Relationships between estuarine modification and leaf litter decomposition vary with latitude

Ainley, Lara B.; Bishop, Melanie J.

doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2015.07.027

Cited by 15 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…2007). In addition, degradation and remineralization of seagrass detritus is enhanced under higher temperatures and aerobic conditions (Ainley & Bishop, 2015; Trevathan‐Tackett et al., 2017b)…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although warmer temperatures enhance seagrass photosynthetic rates, when a thermal optimum is surpassed, stress responses lead to increasing respiration rates and a decrease in net primary productivity (Lee et al 2007). In addition, degradation and remineralization of seagrass detritus is enhanced under higher temperatures and aerobic conditions (Ainley and Bishop 2015;Trevathan-Tackett et al 2017b) Although large species were found to store larger soil Corg stocks than small species in the temperate-coastal and temperate-estuarine meadows examined, the BRT models revealed that species size per se did not significantly contribute to explaining the variability in soil Corg stocks when other factors are considered (Table 4). In particular, in temperate-coastal meadows and temperate-estuarine meadows, the influence of species size in soil Corg stocks was better explained by the δ 13 Corg (Table 4), which depends on the relative inputs of seagrass biomass (higher in large species than in small species) vs. allocthonous material, over which other factors, such as the exposure to hydrodynamic energy (in the case of temperate-coastal meadows), act.…”

Section: Accepted Articlementioning

confidence: 99%

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Factors Determining Seagrass Blue Carbon Across Bioregions and Geomorphologies

Mazarrasa

Lavery

Duarte

et al. 2021

Global Biogeochemical Cycles

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Seagrass meadows rank among the most significant organic carbon (Corg) sinks on earth. We examined the variability in seagrass soil Corg stocks and composition across Australia and identified the main drivers of variability, applying a spatially hierarchical approach that incorporates bioregions and geomorphic settings. Top 30 cm soil Corg stocks were similar across bioregions and geomorphic settings (min‐max: 20–26 Mg Corg ha−1), but meadows formed by large species (i.e., Amphibolis spp. and Posidonia spp.) showed higher stocks (24–29 Mg Corg ha−1) than those formed by smaller species (e.g., Halodule, Halophila, Ruppia, Zostera, Cymodocea, and Syringodium; 12–21 Mg Corg ha−1). In temperate coastal meadows dominated by large species, soil Corg stocks mainly derived from seagrass Corg (72 ± 2%), while allochthonous Corg dominated soil Corg stocks in meadows formed by small species in temperate and tropical estuarine meadows (64 ± 5%). In temperate coastal meadows, soil Corg stocks were enhanced by low hydrodynamic exposure associated with high mud and seagrass Corg contents. In temperate estuarine meadows, soil Corg stocks were enhanced by high contributions of seagrass Corg, low to moderate solar radiation, and low human pressure. In tropical estuarine meadows formed by small species, large soil Corg stocks were mainly associated with low hydrodynamic energy, low rainfall, and high solar radiation. These results showcase that bioregion and geomorphic setting are not necessarily good predictors of soil Corg stocks and that site‐specific estimates based on local environmental factors are needed for Blue Carbon projects and greenhouse gases accounting purposes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Accepted Articlementioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Determining Seagrass Blue Carbon Across Bioregions and Geomorphologies

Mazarrasa

Lavery

Duarte

et al. 2021

Global Biogeochemical Cycles

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Although PERMANOVA is used mostly to perform multivariate analysis, when ran on Euclidean distance it holds the same F ‐statistic value and the equivalent p ‐value (obtained by permutations) as ANOVA analysis (Anderson et al., 2008). Therefore, PERMANOVA can be used as a nonparametric test to perform univariate ANOVAs (e.g., Ainley & Bishop, 2015; Caspi et al., 2019; Orozco‐Aceves et al., 2015; Seena et al., 2017; Seena et al., 2019). Univariate PERMANOVAs were run on Euclidean distance, with residuals permutated under a reduced model of 9,999 permutations, followed by pairwise comparison tests when significant differences were found (Anderson et al., 2008).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Increasing inputs of invasive N‐fixing Acacia litter decrease litter decomposition and associated microbial activity in streams

