Biology of Australian Seagrasses: the genus Amphibolis C. Agardh (Cymodoceaceae)

Ducker, Sophie C.; Foord, NJ; Knox, R. B.

doi:10.1071/bt9770067

Cited by 71 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…provide a habitat for a greater diversity and larger biomass of eplphytic organisms than any other species of seagrass (Borowitzka & Lethbridge 1989). The large number of species epiphytic upon Arnphibolis is probably related to 2 main factors: (1) the coincidence in the distribution of this seagrass genus with one of the world's richest algal floras (Ducker et al 1977, Womersley 1981; and (2) the morphology of the host plant. The relatively uniform diameter of the perennial stems and branches contrasts with the terminal clusters of flat leaves which have a turnover period on the order of 3 to 4 mo (Walker 1985).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…are very diverse. Ducker et al (1977) recorded 116 epiphytic algae and 20 species of invertebrates epiphytic on Amphibolis, and noted that their species list was undoubtedly not comprehensive. Amphibolis is a major habitat for many of these species, but most are also found on adjacent algae or IQ Inter-Research/Printed in F. R. Germany grow epilithically; only a few algae (Dicranema revolutum (C.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ag., D. cincinnalis Kraft and Metagoniolithon stelliferum (Lamarck) Weber van Bosse), and invertebrates (Stenochiton cymodocealis and Campanularia tincta) grow exclusively, or almost exclusively, on Amphibolis. The turnover and biomass production of the epiphytic biota contributes significantly to the primary production of the Amphibolis ecosystem (Ducker et al 1977), and thus to the highly productive shallow coastal ecosystems of southern and southwestern Australia. The epiphytes are also an important food resource and habitat for many fish, the western rocklobster Panulirus cygnus and many other invertebrates (Joll & Phillips 1984, Nichols et al 1985, Klumpp e t al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Species richness, spatial distribution and colonisation pattern of algal and invertebrate epiphytes on the seagrass Amphibolis griffithii

Borowitzka¹,

Lethbridge²,

Charlton³

1990

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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The distribution of epiphytic algae and sessile invertebrates on the seagrass Amphibolis griffithji is not random. The number of epiphyte species increases with increasing seagrass height and there are approximately twice as many epiphytic algal species as Invertebrate species. Epiphytes growing on the stems have a clear apico-basal distribution, with algae such as Haliptilon roseum, Laurencja filiforrnis and Hypnea spp. most abundant on the upper 30 '10 of the seagrass stem, while the bryozoan Celleporjna sp and the hydrozoan Thyroscyphus margjnatus are most abundant near the base of the stem. Other species of algae and invertebrates have intermediate distributions. Eplphyte biomass increases with seagrass height and the bulk occurs on the uppermost 20 cm of the tallest plants. This is mainly due to 1 or 2 algal species. Recruitment of epiphytes also follows a distinct pattern related to plant size (age), with species such as the crustose coralline algae rapidly colonising the leaves and stems of new seagrass plants. Other very early colonisers are the bryozoans Pyripora potita and Electra flagellurn on the stems, and the hydrozoan Plumularia compressa and the bryozoan Thairopora mamjllaris on the leaves.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Species richness, spatial distribution and colonisation pattern of algal and invertebrate epiphytes on the seagrass Amphibolis griffithii

Borowitzka¹,

Lethbridge²,

Charlton³

1990

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…Compared with those seagrasses with strap-like leaves, such as Posidonia, little research has been directed at the genus Amphibolis. This is perplexing given that its structure (Ducker et al 1977), morphology (Marba & Walker 1999) and physiology (Paling & McComb 1994) differ considerably from the strap-like species. A. griffithii plants invest a higher proportion of their biomass in above-ground tissue, contrasting with other 'larger' seagrasses.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A. griffithii plants invest a higher proportion of their biomass in above-ground tissue, contrasting with other 'larger' seagrasses. They also have an unusual above-ground morphology: the plant is large (30 to 100 cm), with a relatively thin horizontal rhizome that branches vertically into 'stems' (Ducker et al 1977). A number of leaf clusters containing 3 to 5 leaves are situated along terminating ends of the vertical, branching, lignified stems (Marba & Walker 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of experimental reduction of light availability on the seagrass Amphibolis griffithii

