248
J. Romero, K.-S. Lee, M. P ´
erez, M. A. Mateo, and T. Alcoverro
mechanisms, microbial processes in the sediment,
organic and inorganic nutrient accumulation, etc.)
are evident, and it is clear that sustained effort is
still needed to fill these gaps. It has also to be acknowledged that despite the work done by seagrass
biologists, we are at least a step behind what is known
concerning nutrient–plant interactions in terrestrial
ecosystems. The latter is a great source of new ideas
and techniques. It is rather difficult to foresee the best
direction for fruitful research in the coming years.
Most probably, several approaches will produce significant advances. However, one has the impression
that the most exciting endeavor in this field would
be the attempt of a large, ecosystem-level, experiment in which multidisciplinary teams would address different aspects of seagrass–nutrient interaction from the three perspectives listed above. This
is more a dream than a guess. In any case, basic
research should aim to explore the less known aspects identified in this chapter (and, desirably, also
others). Moreover, there is an increasing demand for
knowledge to be applied to seagrass conservation
(see Kenworthy et al., Chapter 25). Since anthropogenic eutrophication is one of the main threats
to seagrass ecosystems, providing society with this
knowledge falls within the scope of the topic of
this chapter; and is a basic duty of the scientific
community.
Acknowledgments
Part of this work was supported by a grant from
the Spanish ministry of science and technology
(REN2002–04020–CO2). We thank Tony Larkum
and two anonymous referees for helpful comments
on a preliminary version of the manuscript.
References
Aerts R (1996) Nutrient resorption from senescing leaves of
perennials: Are there general patterns? J Ecol 84: 597–608
Agawin NSR, Duarte CM and Fortes MD (1996) Nutrient limitation of Philippine seagrasses (Cape Boliano, NW Philippines):
In situ experimental evidence. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 138: 233–
243
Alcoverro T, Duarte, CM and Romero J (1995) Annual growth
dynamics ofPosidonia oceanica: Contribution of large-scale
versus local factors to seasonality. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 120:
203–210
Alcoverro T, Duarte CM and Romero J (1997) The influence
of herbivores on Posidonia oceanica epiphytes. Aquat Botany
56: 93–104
Alcoverro T, Manzanera M and Romero J (2000) Nutrient mass
balance of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica: The importance
of nutrient retranslocation. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 194: 13–21
Alcoverro T, Romero J, Duarte CM and L´ opez NI (1997) Spatial
and temporal variations in nutrient limitation of seagrass Posidonia oceanica growth in the NW Mediterranean. Mar Ecol
Prog Ser 146: 155–161
Alcoverro T, Zimmerman RC, Kohrs DG and Alberte RS (1999)
Resource allocation and sucrose mobilization in light-limited
eelgrass Zostera marina. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 187: 121–131
Almasi MN, Hoskin CM, Reed JK and Milo J (1987) Effects
of natural and artificial Thalassia on rates of sedimentation.
J Sedimentary Petrology 57: 901–906
Bach SD, Thayer GW and LaCroix MW (1986) Export of detritus from eelgrass (Zostera marina) beds near Beaufort, North
Carolina, USA. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 28: 265–278
B´ ethoux JP and Copin-Mont´ egut G (1986) Biological fixation
of atmospheric nitrogen in the Mediterranean Sea. Limnol
Oceanogr 31: 1353–1358
Bird KT, Johnson JR and Jewett-Smith J (1998) In vitro culture of the seagrass Halophila decipiens. Aquat Bot 60:
377–387
Blackburn TH, Newell DB and Wiebe WJ (1994) Active mineral
cycling in a Jamaican seagrass sediment. Mar Ecol Prog Ser
110: 233–239
Boon PI, Moriarty DJW and Saffigna PG (1986a) Rates of ammonium turnover and the role of amino-acid deamination in
seagrass Zostera capricorni beds of Moreton Bay, Australia.
