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An economical non-destructive method for estimating eelgrass, Zostera marina (Potamogetonaceae) leaf growth rates: formal development and use in northwestern Baja California.
- Source :
-
Revista de Biología Tropical . sep2008, Vol. 56 Issue 3, p1003-1013. 11p. 3 Graphs. - Publication Year :
- 2008
-
Abstract
- Seagrass beds provide much of the primary production in estuaries; host many fishes and fish larvae, and abate erosion. The present study presents original analytical methods for estimating mean leaf-growth rates of eelgrass (Zostera marina). The method was calibrated by using data collected in a Z. marina meadow at Punta Banda estuary in Baja California, Mexico. The analytical assessments were based on measurements of leaf length and standard regression procedures. We present a detailed explanation of the formal procedures involved in the derivation of these analytical methods. The measured daily leaf-growth rate was 10.9 mm d-1 leaf-1. The corresponding value projected by our method was 10.2 mm d-1 leaf-1. The associated standard errors were of 0.53 and 0.56 mm d-1 leaf-1 respectively. The method was validated by projecting leaf-growth rates from an independent data set, which gave consistent results. The use of the method to obtain the mean leaf growth rate of a transplanted plot is also illustrated. Comparison of our leaf-growth data with previously reported assessments show the significant forcing of sea-surface temperature on eelgrass leaf dynamics. The formal constructs provided here are of general scope and can be applied to equivalent eelgrass data sets in a straightforward manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *BOTANICAL research
*ZOSTERA
*ZOSTERA marina
LEAF growth
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00347744
- Volume :
- 56
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Revista de Biología Tropical
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 36619695