Elevated Turbidity and the Nutrient Removal Capacity of Seagrass

Abstract

Seagrass meadows provide a range of important ecosystem functions that can be influenced by anthropogenic pressures. Sediment loading from coastal land use mismanagement can elevate turbidity and reduce seabed light levels, thereby impacting seagrass primary productivity and meadow health. Less understood is the impact of elevated turbidity on the nutrient removal capacity of seagrass, which is a key ecosystem function. Here, we use in situ benthic chambers to show that elevated turbidity is associated with lower nutrient (NH 4 + ) removal within intertidal seagrass meadows. Our results suggest that reductions in sediment loading to improve water clarity may increase the nutrient removal capacity of intertidal seagrass meadows influenced by light limitation. When quantifying important ecosystem functions such as nutrient removal by seagrass it is important to consider this context dependency.

Growth and reproductive biology of white-spotted rabbitfish (Siganus canaliculatus) on different seagrass habitats in Inner Ambon Bay, Indonesia

“…Seagrass habitats with monospecific vegetation have higher turbidity and chlorophyll-a values, presumably related to their proximity to river mouths. Bulmer et al (2018) found higher inorganic nutrients and chlorophyll in seagrass habitats with high turbidity and low primary productivity, while lower nutrients were found in seagrass beds with high primary productivity and low turbidity. Furthermore, Latuconsina et al (2020 a ) found higher salinity and pH values in mixed-vegetated seagrass habitats in the waters of Inner Ambon Bay, possibly due to the absence of river influences that could cause fluctuations in pH and salinity.…”

How Turbidity Mediates the Combined Effects of Nutrient Enrichment and Herbivory on Seagrass Ecosystems

“…Previous studies found that turbidity had significant negative effect on seagrass nutrient uptake due to its high sensitivity to light reduction (Bulmer et al, 2018). Meanwhile, the contribution of algae loads to light reduction on seagrass was also found to be critical in turbid waters (Ow et al, 2020).…”

“…Our study suggested nutrient enrichment promoted the proliferation of macroalgae to possess a competitive advantage against seagrass in a more turbid system. Previous studies also highlighted the negative effect of turbidity on seagrass nutrient uptake due to its high sensitivity to light reduction (Bulmer et al, 2018).…”

“…A shortterm increase in turbidity would lead to long-term effects on the survival of seagrass (Li et al, 2021). Elevated turbidity is associated with a lower nutrient removal capacity of seagrass by reducing the intensity of light and photosynthesis (Bulmer et al, 2018). High turbidity is also related to high suspended sediment concentration which may carry extra nutrients available for algae growth in source-limited systems, and potentially enhance interspecific competition between primary producers (Schallenberg and Burns, 2004;Vieira et al, 2020).…”

DISTRIBUSI SPASIAL IKAN BARONANG Siganus canaliculatus Park, 1797 PADA HABITAT PADANG LAMUN BERBEDA DI TELUK AMBON DALAM

“…Kekeruhan menurut Burhanuddin (2019), juga dapat disebabkan adanya partikel koloid dan suspensi polutan berupa bahan organik dan anorganik dari buangan industri, rumah tangga, dan budidaya perikanan, yang dapat mengurangi transparansi perairan laut, sehingga memengaruhi jumlah cahaya yang tersedia untuk fotosintesis fitoplankton dan alga bentik. Bulmer et al (2018) menemukan kandungan nutrien anorganik dan klorofil yang lebih tinggi pada habitat lamun dengan kekeruhan yang tinggi dan rendahnya produktivitas primer, sebaliknya penghilangan nutrien yang tinggi terjadi di padang lamun dengan kekeruhan rendah dengan produktivitas primer tinggi.…”