Skip to main content

IMIS

A new integrated search interface will become available in the next phase of marineinfo.org.
For the time being, please use IMIS to search available data

 

[ report an error in this record ]basket (0): add | show Print this page

Scaling of ramet size and spacing in seagrasses: implications for stand development
Marbà, N.; Duarte, C.M. (2003). Scaling of ramet size and spacing in seagrasses: implications for stand development. Aquat. Bot. 77(2): 87-98. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/s0304-3770(03)00079-2
In: Aquatic Botany. Elsevier Science: Tokyo; Oxford; New York; London; Amsterdam. ISSN 0304-3770; e-ISSN 1879-1522, more
Peer reviewed article  

Available in  Authors 

Keywords
    Anatomical structures > Body organs > Plant organs > Shoots
    Dimensions > Length
    Flora > Weeds > Marine organisms > Seaweeds > Sea grass
    Population characteristics > Biomass
    Population functions > Growth > Plant growth
    Properties > Physical properties > Density
    Cymodocea nodosa (Ucria) Ascherson, 1870 [WoRMS]; Posidonia oceanica (Linnaeus) Delile, 1813 [WoRMS]; Ruppia maritima Linnaeus, 1753 [WoRMS]
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    seagrasses; aboveground biomass; shoot density; shoot mass; spacerlength

Authors  Top 
  • Marbà, N.
  • Duarte, C.M., more

Abstract
    The scaling between shoot mass and spacer length was examined across 23 seagrass species by compiling field and literature data on architectural and stand features. The distance between shoots programmed in seagrass architecture was scaled at the 0.24 power of shoot mass. The predicted distance between neighboring shoots resulting from the scaling relationship investigated was compared with the spacing observed in 79 crowded natural seagrass stands. Seagrass architecture predicted 50% of the variability of the distance between neighbors observed in natural stands. Moreover, the growth programme of seagrass species predicted 29% of the variance of maximum aboveground biomass developed by seagrass meadows. The close agreement between the shoot density and biomass developed by closed natural stands and that predicted from seagrass architecture suggested that the upper limit to density and aboveground biomass, such as that defined by the self-thinning law, is already imprinted within the basic architecture of seagrasses (i.e. spacer length in between consecutive shoots).

All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Authors