Posidonia oceanica litter along the Mediterranean Coast of Egypt: Status and a preliminary assessment of nutrients and trace elements contents

2021 ◽  
pp. 107342
Author(s):  
Soha Hamdy Shabaka ◽  
Nabiha Abd Elhameed Youssef ◽  
Mona Khamis Khalil ◽  
Amany El-Sikaily
Keyword(s):  
Trace Elements ◽  
Posidonia Oceanica ◽  
Mediterranean Coast ◽  
Preliminary Assessment ◽  
The Mediterranean

scholarly journals Seagrass meadows of the Moroccan Mediterranean coast: state of research and knowledge

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hocein Bazairi
Keyword(s):  
Zostera Marina ◽  
Posidonia Oceanica ◽  
Mediterranean Coast ◽  
Field Surveys ◽  
Seagrass Meadows ◽  
Halophila Stipulacea ◽  
Depth Study ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
State Of Research ◽  
Large Distribution

Seagrass meadows are highly productive and key ecosystems that undergo widespread loss due to ‘climate-related’ and human-mediated stressors as well as natural causes. Therefore, basic information about the distribution, abundance, and characteristics of seagrass meadows and their environment is critical for managers to assess and monitor the resource. Such knowledge is lacking for Morocco and there is a clear need to acquire baseline data for monitoring and protecting these important habitats. The present review summarizes the state of the research and the knowledge on seagrass meadows of the Mediterranean coast of Morocco. Data were assessed using a compilation of historical data compared to recent confirmed observation and field surveys conducted within the framework of several projects (MedMPAnet, Medkeyhabitats, etc.). Of the five species of strictly marine Magnoliophyta found in the Mediterranean Sea, four are also currently identified along the Mediterranean coast of Morocco (Posidonia oceanica, Cymodocea nodosa, Zostera marina and Zostera noltii); the Lessepsian immigrant Halophila stipulacea has not been recorded yet. Apart from C. nodosa, that showed large distribution, the other species remain spatially localized and their distribution has been declining since they have disappeared from many localities. This is the case of Zostera marina that has probably disappeared from many localities (e.g. Cap des Trois Fourches, Marchica lagoon). However, some previous citations, such as the presence of Posidonia oceanica in the Marchica lagoon, seem to be a systematic confusion. Moreover, quantitative data on the characteristics of seagrass meadows are very scarce and many areas of knowledge gaps were identified along the Mediterranean coast of Morocco. An in-depth study of seagrass meadows occurring in Morocco is strongly required and would substantially increase the knowledge on such habitats and help in their conservation.

scholarly journals The role of the seagrass <i>Posidonia oceanica</i> in the cycling of trace elements

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 2623-2653 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Sanz-Lázaro ◽  
P. Malea ◽  
E. T. Apostolaki ◽  
I. Kalantzi ◽  
A. Marín ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trace Elements ◽  
Trace Element ◽  
Posidonia Oceanica ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Toxic Trace Elements ◽  
Relevant Role ◽  
Potentially Toxic Trace Elements ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Element Transfer

Abstract. The aim of this work was to study the role of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica on the cycling of a wide set of trace elements (Ag, As, Ba, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Ga, Li, Mn, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sr, Tl, V and Zn). We measured the concentration of these trace elements in the different compartments of P. oceanica (leaves, rhizomes, roots and epibiota) in a non-polluted seagrass meadow representative of the Mediterranean and calculated the annual budget from a mass balance. We provide novel data on accumulation dynamics of many trace elements in P. oceanica compartments and demonstrate that trace element accumulation patterns are mainly determined by plant compartment rather than by temporal variability. Epibiota was the compartment which showed the greatest concentrations for most trace elements. Thus, they constitute a key compartment when estimating trace element transfer to higher trophic levels by P. oceanica. For most trace elements, translocation seemed to be low and acropetal. Zn, Cd, Sr and Rb were the trace elements that showed the highest release rate through decomposition of plant detritus, while Cs, Tl and Bi the lowest. P. oceanica acts as a sink of potentially toxic trace elements (Ni, Cr, As and Ag), which can be sequestered, decreasing their bioavailability. P. oceanica may have a relevant role in the cycling of trace elements in the Mediterranean.

scholarly journals The role of the seagrass <i>Posidonia oceanica</i> in the cycling of trace elements

