title: Metabolomics Reveals Cryptic Interactive Effects of Species Interactions and Environmental Stress on Nitrogen and Sulfur Metabolism in Seagrass.
abstract: Eutrophication of estuaries and coastal seas is accelerating, increasing light stress on subtidal marine plants and changing their interactions with other species. To date, we have limited understanding of how such variations in environmental and biological stress modify the impact of interactions among foundational species and eventually affect ecosystem health. Here, we used metabolomics to assess the impact of light reductions on interactions between the seagrass Zostera marina, an important habitat-forming marine plant, and the abundant and commercially important blue mussel Mytilus edulis. Plant performance varied with light availability but was unaffected by the presence of mussels. Metabolomic analysis, on the other hand, revealed an interaction between light availability and presence of M. edulis on seagrass metabolism. Under high light, mussels stimulated seagrass nitrogen and energy metabolism. Conversely, in low light mussels impeded nitrogen and energy metabolism, and enhanced responses against sulfide toxicity, causing inhibited oxidative energy metabolism and tissue degradation. Metabolomic analysis thereby revealed cryptic changes to seagrass condition that could not be detected by traditional approaches. Our findings suggest that coastal eutrophication and associated reductions in light may shift seagrass-bivalve interactions from mutualistic to antagonistic, which is important for conservation management of seagrass meadows.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark , Campusvej 55, Odense M Dk-5230, Denmark.|Nordic Center for Earth Evolution (NordCEE), University of Southern Denmark , Campusvej 55, Odense M Dk-5230, Denmark.|VILLUM Center for Bioanalytical Sciences, University of Southern Denmark , Odense M Dk-5230, Denmark.
authors.forename: Harald
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hasler-Sheetal
authors.affiliation: Marine Science Institute, University of California , Santa Barbara, California 93106-6150, United States.
authors.forename: Max C N
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Castorani
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark , Campusvej 55, Odense M Dk-5230, Denmark.|Nordic Center for Earth Evolution (NordCEE), University of Southern Denmark , Campusvej 55, Odense M Dk-5230, Denmark.|Scottish Association for Marine Science , Oban PA37 1QA, U.K.|University of Aarhus , Arctic Research Centre, Building 1540, Ny Munkegade 114, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Ronnie N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Glud
authors.affiliation: Nordic Center for Earth Evolution (NordCEE), University of Southern Denmark , Campusvej 55, Odense M Dk-5230, Denmark.
authors.forename: Donald E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Canfield
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark , Campusvej 55, Odense M Dk-5230, Denmark.
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holmer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017753:Ecosystem; D055432:Metabolomics; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D013455:Sulfur / Q000378:metabolism*; D035962:Zosteraceae / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D013455:Sulfur; D009584:Nitrogen