Reconstructed life history metrics of the iconic seagrass Posidonia oceanica (L.) detect localized anthropogenic disturbance signatures

McDonald, Ashley M.; McDonald, Rachel; Cebrián, Just; Lizaso, José Luis Sánchez

doi:10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.105901

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 57 publications

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“…While such an uptick could potentially benefit the long-term species resilienc by promoting genetic diversity, adaptation, and new meadow establishment (Olesen et al 2004;Procaccini et al 2007;Short et al 2007;Kendrick et al 2012), its potential drawbacks include the resource demands for sexual reproduction. This consideration gains significance in light of the anticipated declines in vegetative growth owing to warming (Stipcich et al 2022;Litsi-Mizan et al 2023) and other anthropogenic pressures (Ruiz and Romero 2003;Marbà et al 2006;McDonald et al 2023). Increasing the monitoring effort on flowering and the less-explored subsequent stages (including pollination, fruit development, and seedling establishment) through in situ methods and lepidochronology can furnish more empirical insights into the reproductive dynamics of the species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Strong marine heatwaves trigger flowering in seagrass

García‐Escudero,

Litsi‐Mizan,

Efthymiadis

et al. 2024

Limnology & Oceanography

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In recent decades, the global intensification of marine heatwaves has impacted several ecosystems and species, including the endemic Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica. However, the scarcity of research in Eastern Mediterranean meadows, where historical and present thermal conditions differ from those of the Western Mediterranean, hampers our ability to draw comprehensive conclusions regarding the species' response to elevated sea temperatures. Here, we studied flowering patterns of P. oceanica meadows (3–15 m depth) of the Greek seas and assessed their potential association with marine heatwaves, while also examining the effects on plant growth associated with the transition from vegetative to sexual reproduction. To do so, we reconstructed flowering patterns from 2007 to 2021 across 58 meadows using lepidochronology and estimated summer marine heatwave metrics and categories using satellite sea surface temperature. The results revealed that flowering, while sporadic in most meadows (mean flowering frequency: 0.15), it was triggered by strong (Category II) summer marine heatwaves and a cumulative intensity exceeding 30°C days. Nevertheless, flowering density was low (mean flowering density: 11 inflorescences m−2) and not fuelled by frequency, intensity, or duration of marine heatwaves. Despite the potential long‐term benefits of sexual reproduction, annual rhizome production of flowering shoots decreased 1.5‐fold for at least 2 yr postflowering. This study uncovers the susceptibility of Eastern Mediterranean P. oceanica meadows, akin to their western counterparts, to marine heatwaves induced stress and its effects on reproductive strategies, raising concerns about the prospective plant growth and reproductive fitness to the escalating trend in marine heatwaves.

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