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 2497-2507 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Sanz-Lázaro ◽  
P. Malea ◽  
E. T. Apostolaki ◽  
I. Kalantzi ◽  
A. Marín ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trace Elements ◽  
Trace Element ◽  
Posidonia Oceanica ◽  
Trophic Levels ◽  
Toxic Trace Elements ◽  
Relevant Role ◽  
Potentially Toxic Trace Elements ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Element Transfer

Abstract. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica on the cycling of a wide set of trace elements (Ag, As, Ba, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Ga, Li, Mn, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sr, Tl, V and Zn). We measured the concentration of these trace elements in different compartments of P. oceanica (leaves, rhizomes, roots and epiphytes) in a non-polluted seagrass meadow representative of the Mediterranean and calculated the annual budget from a mass balance. We provide novel data on accumulation dynamics of many trace elements in P. oceanica compartments and demonstrate that trace element accumulation patterns are mainly determined by plant compartment rather than by temporal variability. Epiphytes were the compartment, which showed the greatest concentrations for most trace elements. Thus, they constitute a key compartment when estimating trace element transfer to higher trophic levels by P. oceanica. Trace element translocation in P. oceanica seemed to be low and acropetal in most cases. Zn, Cd, Sr and Rb were the trace elements that showed the highest release rate through decomposition of plant detritus, while Cs, Tl and Bi showed the lowest. P. oceanica acts as a sink of potentially toxic trace elements (Ni, Cr, As and Ag), which can be sequestered, decreasing their bioavailability. P. oceanica may have a relevant role in the cycling of trace elements in the Mediterranean.

scholarly journals Seagrass meadows of the Moroccan Mediterranean coast: state of research and knowledge

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hocein Bazairi
Keyword(s):  
Zostera Marina ◽  
Posidonia Oceanica ◽  
Mediterranean Coast ◽  
Field Surveys ◽  
Seagrass Meadows ◽  
Halophila Stipulacea ◽  
Depth Study ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
State Of Research ◽  
Large Distribution

Seagrass meadows are highly productive and key ecosystems that undergo widespread loss due to ‘climate-related’ and human-mediated stressors as well as natural causes. Therefore, basic information about the distribution, abundance, and characteristics of seagrass meadows and their environment is critical for managers to assess and monitor the resource. Such knowledge is lacking for Morocco and there is a clear need to acquire baseline data for monitoring and protecting these important habitats. The present review summarizes the state of the research and the knowledge on seagrass meadows of the Mediterranean coast of Morocco. Data were assessed using a compilation of historical data compared to recent confirmed observation and field surveys conducted within the framework of several projects (MedMPAnet, Medkeyhabitats, etc.). Of the five species of strictly marine Magnoliophyta found in the Mediterranean Sea, four are also currently identified along the Mediterranean coast of Morocco (Posidonia oceanica, Cymodocea nodosa, Zostera marina and Zostera noltii); the Lessepsian immigrant Halophila stipulacea has not been recorded yet. Apart from C. nodosa, that showed large distribution, the other species remain spatially localized and their distribution has been declining since they have disappeared from many localities. This is the case of Zostera marina that has probably disappeared from many localities (e.g. Cap des Trois Fourches, Marchica lagoon). However, some previous citations, such as the presence of Posidonia oceanica in the Marchica lagoon, seem to be a systematic confusion. Moreover, quantitative data on the characteristics of seagrass meadows are very scarce and many areas of knowledge gaps were identified along the Mediterranean coast of Morocco. An in-depth study of seagrass meadows occurring in Morocco is strongly required and would substantially increase the knowledge on such habitats and help in their conservation.

scholarly journals Crust Biometry of Hydrolithon Boreale (Rhodophyta: Hydrolithaceae) on Leave of Posidonia Oceanica Along a Mediterranean Coast Fed by Siliciclastic-Carbonate

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erhan Mutlu ◽  
Doğukan Karaca ◽  
Güler Sıla Duman ◽  
Ahmet Şahin ◽  
Yaşar Özvarol ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trace Elements ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
Posidonia Oceanica ◽  
Mediterranean Coast ◽  
Total Suspended Matter ◽  
The West ◽  
Area Index ◽  
Carbonate Deposition ◽  
Soft Bottoms ◽  
Reduced Density

