Effects of the green macroalga Enteromorpha intestinalis on macrobenthic and seagrass assemblages in a shallow coastal estuary

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 266:77-87 (2004) - doi:10.3354/meps266077 Effects of the green macroalga Enteromorpha intestinalis on macrobenthic and seagrass assemblages in a shallow coastal estuary S. P. Cummins1,2,4,*, D. E. Roberts1,3, K. D. Zimmerman1 1School of Science & Technology, University of Newcastle, Ourimbah, New South Wales 2258, Australia 2Wyong Shire Council, PO Box 20, Wyong, New South Wales 2250, Australia 3Bioanalysis, 7 Berry¹s Head Road, Narara, New South Wales 2250, Australia 4Present address: Centre for Research on Ecological Impacts of Coastal Cities, Marine Ecology Laboratories, A11, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia *Email: scummins@bio.usyd.edu.au ABSTRACT: A common symptom of eutrophication in temperate estuaries is the proliferation of ephemeral, floating macroalgae. Information on the effects of blooms on underlying assemblages mostly originates from non-vegetated intertidal and subtidal habitats. Blooms also often settle in large aggregations over seagrasses, where they decompose. To test hypotheses concerning the effect of dense mats on underlying assemblages of benthic invertebrates within a seagrass meadow, biomass of the green macroalga Enteromorpha intestinalis was experimentally manipulated in the Tuggerah Lakes estuary, New South Wales, Australia. Algae, equivalent to a naturally occurring bloom (~4.5 kg wet wt m-2), were added to caged plots (1 m2) at 2 sites in the seagrass meadow. After 3 mo, the E. intestinalis population began to decompose in the treatment plots and in shallow habitats adjacent to the foreshore. Dramatic declines in the biomass of seagrass and components of the infauna were detected in plots containing decomposing macroalgae. The results have implications for managing estuaries, since assemblages of seagrasses and macrobenthic organisms are considered to be important in nutrient-cycling and food-webs. KEY WORDS: Macroalgae · Bloom · Seagrass · Macrobenthos · Eutrophication Full article in pdf format PreviousNextExport citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 266. Online publication date: January 30, 2004 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2004 Inter-Research.