Iron Additions Reduce Sulfide Intrusion and Reverse Seagrass (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Posidonia oceanica</Emphasis>) Decline in Carbonate Sediments |
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Authors: | Núria Marbà Maria Ll Calleja Carlos M Duarte Elvira Álvarez Elena Díaz-Almela Marianne Holmer |
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Institution: | 1.Institut Mediterrani d’Estudis Avan?ats (CSIC-UIB),Esporles (Illes Balears),Spain;2.Direcció General de Pesca,Conselleria d’Agricultura i Pesca, Govern de les Illes Balears,Palma de Mallorca (Illes Balears),Spain;3.Institute of Biology,SDU-Odense University,Odense M,Denmark |
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Abstract: | Abstract
We conducted a 2-year in situ experiment to test the capacity of iron additions to reverse the decline experienced by a Posidonia oceanica meadow colonizing carbonate, iron poor sediment. Iron additions improved the sediment conditions that support seagrass growth
by decreasing the sediment sulfide concentration and sulfate reduction rates, and decreased sulfide intrusion into the plants.
Iron additions for 2 years did not significantly change survivorship of shoots present at the onset of the experiment, but
significantly increased shoot recruitment and survivorship of shoots recruited during the experiment. After 2 years, iron
additions reversed seagrass decline and yielded positive growth rates of shoots relative to control populations where seagrass
continued to decline. This research demonstrates that seagrass decline in carbonate sediments may be reversed by targeting
critical processes such are sediment sulfide pools and seagrass nutritional status, controlling the functioning of the ecosystem. |
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Keywords: | carbonate sulfur iron additions sediment Posidonia oceanica decline demography clonal growth |
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