6533b85efe1ef96bd12bf33d

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Effect of different substrata on rhizome growth, leaf biometry and shoot density of Posidonia oceanica

Agostino TomaselloG. Di MaidaMarco MilazzoSebastiano CalvoMariangela SciandraMaria Pirrotta

subject

Settore BIO/07 - EcologiaGeologic SedimentsAlismatalesbiologyGeneral MedicineBiomonitoring benthic ecology seagrass Posidonia oceanica substratum lepidochronology leaf biometry shoot age GLMM LMMAquatic ScienceOceanographybiology.organism_classificationModels BiologicalPollutionRhizomePlant LeavesSeagrassBenthic zonePosidonia oceanicaShootBotanyLinear ModelsSicilyRhizomeEnvironmental Monitoring

description

The effects of different substratum typologies on Posidonia oceanica growth and morphology were estimated in four Sicilian meadows using Generalized and Linear Mixed Models combined with retrodating and biometric analyses. Substratum exerted a multiple effect, resulting in different biometric features for P. oceanica shoots settled on rock from those growing on sand and matte. On rock, values for growth rate, leaf length and shoot surface were lower than those on other substrata, with 42%, 23% and 32% the highest degree of difference respectively. The present study may have interesting methodological consequences for the comprehensive understanding of the causative variables potentially affecting meadows features and their health status. The importance of substratum in the prediction of likely biometry changes in P. oceanica meadows, means that knowledge of substratum type should receive due attention in the future to derive reliable estimates of meadow status.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2013.04.001