Impacts of Varying Estuarine Temperature and Light Conditions on Zostera marina (Eelgrass) and its Interactions With Ruppia maritima (Widgeongrass)

Moore, Kenneth A.; Shields, Erin C.; Parrish, David B.

doi:10.1007/s12237-013-9667-3

Cited by 98 publications

(87 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…Acute warming from summertime heat waves has triggered shoot mortality and population declines. For example, in the Goodwin Islands and York River Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Virginia (Figure 1(c)), recent eelgrass diebacks were attributed to a greater frequency and duration of water temperatures above 30°C in 2005 Moore, Shields, and Parrish 2014). These authors noted a tipping point at 23°C; changing eelgrass cover from 2004 to 2011 was linked with temperatures below and above 23°C, respectively.…”

Section: A Warming Estuarymentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Overall, it is clear that temperatures above 25°C or, more generally, increases of 1-5°C above normal summertime temperatures, can trigger large-scale die-off of eelgrass in the Chesapeake Bay (Jarvis, Moore, and Kenworthy 2012;Moore et al 2012Moore et al , 2014Jarvis, Brush, and Moore 2014). These authors predicted that short-term exposures to summer temperatures 4-5°C above normal will cause regional die-offs and local extinctions of eelgrass (Moore, Shields, and Parrish 2014). They also forecasted that longer-term temperature increases of 1-4°C will significantly reduce or eliminate Zostera marina from the Chesapeake Bay .…”

Section: A Warming Estuarymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Unlike eelgrass, Ruppia tolerates a wide range of water temperatures ranging from 7°C to 40°C. Ideal growth conditions range from 20°C to 25°C or even 18°C to 30°C (see Pulich 1985;Lazar and Dawes 1991;Moore, Shields, and Parrish 2014). Anderson (1969) sampled SAV from an industrial thermal plume on the Patuxent River (Maryland, USA; Figure 1(d)) and found that the lethal temperature was 45°C.…”

Section: A Warming Estuarymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Twenty-first century climate change and submerged aquatic vegetation in a temperate estuary: the case of Chesapeake Bay

Arnold

Zimmerman

Engelhardt

et al. 2017

Ecosyst Health Sustain

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Introduction: The Chesapeake Bay was once renowned for expansive meadows of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV). However, only 10% of the original meadows survive. Future restoration efforts will be complicated by accelerating climate change, including physiological stressors such as a predicted mean temperature increase of 2-6°C and a 50-160% increase in CO 2 concentrations. Outcomes: As the Chesapeake Bay begins to exhibit characteristics of a subtropical estuary, summer heat waves will become more frequent and severe. Warming alone would eventually eliminate eelgrass (Zostera marina) from the region. It will favor native heat-tolerant species such as widgeon grass (Ruppia maritima) while facilitating colonization by non-native seagrasses (e.g., Halodule spp.). Intensifying human activity will also fuel coastal zone acidification and the resulting high CO 2 /low pH conditions may benefit SAV via a "CO 2 fertilization effect." Discussion: Acidification is known to offset the effects of thermal stress and may have similar effects in estuaries, assuming water clarity is sufficient to support CO 2 -stimulated photosynthesis and plants are not overgrown by epiphytes. However, coastal zone acidification is variable, driven mostly by local biological processes that may or may not always counterbalance the effects of regional warming. This precarious equipoise between two forcesthermal stress and acidification -will be critically important because it may ultimately determine the fate of cool-water plants such as Zostera marina in the Chesapeake Bay. Conclusion: The combined impacts of warming, coastal zone acidification, water clarity, and overgrowth of competing algae will determine the fate of SAV communities in rapidly changing temperate estuaries.

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Section: A Warming Estuarymentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: A Warming Estuarymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: A Warming Estuarymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Twenty-first century climate change and submerged aquatic vegetation in a temperate estuary: the case of Chesapeake Bay

Arnold

Zimmerman

Engelhardt

et al. 2017

Ecosyst Health Sustain

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“…During the last century, many coastal regions have experienced large decreases in seagrass cover (Waycott et al 2009). In addition, there have been several reports of changes in seagrass species composition throughout the United States (Quammen & Onuf 1993, Provancha & Scheidt 2000, Johnson et al 2003, Cho et al 2009, Lopez-Calderon et al 2010, Moore et al 2013. While the effects of loss of seagrass cover are well described, there is less information on the functional implications of changes in the dominant seagrass species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional implications of changes in seagrass species composition in two shallow coastal lagoons

Christiaen¹,

Lehrter²,

Goff³

et al. 2016

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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While the consequences of losing seagrass meadows are well known, there is less information on the functional implications of changes in seagrass species composition. In this study, we use data from a long-term monitoring project in shallow lagoons on the Florida Gulf Coast to assess changes in the functional attributes of seagrass beds during a shift in seagrass species composition. We compare seagrass beds in 2 neighboring lagoons with different trends: one where the composition changed from 100% Halodule wrightii to a mixed bed with up to 60% Ruppia maritima, and one where the species composition remained unchanged. Our results indicate that the partial replacement of H. wrightii by R. maritima did not alter seagrass biomass m , benthic gross primary production, or benthic respiration. However, there was a small positive effect on benthic net primary production. While seagrass biomass m −2 declined at both sites, the emergence of R. maritima increased the amount of available habitat through rapid expansion. Overall, our data suggest that shifts between 2 seagrass species with similar morphology, but different ecological strategies, may have little impact on the ecosystem services of seagrass beds in shallow coastal lagoons.

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“…R. maritima is also capable of inhabiting more organic enriched sediments with higher sulfide levels than Z. marina that prefers more sandy and less reduced substrata (Petersen et al, 2009;Valdemarsen et al, 2014). R. maritima therefore rapidly takes over when Z. marina disappears due to unfavorable environmental conditions, such as high sulfide levels in the sediment (Johnson et al, 2003;Moore et al, 2014;Orth and Moore, 1988;Petersen et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sensitivity of Ruppia maritima and Zostera marina to sulfide exposure around roots

Pedersen

Kristensen

2015

Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology

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Impacts of Varying Estuarine Temperature and Light Conditions on Zostera marina (Eelgrass) and its Interactions With Ruppia maritima (Widgeongrass)

Cited by 98 publications

References 45 publications

Twenty-first century climate change and submerged aquatic vegetation in a temperate estuary: the case of Chesapeake Bay

Twenty-first century climate change and submerged aquatic vegetation in a temperate estuary: the case of Chesapeake Bay

Functional implications of changes in seagrass species composition in two shallow coastal lagoons

Sensitivity of Ruppia maritima and Zostera marina to sulfide exposure around roots

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