Nutrient limitation of the macroalgaEnteromorpha intestinalis collected along a resource gradient in a highly eutrophic estuary

Kamer, Krista; Fong, Peggy; Kennison, Rachel L.; Schiff, Kenneth

doi:10.1007/bf02803377

Cited by 18 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…Additional nitrogen loading, among other factors, could potentially increase macroalgal biomass to higher levels than observed or manipulated in this study. Research from the Pacific Northwest and around the world show that nitrogen addition rates rarely saturate ulvoid growth (Kamer et al 2004;Nelson et al 2008;Teichberg et al 2010). While our results indicate that eelgrass may not be negatively affected by increases in macroalgae biomass in the marine-dominated regions of the estuary, increased production in the riverine reaches of the estuary has potentially negative consequences.…”

Section: Management Implicationscontrasting

confidence: 47%

“…The specific factors limiting macroalgal growth in the riverine reaches of this estuary are not known. However, based on trends from eutrophic estuaries (Kamer et al 2004) and the currently low phosphate concentrations in this region of the estuary (Table 1; similar to other upwelling-influenced Oregon estuaries; Brown et al 2007), macroalgal production may currently be constrained by low watershed nutrient loading in this region of the estuary (O'Higgins and Rumrill 2007;Fry et al 2003).While our research documents the current state of macroalgaleelgrass interactions of one upwelling estuary, the high degree of context dependency found both within this estuary and in comparison to other eutrophic estuaries suggests the need for continued monitoring and research on the mechanisms underlying these important ecological interactions in a wider variety of estuarine systems.…”

Section: Management Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Context-Dependent Eelgrass–Macroalgae Interactions Along an Estuarine Gradient in the Pacific Northwest, USA

Hessing‐Lewis

Hacker

Menge

et al. 2011

Estuaries and Coasts

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Land-based eutrophication is often associated with blooms of green macroalgae, resulting in negative impacts on seagrasses. The generality of this interaction has not been studied in upwelling-influenced estuaries where oceanic nutrients dominate seasonally. We conducted an observational and experimental study with Zostera marina L. and ulvoid macroalgae across an estuarine gradient in Coos Bay, Oregon. We found a gradient in mean summer macroalgal biomass from 56.1 gdw 0.25 m −2 at the marine site to 0.3 gdw 0.25 m −2 at the riverine site. Despite large macroalgal blooms at the marine site, eelgrass biomass exhibited no seasonal or interannual declines. Through experimental manipulations, we found that pulsed additions of macroalgae biomass (+4,000 mL) did not affect eelgrass in marine areas, but it had negative effects in riverine areas. In upwelling-influenced estuaries, the negative effects of macroalgal blooms are context dependent, affecting the management of seagrass habitats subject to nutrient inputs from both land and sea.

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Section: Management Implicationscontrasting

confidence: 47%

Section: Management Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Context-Dependent Eelgrass–Macroalgae Interactions Along an Estuarine Gradient in the Pacific Northwest, USA

Hessing‐Lewis

Hacker

Menge

et al. 2011

Estuaries and Coasts

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“…Most macroalgae take up nitrate and ammonium simultaneously, but exceptions include macroalgae that can cause nuisance blooms. There is at least one example (Upper Newport Bay estuary) of an U. intestinalis bloom that is caused by high nitrate and ammonium concentrations (Kamer et al, 2004). Data presented here would suggest that nitrate in this instance is less likely to be important to the nitrogen economy of U. intestinalis than the high concentrations present in the surrounding water would suggest because they are accompanied by high concentrations of ammonium and only the constitutive transporter would be involved in nitrate uptake.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 78%

“…Macroalgal blooms in estuaries and shallow coastal waters often occur in response to increased nutrient loading (Duarte, 1995;Valiela et al, 1997;Morand & Merceron, 2005). Nutrient enrichment may be caused by increased concentrations or loading of nitrate (Cole et al, 2006), ammonium (Barr & Rees, 2003) or both (Kamer et al 2004). However, if ammonium decreases nitrate utilization (by inhibition and down-regulation of nitrate uptake) in macroalgae, the consequences of increased concentrations of nitrate on macroalgal growth may be less important if it is accompanied by sufficiently high concentrations of ammonium.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Kinetics of nitrate uptake by New Zealand marine macroalgae and evidence for two nitrate transporters in Ulva intestinalis L.

