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MEPS 282:59-72 (2004)
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Abstract
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Role of the seagrass Thalassia testudinum as a source of chromophoric dissolvedorganic matter in coastal south Florida
Erik R. Stabenau1,2, Richard G. Zepp1,*, Erich Bartels3, Rod G. Zika2
1Ecosystems Research Division, National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, 960 College Station Road, Athens, Georgia 30605, USA
2Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, University of
Miami, Miami, Florida 33149, USA
3Mote Marine Laboratory, Tropical Research Laboratory, Summerland Key, Florida 33042, USA
*Corresponding author. Email: zepp.richard@epa.gov
ABSTRACT: Seagrasses play a variety of important ecological roles in coastal ecosystems. Here we present evidence that seagrass detritus from the widespread species Thalassia testudinum is an important source of ocean color and a UV-protective
substance in a low latitude coastal shelf region of the United States. The production and light-induced degradation of chromophoric (sunlight-absorbing) dissolved organic matter (CDOM) from T. testudinum was examined under field and controlled
laboratory conditions to obtain data that could be used to estimate the contribution of seagrass-derived CDOM to the coastal pool. The laboratory studies measured the temperature dependence and photodegradation of the spectral (UV-visible, fluorescence)
and molecular mass properties of CDOM produced during the degradation of T. testudinum detritus. The rate of CDOM production is temperature-dependent with rates doubling when temperature increases from 21.4 to 32.6°C. The magnitude of this
increase is close to the widely observed Q10 factor for microbial decomposition, indicating that the CDOM production was likely microbially mediated. The absorption coefficients and fluorescence of CDOM from T. testudinum
decreased on exposure to solar UV radiation (UVR) and the wavelength dependence was determined for this photobleaching process.
KEY WORDS: Thalassia testudinum · Seagrass · CDOM production · Coastal ocean color · South Florida · UVR · Photobleaching · Mass spectra
Full text in pdf format
Published in MEPS Vol.
282
(2004) on November 16
Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599.
Copyright © Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 2004
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