The balance of nutrient losses and gains in seagrass meadows
Hemminga, M.A.; Harrison, P.G.; van Lent, F. (1991). The balance of nutrient losses and gains in seagrass meadows. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 71: 85-96 In: Marine Ecology Progress Series. Inter-Research: Oldendorf/Luhe. ISSN 0171-8630; e-ISSN 1616-1599, more |   |
| Keywords | Anatomical structures > Body organs > Plant organs > Leaves
Chemical compounds > Nitrogen compounds > Ammonia
Chemical compounds > Nitrogen compounds > Nitrates
Chemical reactions > Denitrification
Cycles > Chemical cycles > Geochemical cycle > Biogeochemical cycle > Nutrient cycles
Dietary deficiencies > Nutrient deficiency
Flora > Weeds > Marine organisms > Seaweeds > Sea grass
Ingestion
Population characteristics > Biomass
Population functions > Growth
Temporal variations > Periodic variations > Seasonal variations
Zostera subg. Zostera marina Linnaeus, 1753 [WoRMS]
Marine/Coastal |
| Authors | | Top | - Hemminga, M.A., more
- Harrison, P.G.
- van Lent, F.
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| Abstract | A series of processes lead to nutrient losses from the seagrass bed. Export of leaves and leaf fragments with currents, leaching losses from photosynthetically active leaves and from senescent and dead plant material, and nutrient transfer by mobile foraging animals, are processes specific to seagrass meadows; in addition, the nutrient losses are aggravated by 2 processes commonly occurring in marine sediments; denitrification and diffusion of nutrients from the sediments to the overlying water column. The persistence in time of most seagrass meadows points to an existing balance between nutrient losses and gains. Three processes may contribute to the replenishment of nutrients; nitrogen-fixation, sedimentation and nutrient uptake by the leaves. |
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