title: Light requirements of seagrasses determined from historical records of light attenuation along the Gulf coast of peninsular Florida.
abstract: Seagrasses around the world are threatened by human activities that degrade water quality and reduce light availability. In this study, light requirements were determined for four common and abundant seagrasses along the Gulf coast of peninsular Florida using a threshold detecting algorithm. Light requirements ranged from 8% to 10% of surface irradiance for Halophila engelmannii to 25-27% of surface irradiance for Halodule wrightii. Requirements for all species differed from previous reports generated at other locations. Variations were attributed to morphological and physiological differences, as well as adaptation to light histories at specific locations. In addition, seagrasses were absent from stations with significantly higher concentrations of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, chlorophyll a and color. These results confirm the need to address links between increased anthropogenic nutrient loads, eutrophication, reduced light penetration, and loss of seagrasses and the services they provide.
authors.affiliation: School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Florida, 103 Black Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States. Electronic address: zdchoice@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Zanethia D
authors.initials: ZD
authors.lastname: Choice
authors.affiliation: School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Florida, 103 Black Hall, Gainesville, FL 32611, United States; Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Program, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, 7922 NW 71st Street, Gainesville, FL 32653, United States. Electronic address: frazer@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Thomas K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Frazer
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil and Water Science, University of Florida, 7922 NW 71st Street, Gainesville, FL 32653, United States. Electronic address: cajacoby@ufl.edu.
authors.forename: Charles A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Jacoby
mesh_terms: D035961:Alismatales / Q000502:physiology*; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D000077194:Chlorophyll A; D005068:Eutrophication; D005431:Florida; D060851:Gulf of America; D008027:Light; D011157:Population Dynamics; D014873:Water Pollutants
chemical_list: D014873:Water Pollutants; D002734:Chlorophyll; D000077194:Chlorophyll A
keywords: Florida Gulf coast; Halodule wrightii; Halophila engelmannii; Syringodium filiforme; Thalassia testudinum; Water quality