles. The magnitude of the physical and chemical properties of sediments varied according to the location of the station in relation to the vegetation, as well as the continuity in the distribution of the seagrass. The largest pools of nitrogen, the finest sediment texture, and the greatest organic matter content were in sediments associated with the mid bed regions of seagrass meadows, intermediate at the edges of the bed and small isolated patches of grass, and least in unvegetated substrate.
General conclusions from this study are: 1) once established, seagrasses appear capable of modifying the sediment texture as well as the organic matter and nitrogen content; 2) nitrogen accumulates beneath the vegetation suggesting that vegetated sediments are sinks; however, functional recycling mechanisms seem to be operating as suggested by the larger magnitude of remineralized nitrogen in the vegetated profiles; and 3) the establishment of seagrasses in this geographical region are not necessarily restricted by the sediment properties measured in this study. These data and conclusions are discussed in regard to an application of contemporary theories of ecosystem development to seagrass systems.
Access this article
Subscribe and save
- Starting from 10 chapters or articles per month
- Access and download chapters and articles from more than 300k books and 2,500 journals
- Cancel anytime View plans
Buy Now
Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.
Instant access to the full article PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
- American Society for Testing and Materials (1963). Standard method for particle size analysis of soils. A.S.T.M. designation D422-63 Philadelphia, Pa
- Burrel DC, Schubel JR (1977) Seagrass ecosystem oceanography. In: C. P. McRoy and C. Helfferich (eds.), Seagrass ecosystems: A scientific perspective. Marcel Dekker, New York p 195–232
Google Scholar - Dale NC (1974) Bacteria in intertidal sediments: factors related to their distribution. Limnol and Oceanogr 19: 509–518
Google Scholar - denHartog C (1970). The seagrasses of the world. North Holland, Amsterdam, 275 p
Google Scholar - den Hartog C (1971) The dynamic aspect in the ecology of seagrass communities. Thalassia Jugoslavica 7: 101–112
Google Scholar - Drifmeyer J (1980) Trace Elements in Estuarine Plant Detritus. Ph.D. Dissertation, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va. 177 p
Google Scholar - Fonseca MS (1981). The interaction of a seagrass, Zostera marina L. with current flow. MSc. Thesis, Univ. of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va. 35 p
Google Scholar - Fonseca MS, Fisher JS, Zieman JC, Thayer GW (In press) Influence of the seagrass, Zostera marina L., on current flow. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf science
- Ginsburg RN, Lowenstam HA (1958) The influence of marine bottom communities on the depositional environment of sediments. Jour Geol 66: 310–318
Google Scholar - Greweling, T, Peech M (1965) Chemical Soil Tests. Cornell Univ. Agr. Exp. Station, N.Y.S. College of Agriculture, Bulletin No. 960. Ithaca, NY 59 p
Google Scholar - Hargrave BT (1972) Aerobic decomposition of sediment anddetritus as a function of particle surface area and organic content. Limnol Oceanogr 17: 583–596
Google Scholar - Hesslein RH (1976) An in-situ sampler for close interval pore water studies. Limnol Oceanogr 21: 912–914
Google Scholar - Iizumi H, Hattori A, McRoy CP (1980) Nitrate and nitrite in interstitial waters of eelgrass beds, in relation to the rhizosphere. J Exp Mar Biol Ecol 47: 191–201
Google Scholar - Kenworthy WJ (1981) The interrelationship between seagrass Zostera marina and Halodule wrightii, and the physical and chemical properties of sediments in a mid Atlantic coastal plain estuary near Beaufort, North Carolina. MSc. Thesis, Univ of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va. 114 p
Google Scholar - Koroleff F (1976) Determination of nutrients. In: K. Grasshoff (ed.), Methods of seawater analysis. Verlag Chemie, Weinheim. p 127–128
Google Scholar - Marshall N (1972) Interstitial communities and sediments of shoal benthic environments. The Geological Society of America, Memoir #133. p 409–415
- Marshall N, Lukas K (1969) Preliminary observations on the properties of bottom sediments with and without Eelgrass, Zostera marina, cover. Proc Natl Shellfisheries Assoc 60: 107–112
