Abstract
MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 389:117-126 (2009) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps08163 Effects of the American oyster Crassostrea virginica on growth rates of the seagrass Halodule wrightii Dale M. Booth1,2,3,*, Kenneth L. Heck Jr.1,2 1Dauphin Island Sea Lab, 101 Bienville Blvd., Dauphin Island, Alabama 36528, USA 2Department of Marine Science, University of South Alabama, Mobile, Alabama 36688, USA 3Present address: Center for Environmental Studies, Horn Point Laboratory, 2020 Horns Point Road, University of Maryland, Cambridge, Maryland 21613, USA *Email: dbooth@hpl.umces.edu ABSTRACT: American oysters Crassostrea virginica have significant effects on ecosystem structure and function and may potentially determine whether coastal systems are dominated by either benthic or pelagic primary production. Field experiments were used to determine the effect of oyster density on the abundance and growth rate of shoalgrass Halodule wrightii in Mississippi Sound, Alabama, USA. Oysters were deployed at densities of 0, 15, 75, and 150 ind. m–2 in 1 m2 plots of H. wrightii in September 2004. Changes in shoalgrass shoot density, growth rate, total suspended solids (TSS), porewater nutrients, light transmittance, and epiphyte loads were all measured from October–November 2004, and June–July 2005. Results showed no significant relationship between oyster density, light transmittance, TSS, or epiphyte loading. However, there was a significant positive relationship between oyster density and porewater NH4 and PO4. Seagrass growth rates were highest at intermediate oyster densities, while high oyster densities negatively affected growth rates, shoot density, and plant biomass. KEY WORDS: Halodule wrightii · Submerged aquatic vegetation · SAV–oyster interactions · Growth rate · Habitat restoration Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Booth DM, Heck KL Jr (2009) Effects of the American oyster Crassostrea virginica on growth rates of the seagrass Halodule wrightii. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 389:117-126. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps08163 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 389. Online publication date: September 04, 2009 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2009 Inter-Research.
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