Pereira

Ferreira

2021

Freshwater Biology

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Nitrogen (N)‐fixing Acacia species are often aggressive invaders outside their native range. When invading native riparian temperate forests, they can decrease tree species diversity, alter the quality of litter inputs to streams and increase water N concentration. Although the effects of riparian tree species diversity and nutrient enrichment on litter decomposition and associated microbial decomposers have been widely studied, their individual and combined effects remain poorly understood, especially in streams flowing through forests invaded by Acacia species. Here, we assessed the effects of litter diversity (species evenness) and water N concentration on the decomposition of native and Acacia litter, and the activity and community structure of associated microbial decomposers. Litter of Castanea sativa (C) and Acacia melanoxylon (A) was enclosed in fine‐mesh bags in a total of five litter evenness treatments (100%C, 75%C + 25%A, 50%C + 50%A, 25%C + 75%A and 100%A), and immersed in a stream flowing through a native forest (native stream) and a stream flowing through a forest invaded by Acacia species (invaded stream). Litter decomposition rates and microbial decomposer activity differed among litter evenness treatments, generally decreasing as the proportion of A. melanoxylon increased. When considered individually, C. sativa litter decomposition and associated microbial activity did not differ among treatments. For A. melanoxylon, decomposition rates did not differ among treatments, whereas microbial activity was generally lower in treatments with higher or even proportions of C. sativa. Litter diversity had (small) antagonistic effects on litter decomposition in streams. However, litter treatments affected by diversity (species evenness) effects differed between streams, suggesting that effects can be modulated by water N concentration. Litter decomposition rates and microbial decomposer activity were higher in the invaded than in the native stream, probably as a consequence of the higher water N concentration in the former stream. However, the magnitude of the effects was small owing to the fact that water N concentration was still in the oligothrophic range in the invaded stream. Overall, our results suggest that the increasing proportion of N‐fixing Acacia species in invaded deciduous riparian forests will affect litter decomposition rates and microbial decomposer activity, and alter aquatic hyphomycete community structure, most probably as a result of decreases in the diversity and quality of litter inputs to streams, and increases in water N concentration. However, the magnitude of the effects resulting from decreases in litter input diversity and quality (due to increases in Acacia contribution) into invaded streams will probably be larger than those resulting from increases in water N concentration, thus overall litter decomposition will decrease. These impacts will possibly alter nutrient cycles in aquatic food webs that depend on riparian detritus, with implications for stream functionin...

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“…A different (randomly selected) quarter (0.5 m 2 ) of each square plot was sampled on each date. Sampling times were chosen to encompass sedimentary and macrofaunal responses associated with the initial leaching and decay that litter experiences during decomposition [ 22 , 23 ], as well as the possible longer-term effects on macrofauna identified in previous studies (e.g. [ 21 , 26 ]).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Avicennia marina ) is refractory and slow to decay (e.g. C:N = 23–47, half-life (t 50 ) = 56–157 d; [ 22 , 23 ]), while macroalgae, on the other hand, is more labile and decays rapidly (e.g. Macrocystis integrifolia C:N = 14.3, t 50 = ~2 weeks; [ 24 ]).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Detrital Subsidies on Soft-Sediment Ecosystem Function Are Transient and Source-Dependent

et al. 2016

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Detrital subsidies from marine macrophytes are prevalent in temperate estuaries, and their role in structuring benthic macrofaunal communities is well documented, but the resulting impact on ecosystem function is not understood. We conducted a field experiment to test the effects of detrital decay on soft-sediment primary production, community metabolism and nutrient regeneration (measures of ecosystem function). Twenty four (2 m2) plots were established on an intertidal sandflat, to which we added 0 or 220 g DW m-2 of detritus from either mangroves (Avicennia marina), seagrass (Zostera muelleri), or kelp (Ecklonia radiata) (n = 6 plots per treatment). Then, after 4, 17 and 46 d we measured ecosystem function, macrofaunal community structure and sediment properties. We hypothesized that (1) detrital decay would stimulate benthic primary production either by supplying nutrients to the benthic macrophytes, or by altering the macrofaunal community; and (2) ecosystem responses would depend on the stage and rate of macrophyte decay (a function of source). Avicennia detritus decayed the slowest with a half-life (t50) of 46 d, while Zostera and Ecklonia had t50 values of 28 and 2.6 d, respectively. However, ecosystem responses were not related to these differences. Instead, we found transient effects (up to 17 d) of Avicennia and Ecklonia detritus on benthic primary production, where initially (4 d) these detrital sources suppressed primary production, but after 17 d, primary production was stimulated in Avicennia plots relative to controls. Other ecosystem function response variables and the macrofaunal community composition were not altered by the addition of detritus, but did vary with time. By sampling ecosystem function temporally, we were able to capture the in situ transient effects of detrital subsidies on important benthic ecosystem functions.

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Relationships between estuarine modification and leaf litter decomposition vary with latitude

Cited by 15 publications

References 51 publications

Factors Determining Seagrass Blue Carbon Across Bioregions and Geomorphologies

Factors Determining Seagrass Blue Carbon Across Bioregions and Geomorphologies

Increasing inputs of invasive N‐fixing Acacia litter decrease litter decomposition and associated microbial activity in streams

Effects of Detrital Subsidies on Soft-Sediment Ecosystem Function Are Transient and Source-Dependent

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