title: Effects of Copper Exposure on Photosynthesis and Growth of the Seagrass Cymodocea nodosa: An Experimental Assessment.
abstract: Seagrasses form some of the most important coastal habitats. They may be negatively affected by trace metal contamination in certain coastal areas. In this study we experimentally assessed selected morphological and physiological traits of the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa, with increasing concentrations of copper (Cu) under controlled laboratory conditions. Short term (21 days) sub-lethal effects such as decreased maximum quantum yield, increased leaf necrosis and decreased shoot growth and shoot recruitment were clearly observed at the highest Cu exposure (5 mg L(-1)), while the effects were weaker at the intermediate concentration (2.5 mg L(-1)) and almost absent at the lowest concentration (1 mg L(-1)), indicating that this species is highly tolerant to copper exposure, at least in the short term. This fact could help to explain its distribution in relatively polluted coastal waters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology, University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 645, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Izaskun
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Llagostera
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology, University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 645, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cervantes
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology, University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 645, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Neus
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sanmartí
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology, University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 645, 08028, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology, University of Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 645, 08028, Barcelona, Spain. maperez@ub.edu.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9929-9150
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pérez
mesh_terms: D035961:Alismatales / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D003300:Copper / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D017753:Ecosystem; D010788:Photosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000187:drug effects; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000009:adverse effects; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements; D014873:Water Pollutants; D003300:Copper
keywords: Marine plants; Microcosm experiment; Sub-lethal effects; Trace metal