Mar Biol 91: 259–268
Boon PI, Moriarty DJW and Saffigna PG (1986b) Nitrate
metabolism in sediments from seagrass Zostera capricorni
beds of Moreton Bay, Australia. Mar Biol 91: 269–276
Borum J, Murray L and Kemp MW (1989) Aspects of nitrogen
acquisition and conservation in eelgrass plants. Aquat Bot 35:
289–300
Boudouresque CF, Giraud G, Thommeret J and Thommeret Y
(1980) First attempt at dating by 14C the undersea beds of dead
Posidonia oceanica in the bay of Port-Man (Port-Cros, Var,
France). Travaux Scientifiques Parc Natl Port-Cros 6: 239–
242
Brix H and Lyngby JE (1985) Uptake and translocation of
phosphorus in eelgrass (Zostera marina). Mar Biol 90: 111–
116
Buia MC, Cormaci M, Furnari G and Mazzella L (1989) Posidonia oceanica off Capo Passaro (Sicily, Italy): Leaf phenology
and leaf algae epiphytic community. In: Boudouresque CFA,
Meinesz E, Fresi and Gravez V (eds) International Workshop
on Posidonia Beds, pp 63–68. GIS Posidonie 2, Marseille
Bulthuis DA, Axelrad DM and Mickelson MJ (1992) Growth
of the seagrass Heterozostera tasmanica limited by nitrogen
in Port Phillip Bay, Australia. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 89: 269–
275
Bulthuis DA and Woelkerling WJ (1981) Effects of in situ nitrogen and phosphorus enrichment of the sediments on the
seagrass Heterozostera tasmanica (Martens ex Aschers.) den
Hartog in Western port, Victoria, Australia. J Exp Mar Biol
Ecol 53: 193–207
Burkholder JM, Glasgow HB Jr and Cooke JE (1994) Comparative effects of water-column nitrate enrichment on eelgrass
Halodule wrightii, and widgeongrass Ruppia maritima. Mar
Ecol Prog Ser 105: 121–138
J. Romero, K.-S. Lee, M. P ´
erez, M. A. Mateo, and T. Alcoverro
mechanisms, microbial processes in the sediment,
organic and inorganic nutrient accumulation, etc.)
are evident, and it is clear that sustained effort is
still needed to fill these gaps. It has also to be acknowledged that despite the work done by seagrass
biologists, we are at least a step behind what is known
concerning nutrient–plant interactions in terrestrial
ecosystems. The latter is a great source of new ideas
and techniques. It is rather difficult to foresee the best
direction for fruitful research in the coming years.
Most probably, several approaches will produce significant advances. However, one has the impression
that the most exciting endeavor in this field would
be the attempt of a large, ecosystem-level, experiment in which multidisciplinary teams would address different aspects of seagrass–nutrient interaction from the three perspectives listed above. This
is more a dream than a guess. In any case, basic
research should aim to explore the less known aspects identified in this chapter (and, desirably, also
others). Moreover, there is an increasing demand for
knowledge to be applied to seagrass conservation
(see Kenworthy et al., Chapter 25). Since anthropogenic eutrophication is one of the main threats
to seagrass ecosystems, providing society with this
knowledge falls within the scope of the topic of
this chapter; and is a basic duty of the scientific
community.
Acknowledgments
Part of this work was supported by a grant from
the Spanish ministry of science and technology
(REN2002–04020–CO2). We thank Tony Larkum
and two anonymous referees for helpful comments
on a preliminary version of the manuscript.
