Structural complexity of tropical seagrasses meadows in a temperate lagoon in the Gulf of Mexico. A landscape ecology approach

Arellano-Méndez, Leonardo Uriel; Mora‐Olivo, Arturo; Zamora‐Tovar, Carlos; Rosa‐Manzano, Edilia de la; Torres-Castillo, Jorge Ariel; Bello‐Pineda, Javier

doi:10.1007/s11852-019-00701-2

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 14 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…They were situated within the band of seagrasses previously mapped. Similarly, larger seagrass meadows have also been recently reported for the central portion of Laguna Madre ( Arellano-Méndez et al, 2019 ); however, there are no data on the distribution of seagrasses at different depth strata in the study area.…”

Section: Methodssupporting

confidence: 61%

“…The bottom of the lagoon is characterized by the presence of submerged aquatic vegetation in shallow areas along the coast dominated by submerged seagrasses ( Arellano-Méndez et al, 2019 ), which, due to their subtidal nature, are permanently available for aquatic fauna. The last available mapping of seagrasses in Laguna Madre was performed in the 90s using satellite imagery, which displayed seagrass beds distributed at the north-central portion of the lagoon, mostly along the back of the barrier islands ( DUMAC, 1996 ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Density-dependent condition of juvenile penaeid shrimps in seagrass-dominated aquatic vegetation beds located at different distance from a tidal inlet

Blanco-Martínez

Pérez‐Castañeda

Sánchez‐Martínez

et al. 2020

PeerJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Seagrasses are critical habitats for the recruitment and growth of juvenile penaeid shrimps within estuaries and coastal lagoons. The location of a seagrass bed within the lagoon can determine the value of a particular bed for shrimp populations. Consequently, differences in the abundance of shrimp can be found in seagrasses depending on their location. As shrimp density increases, density-dependent effects on biological parameters are more likely to occur. However, knowledge about density-dependent processes on shrimp populations in nursery habitats remains limited. The present investigation was undertaken to examine the effects of population density on shrimp condition in two selected seagrass beds, located at different distance from a tidal inlet, one 25 km away (distant) and the other 1 km away (nearby), in a subtropical coastal lagoon. The study was based on monthly samplings during one year in Laguna Madre (Mexico), performing a total of 36 shrimp trawls (100 m2 each one) within each seagrass bed (n = 3 trawls per bed per month for 12 months). Shrimp density was related to the proximity to the tidal inlet (higher density was consistently observed in the nearby seagrass bed), which in turn adversely affected the condition of both species studied (Penaeus aztecus and P. duorarum). In this regard, the present study provides the first evidence of density-dependent effects on shrimp condition inhabiting a nursery habitat. Both shrimp species exhibited a negative relationship between condition and shrimp density. However, this pattern differed depending on the proximity to the tidal inlet, suggesting that shrimp populations inhabiting the nearby seagrass bed are exposed to density-dependent effects on condition; whereas, such effects were not detected in the distant seagrass bed. Shrimp density within the distant seagrass bed was probably below carrying capacity, which is suggested by the better shrimp condition observed in that area of the lagoon. Intra and interspecific competition for food items is surmised to occur, predominantly within seagrass beds near the tidal inlet. However, this hypothesis needs to be tested in future studies.

show abstract

Section: Methodssupporting

confidence: 61%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Density-dependent condition of juvenile penaeid shrimps in seagrass-dominated aquatic vegetation beds located at different distance from a tidal inlet

Blanco-Martínez

Pérez‐Castañeda

Sánchez‐Martínez

et al. 2020

PeerJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Robust measures for assessing spatial change in seagrass meadows include quantifying changes in seascape metrics (the marine equivalent to terrestrial landscapes metrics, Table S1). For example, studies that used seascape metrics have identified mechanisms of losses from time series analysis of patch configuration (Kaufman & Bell, 2022), linked seagrass seascape configuration and complexity to conservation and environmental changes (Arellano‐Méndez et al., 2019), and linked facilitation processes, habitat connectivity and aggregation of seagrass patches (Cuevas et al., 2021). Analyzing seascape metrics could therefore increase sensitivity to detect impacts from extreme events, enable fine‐scale detection of changes associated with environmental stressors, and provide better ecological understanding of seagrass dynamics.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The vulnerability and resilience of seagrass ecosystems to marine heatwaves in New Zealand: a remote sensing analysis of seascape metrics usingPlanetScopeimagery

Clemente

Thomsen

Zimmerman

2023

Remote Sens Ecol Conserv

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Seagrasses are foundation species that provide ecosystem functions and services, including increased biodiversity, sediment retention, carbon sequestration, and fish nursery habitat. However, anthropogenic stressors that reduce water quality, impose large‐scale climate changes, and amplify weather patterns, such as marine heatwaves, are altering seagrass meadow configurations. Quantifying large‐scale trends in seagrass distributions will help evaluate the impacts of climate drivers on their functions and services. Here, we quantified spatiotemporal dynamics in abundances and configurations of intertidal and shallow subtidal seagrass (Zostera muelleri) meadows in 20 New Zealand (NZ) estuaries that span a 5‐year period (mid/late 2016–early 2022) just before, during and after the Tasman Sea 2017/18 marine heatwave, the warmest summer ever recorded in NZ. We used high‐resolution PlanetScope satellite imagery to map interseasonal seagrass extent and quantify seascape metrics across 20 estuaries along a latitudinal gradient spanning 12° in NZ. We also explored the association of changes in seagrass metrics with satellite‐derived predictors such as sea surface temperature (SST), SST anomaly (SSTa), water column turbidity, and nutrient concentration. Our analyses revealed that NZ seagrass meadows varied in areal extent between years and seasons, but with no clear patterns over the 5‐year period, implying resilience to large‐scale stressors like the 2017/18 marine heatwave. Small‐scale patterns were also dynamic, for example, patch sizes and patch configurations differed across estuaries, seasons, and years. Furthermore, seagrass patches expanded in some estuaries with increasing SST and SSTa. These results highlight dynamic seagrass patterns that likely affect local processes such as biodiversity and carbon sequestration. Our analyses demonstrate that a combination of high‐resolution satellite remote sensing and seascape metrics is an efficient and novel approach to detect impacts from anthropogenic stressors, like eutrophication and climate changes, and climate extremes like cyclones and heatwaves.

show abstract

Spatial configuration of seagrass community attributes in a stressed coastal lagoon, southeastern Gulf of Mexico

Cuevas

Uribe-Martínez

Morales-Ojeda

et al. 2021

Regional Studies in Marine Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Structural complexity of tropical seagrasses meadows in a temperate lagoon in the Gulf of Mexico. A landscape ecology approach

Cited by 4 publications

References 14 publications

Density-dependent condition of juvenile penaeid shrimps in seagrass-dominated aquatic vegetation beds located at different distance from a tidal inlet

Density-dependent condition of juvenile penaeid shrimps in seagrass-dominated aquatic vegetation beds located at different distance from a tidal inlet

The vulnerability and resilience of seagrass ecosystems to marine heatwaves in New Zealand: a remote sensing analysis of seascape metrics usingPlanetScopeimagery

Spatial configuration of seagrass community attributes in a stressed coastal lagoon, southeastern Gulf of Mexico

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About