Mackey¹,

Collier²,

Lavery³

2007

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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The response of the meadow-forming seagrass Amphibolis griffithii (Black) den Hartog to light reduction was examined over a 3 mo period and a subsequent 1 mo recovery period. Morphological and physiological variables were measured in meadows subjected to an average reduction in photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of 88% relative to unshaded controls. Leaf biomass, leaf cluster density and the number of leaves per cluster all declined in shaded plots, and after 3 mo were about 30, 50 and 60% of the controls, respectively. Leaf extension was one-third that of the control plots. Epiphyte biomass in shaded plots was 44% of the controls after 6 wk of shading and 18% after 3 mo of shading. Leaf chlorophyll concentration was affected by shading, but only in the upper canopy: shaded leaves had 55% more chlorophyll than control leaves. Shading reduced the carbohydrate stored in the rhizomes of shaded plants: sugars declined rapidly and continuously and, after 3 mo, were < 20% of the control values; a decline in starch concentrations lagged behind that of sugars. All variables showed a significant shift towards the values in control plots 42 d after removal of shading, indicating a capacity for recovery, though in many cases these variables remained significantly lower than those in the controls. A. griffithii and its epiphytes respond rapidly to severe, shortterm reductions in light availability, but responses at the scale of shoots and whole meadows also allow the plants to respond rapidly to improved light conditions.

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Calcareous Epiphyte Production in Cool‐Water Carbonate Seagrass Depositional Environments — Southern Australia

James

Bone

Brown

et al. 2009

Perspectives in Carbonate Geology

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The southern continental margin of Australia, the largest area of cool-water carbonate sedimentation on the globe, is characterized by extensive marine grassbeds in many inshore environments. The most important seagrasses in terms of calcareous epiphyte production are Posidonia sinuosa, P. angustifolia, P. australis, Amphibolis antarctica and A. griffi thii. The predominant control on relative abundance of calcareous epiphytes is seagrass biomass. These grasses have a biomass of 50-500 g m 2 , which peaks at 2-4 m water depth. The most abundant calcareous epiphytes are geniculate (articulated) and non-geniculate (encrusting) coralline algae that together comprise ~38-80% of the epiphyte carbonate. The only other signifi cant epiphytes are bryozoans and benthic foraminifera, which contribute roughly equal amounts (~8-33% each) of carbonate. Unlike the seagrass biomass, calcareous epiphyte abundance peaks at water depths of ~10 m. The rates of epiphyte production are roughly similar to those from epiphytes in tropical environments, averaging 210 26 g m 2 yr 1 . Posidonia is morphologically similar to tropical seagrasses (e.g. Thalassia) and produces largely carbonate mud from the disintegration of blade-encrusting corallines. Amphibolis, on the other hand, has an extensive upright, exposed shoot system that is much longer lived (biennial) and so is encrusted with prolifi c articulated corallines thus producing ~3 more carbonate in terms of g kg 1 from the stems than the blades. Average accumulation rates of epiphytic carbonate are calculated to be ~7.4 cm kyr 1 . This accounts for a major proportion of the carbonate sequestered in grass beds in this cool-water realm, and probably accounts for much of the nearshore and supratidal carbonate mud. Thus, the nearshore, grass-covered habitat is a cool-water carbonate factory surprisingly similar to the shallow-water tropical system, except that the sediment produced is poorly sorted Mg-calcite carbonate with little or no aragonite.

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Biology of Australian Seagrasses: the genus Amphibolis C. Agardh (Cymodoceaceae)

Cited by 71 publications

References 31 publications

Species richness, spatial distribution and colonisation pattern of algal and invertebrate epiphytes on the seagrass Amphibolis griffithii

Species richness, spatial distribution and colonisation pattern of algal and invertebrate epiphytes on the seagrass Amphibolis griffithii

Effects of experimental reduction of light availability on the seagrass Amphibolis griffithii

Calcareous Epiphyte Production in Cool‐Water Carbonate Seagrass Depositional Environments — Southern Australia

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