Google Scholar - McRoy CP, Barsdate RJ (1970) Phosphate absorption in eelgrass. Limnol Oceanogr 15: 6–13
Google Scholar - McRoy CP, Goering JJ (1974) Nutrient transfer between the seagrass Zostera marina and its epiphytes. Nature 248:173–174
Google Scholar - McRoy CP, Helfferich C (1977) Seagrass ecosystems: a scientific perspective. Mareel Dekker, Inc., New York, 314 p
Google Scholar - Moliner R, Picard J (1952) Recherches sur les herbiers des phenerogames marines du littoral mediterraneen francaise. Ann Inst Oceanogr 27:157–235
Google Scholar - Muller PJ (1977) C/N ratios in Pacific deep-sea sediments: effect of inorganic ammonium and organic nitrogen compounds sorbed by clays. Geochim et Cosmochim Acta 14:765–776
Google Scholar - Odum EP (1969) The strategy of ecosystem development. Science 164: 262–270
Google Scholar - Orth RJ (1976) The demise and recovery of eelgrass, Zostera marina, in Chesapeake Bay, Virginia. Aquatic Botany 2: 141–159
Google Scholar - Orth RJ (1977) The importance of sediment stability in seagrass communities. In B. C. Coull (ed), Ecology of marine benthos. Univ. of South Carolina Press, Columbia, p 281–300
Google Scholar - Ostenfield CH (1908) On the ecology and distribution of grass wrack (Zostera marina) in Danish Waters. Rep Danish Biol Sta No 16, 62 p
- Patrick WH, Mahapatra IC (1968) Transformation and availability to rice of nitrogen and phosphorous. Advance in Agromony 20: 323–359
Google Scholar - Patriquin DG (1975) “Migration” of blowouts in seagrass beds at Barbados and Carriacou, West Indes, and its ecological and geological implications. Aquatic Botany, 1:163–190
Google Scholar - Phillips RC, McRoy CP (1980) Handbook of seagrass biology: an ecosystem perspective. Garland STPM Press New York, 353 p
Google Scholar - Rosenfield JK (1979) Amino acid diagenesis and adsorption in nearshore anoxic sediments. Linmol Oceanogr 24: 1014–1021
Google Scholar - Setchell WA (1929) Morphological and phenological notes on Zostera marina L. Univ of Calif Publ Bot 14:389–452
Google Scholar - Short FT (1981) Nitrogen Resource Analysis and Modelling of an Eelgrass (Zostera marina 1.) meadow in Izembek Lagoon, Alaska. Ph. D. Dissertation, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, Alaska, 172 p
Google Scholar - Smith GW, Hyasaka SS, Thayer GW (1979) Root suface area measurements of Zostera marina and Halodule wrightii. Botanica Marina 22: 347–358
Google Scholar - Stoner AW (1980) Perception and choice of substratum by epifaunal amphipods associated with seagrasses. Mar Ecol-Prog Ser 3:105–111
Google Scholar - Thayer GW, Adams SM, LaCroix MW (1975) Structural and functional aspects of a recently established Zostera marina community. In L. E. Cronin (ed), Estuarine Research. Academic Press, New York, p 518–540
Google Scholar - Trussel RP (1972) The percent un-ionized ammonia in aqueous ammonia solutions at different pH levels and temperatures. J Fish Res Bd Canada 29:1505–1507
Google Scholar - Wetzel RG, Penhale PA (1979) Transport of carbon and excretion of carbon by leaves and roots/rhizomes in seagrasses and their epiphytes. Aquatic Botany 6:149–158
Google Scholar - Wood EJF, Odum WE, Zieman JC (1969) Influence of seagrasses on the productivity of coastal laggons. In A.A. Castanares and F.B. Phleger (eds), Coastal Lagoons. Universidad National Autonoma de Mexico, Ciudad Universitaria, p 495–502
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
- Beaufort Laboratory, Southeast Fisheries Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, 28516, Beaufort, N.C.
W. Judson Kenworthy & Gordon W. Thayer - Department of Environmental Sciences, Univ. of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Joseph C. Zieman
Authors
- W. Judson Kenworthy
- Joseph C. Zieman
- Gordon W. Thayer
Additional information
Contribution Number 82-22-B
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kenworthy, W.J., Zieman, J.C. & Thayer, G.W. Evidence for the influence of seagrasses on the benthic nitrogen cycle in a coastal plain estuary near Beaufort, North Carolina (USA).Oecologia 54, 152–158 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00378387
- Received: 01 March 1982
- Issue date: August 1982
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00378387