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 361:83-91 (2008) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps07479 Changes in growth, internode distance and nutrient concentrations of the seagrass Halophila ovalis with exposure to sediment sulphide K. L. Kilminster1,* D. I. Walker1, P. A. Thompson2, J. A. Raven3 1School of Plant Biology, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy., Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia 2CSIRO Marine Research, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia 3Division of Plant Sciences, University of Dundee at SCRI, Scottish Crop Research Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA, UK *Email: kieryn.kilminster@water.wa.gov.au ABSTRACT: Sulphide concentrations in estuarine sediments are likely to increase with increased organic matter fluxes (eutrophication) and increased temperatures (global warming). The short-term effects of sulphide on the growth, nutrition and morphology of the seagrass Halophila ovalis (R.Br.) Hook. f. were investigated in situ. Sediments within a H. ovalis meadow were enriched with Na2S equivalent to 0, 1.1 and 4.2 g m–2. Sulphide diffusion tubes were estimated to increase sulphide concentrations by 1 to 4 mmol l–1, concentrations typical of elevated sulphide measured in natural systems. Biomass, internode distance and growth rate (mg apex–1 day–1) were determined, and plant material was analysed for soluble carbohydrate, carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus. Sulphide exposure caused significant reduction in growth (63%), average leaf weight (30%) and internode distance (15%). Above-ground tissue phosphorus concentration and internode distance were significant predictors of growth (R2 = 0.63, p < 0.01). These results demonstrate the plasticity of H. ovalis in response to a short-term sulphide pulse, and may have implications for recovery from transient sulphide stress. KEY WORDS: Sulphide · Sediments · Seagrass · Nutrients · Morphometrics · Growth constraint Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Kilminster KL, Walker DI, Thompson PA, Raven JA (2008) Changes in growth, internode distance and nutrient concentrations of the seagrass Halophila ovalis with exposure to sediment sulphide. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 361:83-91. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps07479 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 361. Online publication date: June 09, 2008 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2008 Inter-Research.