et al. 2007

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Kinetic constants were determined for nitrate uptake in three species, Pterocladiella capillacea (S.G. Gmelin) Santelices et Hommersand (Rhodophyceae, Gelidiales), Ulva intestinalis L. (Chlorophyceae, Ulvales) and Xiphophora chondrophylla (Turner) Montagne ex Harvey (Phaeophyceae, Fucales), of New Zealand macroalgae, with K m values ranging from 10 to 17 lM and V max values from 3 to 65 lmole g -1 dry weight h -1 . There was no effect of ammonium on nitrate uptake by Pterocladiella capillacea or Xiphophora chondrophylla. Ammonium inhibited nitrate uptake by 40% in Ulva intestinalis from a site with relatively low seawater ammonium concentrations. In contrast, U. intestinalis from an ammonium-enriched site had lower rates of nitrate uptake that were insensitive to inhibition by ammonium. It is suggested that there are (at least) two transport systems for nitrate in U. intestinalis; a constitutive transporter, which is insensitive to ammonium, and a transporter that is sensitive to ammonium inhibition and downregulation by ammonium; the implications of this for our understanding of macroalgal blooms is discussed.

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“…Biochemical composition of nutrient replete algae and cyanobacteria suggests that the critical N:P ratio that marks the transition between N-and P-limitation is likely to lie in the range between 15 and 30 (Geider and La Roche, 2002). Kamer et al (2004) showed experimentally that Enteromorpha intestinalis (a ubiquitous nuisance species) from a southern Californian estuary with N:P tissue ratios of 526 was N limited, but they also raised the question that N:P ratios indicative of nutrient limitation may vary over regional and local scales and may be site-or speciesspecific. However, the general theory of nutrient limitation of algal growth has been demonstrated or inferred in many estuarine and marine ecosystems (Hecky and Kilham, 1988;Howarth, 1988;Vitousek and Howarth, 1991).…”

Section: Nutrient Speciation and Ratiosmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estuarine eutrophication in the UK: current incidence and future trends

Maier

Nimmo-Smith

Glegg

et al. 2008

Aquatic Conservation

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ABSTRACT1. Increased inputs of nutrients to estuaries can lead to undesirable effects associated with eutrophication, including algal blooms, changes in species composition and bottom anoxia. Several estuaries and coastal areas around the UK have increased nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations, elevated concentrations of chlorophyll a and changes in algal community composition and abundance. This paper reviews the pressures that lead to high nutrient concentrations in estuaries and considers the likely effectiveness of current and proposed regulatory actions.2. The main sources of nutrients to estuaries are river runoff, sewage discharges, atmospheric inputs and possibly submarine groundwater discharges, although little is known about the latter. Significant reductions in N and P inputs have been realized following application of the EU's Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. Atmospheric NO x and NH x emissions have also decreased and are expected to decrease further in the next decade as implementation of existing legislation continues, and new controls are introduced for activities such as shipping.3. Agricultural inputs reach estuaries principally through diffuse sources, either in surface water (and in some areas possibly groundwater) or, for N, via the atmosphere. Over 10 years ago the Nitrates Directive was introduced to tackle the problem of N discharges from agriculture but little change in N loads to estuaries has been recorded.4. To meet the aims of the EU Water Framework Directive, for at least 'good' ecological status, more rigorous application and implementation of the Nitrates Directive, together with changes in the Common Agriculture Policy and farming practice are likely to be needed. Even then, the slow response of the natural environment to change and the inherent variability of estuaries means that their responses may not be as predicted. Research is needed into the relationship between policy drivers and environmental responses to ensure actions taken will achieve the planned results.

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Nutrient limitation of the macroalgaEnteromorpha intestinalis collected along a resource gradient in a highly eutrophic estuary

Cited by 18 publications

References 49 publications

Context-Dependent Eelgrass–Macroalgae Interactions Along an Estuarine Gradient in the Pacific Northwest, USA

Context-Dependent Eelgrass–Macroalgae Interactions Along an Estuarine Gradient in the Pacific Northwest, USA

Kinetics of nitrate uptake by New Zealand marine macroalgae and evidence for two nitrate transporters in Ulva intestinalis L.

Estuarine eutrophication in the UK: current incidence and future trends

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