The Importance of Dead Seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) Matte as a Biogeochemical Sink
We assessed the potential of dead seagrass Posidonia oceanica matte to act as a biogeochemical sink and provide a coherent archive of environmental change in a degraded area of the Mediterranean Sea (Augusta Bay, Italy). Change in sediment properties (dry bulk density, grain size), concentration of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Marine Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.861998/full |
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| author | Eugenia T. Apostolaki Laura Caviglia Veronica Santinelli Andrew B. Cundy Cecilia D. Tramati Cecilia D. Tramati Antonio Mazzola Antonio Mazzola Salvatrice Vizzini Salvatrice Vizzini |
| author_facet | Eugenia T. Apostolaki Laura Caviglia Veronica Santinelli Andrew B. Cundy Cecilia D. Tramati Cecilia D. Tramati Antonio Mazzola Antonio Mazzola Salvatrice Vizzini Salvatrice Vizzini |
| author_sort | Eugenia T. Apostolaki |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We assessed the potential of dead seagrass Posidonia oceanica matte to act as a biogeochemical sink and provide a coherent archive of environmental change in a degraded area of the Mediterranean Sea (Augusta Bay, Italy). Change in sediment properties (dry bulk density, grain size), concentration of elements (Corg, Cinorg, N, Hg) and stable isotope ratios (δ13C, δ 15N) with sediment depth were measured in dead P. oceanica matte and unvegetated (bare) sediments in the polluted area, and an adjacent P. oceanica meadow. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed a clear clustering by habitat, which explained 72% of variability in our samples and was driven mainly by the accumulation of N and Hg in finer sediments of the dead matte. Assessment of the temporal trends of Corg, N and Hg concentrations in the dead matte revealed changes in the accumulation of these elements over the last 120 years, with an increase following the onset of industrial activities 65 y BP (i.e., yr. 1950) that was sustained even after seagrass loss around 35 y BP. Despite a decrease in Hg concentrations in the early 1980s following the onset of pollution abatement, overall Hg levels were 2-fold higher in the local post-industrial period, with a Hg enrichment factor of 3.5 in the dead matte. Mean stocks of Corg, N and Hg in 25 cm thick sediment deposits (4.08 ± 2.10 kg Corg m-2, 0.14 ± 0.04 kg N m-2, 0.19 ± 0.04 g Hg m-2) and accumulation in the last 120 yr (35.3 ± 19.6 g Corg m-2 y-1, 1.2 ± 0.4 g N m-2 y-1, 0.0017 ± 0.0004 g Hg m-2 y-1) were higher in the dead matte than bare sediment or adjacent P. oceanica meadow. Our results indicate that dead P. oceanica matte maintained its potential as a biogeochemical sink and, like its living counterpart, dead matte can serve as an effective archive to allow for reconstructing environmental change in coastal areas of the Mediterranean where severe perturbations have led to P. oceanica loss. Appropriate management for contaminated areas should be prioritized to prevent release of pollutants and carbon from dead mattes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T09:06:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fa9833055d54430fb45776c11f75757a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-7745 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T09:06:27Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Marine Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-fa9833055d54430fb45776c11f75757a2022-12-21T23:53:03ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452022-03-01910.3389/fmars.2022.861998861998The Importance of Dead Seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) Matte as a Biogeochemical SinkEugenia T. Apostolaki0Laura Caviglia1Veronica Santinelli2Andrew B. Cundy3Cecilia D. Tramati4Cecilia D. Tramati5Antonio Mazzola6Antonio Mazzola7Salvatrice Vizzini8Salvatrice Vizzini9Institute of Oceanography, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, Heraklion, GreeceDepartment of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, ItalyDepartment of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, ItalySchool of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre (Southampton), University of Southampton, Southampton, United KingdomDepartment of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, ItalyConsorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare, Rome, ItalyDepartment of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, ItalyConsorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare, Rome, ItalyDepartment of Earth and Marine Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, ItalyConsorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare, Rome, ItalyWe assessed the potential of dead seagrass Posidonia oceanica matte to act as a biogeochemical sink and provide a coherent archive of environmental change in a degraded area of the Mediterranean Sea (Augusta Bay, Italy). Change in sediment properties (dry bulk density, grain size), concentration of elements (Corg, Cinorg, N, Hg) and stable isotope ratios (δ13C, δ 15N) with sediment depth were measured in dead P. oceanica matte and unvegetated (bare) sediments in the polluted area, and an adjacent P. oceanica meadow. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed a clear clustering by habitat, which explained 72% of variability in our samples and was driven mainly by the accumulation of N and Hg in finer sediments of the dead matte. Assessment of the temporal trends of Corg, N and Hg concentrations in the dead matte revealed changes in the accumulation of these elements over the last 120 years, with an increase following the onset of industrial activities 65 y BP (i.e., yr. 1950) that was sustained even after seagrass loss around 35 y BP. Despite a decrease in Hg concentrations in the early 1980s following the onset of pollution abatement, overall Hg levels were 2-fold higher in the local post-industrial period, with a Hg enrichment factor of 3.5 in the dead matte. Mean stocks of Corg, N and Hg in 25 cm thick sediment deposits (4.08 ± 2.10 kg Corg m-2, 0.14 ± 0.04 kg N m-2, 0.19 ± 0.04 g Hg m-2) and accumulation in the last 120 yr (35.3 ± 19.6 g Corg m-2 y-1, 1.2 ± 0.4 g N m-2 y-1, 0.0017 ± 0.0004 g Hg m-2 y-1) were higher in the dead matte than bare sediment or adjacent P. oceanica meadow. Our results indicate that dead P. oceanica matte maintained its potential as a biogeochemical sink and, like its living counterpart, dead matte can serve as an effective archive to allow for reconstructing environmental change in coastal areas of the Mediterranean where severe perturbations have led to P. oceanica loss. Appropriate management for contaminated areas should be prioritized to prevent release of pollutants and carbon from dead mattes.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.861998/fullblue carbonnutrient filterscontaminationseagrass degradationanthropogenic impactseagrass archives |
| spellingShingle | Eugenia T. Apostolaki Laura Caviglia Veronica Santinelli Andrew B. Cundy Cecilia D. Tramati Cecilia D. Tramati Antonio Mazzola Antonio Mazzola Salvatrice Vizzini Salvatrice Vizzini The Importance of Dead Seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) Matte as a Biogeochemical Sink Frontiers in Marine Science blue carbon nutrient filters contamination seagrass degradation anthropogenic impact seagrass archives |
| title | The Importance of Dead Seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) Matte as a Biogeochemical Sink |
| title_full | The Importance of Dead Seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) Matte as a Biogeochemical Sink |
| title_fullStr | The Importance of Dead Seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) Matte as a Biogeochemical Sink |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Importance of Dead Seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) Matte as a Biogeochemical Sink |
| title_short | The Importance of Dead Seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) Matte as a Biogeochemical Sink |
| title_sort | importance of dead seagrass posidonia oceanica matte as a biogeochemical sink |
| topic | blue carbon nutrient filters contamination seagrass degradation anthropogenic impact seagrass archives |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2022.861998/full |
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