Seasonal Variation in Biomass and Production of the Macrophytobenthos in two Lagoons in the Southern Baltic Sea
Baltic coastal lagoons are severely threatened by eutrophication. To evaluate the impact of eutrophication on macrophytobenthos, we compared the seasonal development in macrophytobenthic composition, biomass and production, water column parameters (light, nutrients), phytoplankton biomass and produc...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Earth Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2020.542391/full |
| _version_ | 1818663085673545728 |
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| author | Martin Paar Maximilian Berthold Rhena Schumann Sven Dahlke Irmgard Blindow |
| author_facet | Martin Paar Maximilian Berthold Rhena Schumann Sven Dahlke Irmgard Blindow |
| author_sort | Martin Paar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Baltic coastal lagoons are severely threatened by eutrophication. To evaluate the impact of eutrophication on macrophytobenthos, we compared the seasonal development in macrophytobenthic composition, biomass and production, water column parameters (light, nutrients), phytoplankton biomass and production in one mesotrophic and one eutrophic German coastal lagoon. We hypothesized that light availability is the main driver for primary production, and that net primary production is lower at a higher eutrophication level. In the mesotrophic lagoon, macrophytobenthic biomass was much higher with distinct seasonal succession in species composition. Filamentous algae dominated in spring and late summer and probably caused reduced macrophytobenthic biomass and growth during early summer, thus decreasing vegetation stability. Light attenuation was far higher in the eutrophic lagoon, due to high phytoplankton densities, explaining the low macrophytobenthic biomass and species diversity in every season. Areal net primary production was far lower in the eutrophic lagoon. The “paradox of enrichment” hypothesis predicts lower production at higher trophic levels with increased nutrient concentrations. Our results prove for the first time that this hypothesis may be valid already at the primary producer level in coastal lagoons. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T05:11:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-200d3f9d92cb4fb4b7c93743f34728c6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-6463 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T05:11:14Z |
| publishDate | 2021-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Earth Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-200d3f9d92cb4fb4b7c93743f34728c62022-12-21T22:02:15ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Earth Science2296-64632021-01-01810.3389/feart.2020.542391542391Seasonal Variation in Biomass and Production of the Macrophytobenthos in two Lagoons in the Southern Baltic SeaMartin Paar0Maximilian Berthold1Rhena Schumann2Sven Dahlke3Irmgard Blindow4Biological Station of Hiddensee, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, GermanyBiological Station Zingst, University Rostock, Rostock, GermanyBiological Station Zingst, University Rostock, Rostock, GermanyBiological Station of Hiddensee, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, GermanyBiological Station of Hiddensee, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, GermanyBaltic coastal lagoons are severely threatened by eutrophication. To evaluate the impact of eutrophication on macrophytobenthos, we compared the seasonal development in macrophytobenthic composition, biomass and production, water column parameters (light, nutrients), phytoplankton biomass and production in one mesotrophic and one eutrophic German coastal lagoon. We hypothesized that light availability is the main driver for primary production, and that net primary production is lower at a higher eutrophication level. In the mesotrophic lagoon, macrophytobenthic biomass was much higher with distinct seasonal succession in species composition. Filamentous algae dominated in spring and late summer and probably caused reduced macrophytobenthic biomass and growth during early summer, thus decreasing vegetation stability. Light attenuation was far higher in the eutrophic lagoon, due to high phytoplankton densities, explaining the low macrophytobenthic biomass and species diversity in every season. Areal net primary production was far lower in the eutrophic lagoon. The “paradox of enrichment” hypothesis predicts lower production at higher trophic levels with increased nutrient concentrations. Our results prove for the first time that this hypothesis may be valid already at the primary producer level in coastal lagoons.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2020.542391/fulleutrophicationphotosynthesissubmerged vegetationdriverstransitional waters |
| spellingShingle | Martin Paar Maximilian Berthold Rhena Schumann Sven Dahlke Irmgard Blindow Seasonal Variation in Biomass and Production of the Macrophytobenthos in two Lagoons in the Southern Baltic Sea Frontiers in Earth Science eutrophication photosynthesis submerged vegetation drivers transitional waters |
| title | Seasonal Variation in Biomass and Production of the Macrophytobenthos in two Lagoons in the Southern Baltic Sea |
| title_full | Seasonal Variation in Biomass and Production of the Macrophytobenthos in two Lagoons in the Southern Baltic Sea |
| title_fullStr | Seasonal Variation in Biomass and Production of the Macrophytobenthos in two Lagoons in the Southern Baltic Sea |
| title_full_unstemmed | Seasonal Variation in Biomass and Production of the Macrophytobenthos in two Lagoons in the Southern Baltic Sea |
| title_short | Seasonal Variation in Biomass and Production of the Macrophytobenthos in two Lagoons in the Southern Baltic Sea |
| title_sort | seasonal variation in biomass and production of the macrophytobenthos in two lagoons in the southern baltic sea |
| topic | eutrophication photosynthesis submerged vegetation drivers transitional waters |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2020.542391/full |
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