| Abstract Detail
Ecophysiology Caudle, Keri L. [1], Brown, Cheryl [2], Kaldy, James [3]. Comparing Photophysiology Of Seagrasses In The Pacific Northwest: Potential Implications For Species Interactions. Physiological tolerances are a primary control on species interactions mediated through production and growth. We examined how the physiology of native eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) and introduced Japanese eelgrass (Z. japonica Aschers. & Graeb) responded to temperature in order to predict field interactions. Individual shoots of Z. marina and Z. japonica were collected from local populations in Yaquina Bay, Newport, OR. Photosynthesis (P) and dark respiration (Rd) were measured using oxygen flux methods at 10, 20, and 30 °C. Z. japonica P increased with temperature, while Z. marina P at 30 °C was significantly lower than Z. japonica. At 20 °C both species had similar P rates. Differences observed in photosynthesis at these high water temperatures may be due to heat sensitive oxygen evolving proteins. Rd rates for both species increased with increased temperature. Although Rd was similar at 10 °C, Z. japonica Rd was significantly lower than Z. marina at both 20 and 30 °C. At 10 °C and 30 °C the differences in P:R between Z. japonica and Z. marina were not statistically significant. However at 20 °C Z. marina had a significantly higher P:R than Z. japonica. The ratio of P:R may be related to plant fitness, with higher P:R indicating an advantage with respect to carbohydrate availability. Differences in photosynthetic temperature response between Z. japonica and Z. marina suggest a mechanism to explain observed zonation patterns and provide insight on how estuarine plant communities may respond to increased water temperatures.
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1 - Fort Hays State University, Department of Biological Sciences, 600 Park St., Hays, KS, 67601, USA
2 - US EPA - Western Ecology Division, 2111 SE Marine Science Dr., Newport, OR, 97365, United States
3 - US EPA - Western Ecology Division, 2111 SE Marine Science Dr., Newport, OR, 97365, USA
Keywords:
Zostera marina
Zostera japonica
photophysiology
temperature.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Topics
Session: 15
Location: Firs South/Boise Centre
Date: Tuesday, July 29th, 2014
Time: 8:00 AM
Number: 15001
Abstract ID:109
Candidate for Awards:Physiological Section Physiological Section Li-COR Prize |
