Author Type

Graduate Student

Date of Award

2007

Document Type

Thesis

Publication Status

Version of Record

Submission Date

October 2026

Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]

Koch, Marguerite

Abstract

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) senescent leaf retention, as a measure of resorption, and the subsequent decay of senescent leaves, roots and rhizomes were examined for the dominant tropical seagrass species, Thalassia testudinum, across a nutrient gradient in Florida Bay. Leaf nutrient loss while still attached to the short shoot, from both resorption and decay, was highest at the nutrient-rich (88% P; 51% N) compared to nutrient-poor site ( 49% P; 25% N). High nutrient loss rates by attached leaves (0.37-2.5 mg P and 6.5-34 mg N m^-2 d^-1) represented significant recycling (46-87% P and 17-48% N) oftotal estimated external nutrient loads to the bay. In contrast, senescent leaf, rhizome and root nutrient loss rates were > 1 00-fold lower than intact leaves. In tropical /subtropical estuaries dominated by T testudinum, seagrasses may be acting as nutrient pumps, translocating high porewater nutrients to the overlying waters and promoting phytoplankton blooms in the bay.

Extent

52 p.

Comments

Charles E. Schmidt College of Science|Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2007.|Charles E. Schmidt College of Science

Identifier

FA00000822

Format

pdf

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