References
Aerts R (1996) Nutrient resorption from senescing leaves of
perennials: Are there general patterns? J Ecol 84: 597–608
Agawin NSR, Duarte CM and Fortes MD (1996) Nutrient limitation of Philippine seagrasses (Cape Boliano, NW Philippines):
In situ experimental evidence. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 138: 233–
243
Alcoverro T, Duarte, CM and Romero J (1995) Annual growth
dynamics ofPosidonia oceanica: Contribution of large-scale
versus local factors to seasonality. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 120:
203–210
Alcoverro T, Duarte CM and Romero J (1997) The influence
of herbivores on Posidonia oceanica epiphytes. Aquat Botany
56: 93–104
Alcoverro T, Manzanera M and Romero J (2000) Nutrient mass
balance of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica: The importance
of nutrient retranslocation. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 194: 13–21
Alcoverro T, Romero J, Duarte CM and L´ opez NI (1997) Spatial
and temporal variations in nutrient limitation of seagrass Posidonia oceanica growth in the NW Mediterranean. Mar Ecol
Prog Ser 146: 155–161
Alcoverro T, Zimmerman RC, Kohrs DG and Alberte RS (1999)
Resource allocation and sucrose mobilization in light-limited
eelgrass Zostera marina. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 187: 121–131
Almasi MN, Hoskin CM, Reed JK and Milo J (1987) Effects
of natural and artificial Thalassia on rates of sedimentation.
J Sedimentary Petrology 57: 901–906
Bach SD, Thayer GW and LaCroix MW (1986) Export of detritus from eelgrass (Zostera marina) beds near Beaufort, North
Carolina, USA. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 28: 265–278
B´ ethoux JP and Copin-Mont´ egut G (1986) Biological fixation
of atmospheric nitrogen in the Mediterranean Sea. Limnol
Oceanogr 31: 1353–1358
Bird KT, Johnson JR and Jewett-Smith J (1998) In vitro culture of the seagrass Halophila decipiens. Aquat Bot 60:
377–387
Blackburn TH, Newell DB and Wiebe WJ (1994) Active mineral
cycling in a Jamaican seagrass sediment. Mar Ecol Prog Ser
110: 233–239
Boon PI, Moriarty DJW and Saffigna PG (1986a) Rates of ammonium turnover and the role of amino-acid deamination in
seagrass Zostera capricorni beds of Moreton Bay, Australia.
Mar Biol 91: 259–268
Boon PI, Moriarty DJW and Saffigna PG (1986b) Nitrate
metabolism in sediments from seagrass Zostera capricorni
beds of Moreton Bay, Australia. Mar Biol 91: 269–276
Borum J, Murray L and Kemp MW (1989) Aspects of nitrogen
acquisition and conservation in eelgrass plants. Aquat Bot 35:
289–300
Boudouresque CF, Giraud G, Thommeret J and Thommeret Y
(1980) First attempt at dating by 14C the undersea beds of dead
Posidonia oceanica in the bay of Port-Man (Port-Cros, Var,
France). Travaux Scientifiques Parc Natl Port-Cros 6: 239–
242
Brix H and Lyngby JE (1985) Uptake and translocation of
phosphorus in eelgrass (Zostera marina). Mar Biol 90: 111–
116
Buia MC, Cormaci M, Furnari G and Mazzella L (1989) Posidonia oceanica off Capo Passaro (Sicily, Italy): Leaf phenology
and leaf algae epiphytic community. In: Boudouresque CFA,
Meinesz E, Fresi and Gravez V (eds) International Workshop
on Posidonia Beds, pp 63–68. GIS Posidonie 2, Marseille
Bulthuis DA, Axelrad DM and Mickelson MJ (1992) Growth
of the seagrass Heterozostera tasmanica limited by nitrogen
in Port Phillip Bay, Australia. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 89: 269–
275
Bulthuis DA and Woelkerling WJ (1981) Effects of in situ nitrogen and phosphorus enrichment of the sediments on the
seagrass Heterozostera tasmanica (Martens ex Aschers.) den
Hartog in Western port, Victoria, Australia. J Exp Mar Biol
Ecol 53: 193–207
Burkholder JM, Glasgow HB Jr and Cooke JE (1994) Comparative effects of water-column nitrate enrichment on eelgrass
Halodule wrightii, and widgeongrass Ruppia maritima. Mar
Ecol Prog Ser 105: 121–138