Abstract A study was conducted to estimate biometry of an epiphytic micro-calcareous red algae, Hydrolithon boreale found on leaves of a Mediterranean meadow, Posidonia oceanica along the entire Turkish coast of the Mediterranean Sea in time (winter and summer 2019) and space (regions, and bottom type and depth). Percent occurrence of the epiphyte was lower in winter (25%), particularly found in a small bay in the west than summer (44%), entirely along the coast. The epiphyte grew up to 5 mm in diameter, 0.35 mm in thickness of the crust size, and was populated up to 1006 ind/m2 in summer owing to the increased utilization of the carbonate by the epiphyte with the increased water temperature. The size was contrasted to the density (abundance and biomass) in space. The biometry was significantly dependent on the siliciclastic-carbonate deposition as inferred from SiO2 of the water in relation the leaf area index (LAI) of P. oceanica. Therefore, this deposition induced specimens growing in size, followed by the reduced density in relation to N-based nutrient of the water. Further major environmental parameters which negatively affected the biometry were pH and total suspended matter of the water, analogous to the turbidity. Of the trace elements, Ni was negatively correlated with the biometry whereas the LAI was however positively correlated with all the anthropogenic-sourced trace elements (V, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb) in the leaves. Of the bottom types, the calcite rock had higher density than the other soft bottoms in contrast to the size of the epiphyte.

scholarly journals Seagrass as major source of transparent exopolymer particles in the oligotrophic Mediterranean coast

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (22) ◽  
pp. 5069-5075 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Iuculano ◽  
Carlos Maria Duarte ◽  
Núria Marbà ◽  
Susana Agustí
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Coastal Waters ◽  
Posidonia Oceanica ◽  
Mediterranean Coast ◽  
Transparent Exopolymer Particles ◽  
Coastal Beach ◽  
Nw Mediterranean ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Nw Mediterranean Sea

Abstract. The role of seagrass, Posidonia oceanica, meadows as a source of transparent exopolymer particles (TEPs) to Mediterranean coastal waters was tested by comparing the TEP dynamics in two adjacent coastal waters in the oligotrophic NW Mediterranean Sea, one characterized by oligotrophic open-sea waters and the other accumulating seagrass leaf litter, together with an experimental examination of TEP release by seagrass litter. TEP concentrations ranged from 4.6 to 90.6 µg XG (xanthan gum) Eq L−1, with mean (±SE) values of 38.7 (± 2.02) µg XG Eq L−1 in the site devoid of seagrass litter, whereas the coastal beach site accumulating leaf litter had > 10-fold mean TEP concentrations of 487.02 (± 72.8) µg XG Eq L−1. Experimental evaluation confirmed high rates of TEP production by P. oceanica litter, allowing calculations of the associated TEP yield. We demonstrated that P. oceanica is an important source of TEPs to the Mediterranean Sea, contributing an estimated 76 Gg C as TEPs annually. TEP release by P. oceanica seagrass explains the elevated TEP concentration relative to the low chlorophyll a concentration in the Mediterranean Sea.

scholarly journals Seagrass as major source of transparent exopolymer particles in the oligotrophic Mediterranean coast

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Iuculano ◽  
Carlos M. Duarte ◽  
Núria Marbà ◽  
Susana Augustí
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Sea ◽  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Coastal Waters ◽  
Posidonia Oceanica ◽  
Mediterranean Coast ◽  
Transparent Exopolymer Particles ◽  
Coastal Beach ◽  
Nw Mediterranean ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Nw Mediterranean Sea

Abstract. The role of seagrass, Posidonia oceanica, meadows as a source of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) to Mediterranean coastal waters was tested by comparing the TEP dynamics in two adjacent coastal waters in the oligotrophic NW Mediterranean Sea, one characterized by oligotrophic open-sea waters and the other accumulating seagrass leaf litter, together with an experimental examination of TEP release by seagrass litter. TEP concentrations ranged from 4.6 µg XG Eq L−1 to 90.6 µg XG Eq L−1, with mean (±SE) values of 38.7 (±2.02) µg XG Eq L−1 in the site devoid of seagrass litter, whereas the coastal beach site accumulating leaf litter had > 10-fold mean TEP concentrations of 487.02 (±72.8) µg XG Eq L−1 . Experimental evaluation confirmed high rates of TEP production by P. oceanica litter, allowing calculations of the associated TEP yield. We demonstrated that P. oceanica is an important source of TEP to the Mediterranean Sea, contributing an estimated 0.10 Tg C as TEP annually. TEP release by P. oceanica seagrass explains the elevated TEP concentration relative to the low chlorophyll a concentration in the Mediterranean Sea.

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