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Evidence for vertical growth in Zostera noltii Hornem.

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Published/Copyright: December 8, 2005
Botanica Marina
From the journal Volume 48 Issue 5

Abstract

We report first evidence for rhizome vertical growth (driven by sediment burial) in the temperate seagrass Zostera noltii. The study was carried out in a population of Z. noltii occurring on the intertidal sandflats of Cádiz Bay Natural Park (Spain), an area subjected to episodic events of a high sediment transport driven by wind. In surveyed plants of Z. noltii, rhizomatic vertical growth was observed (9 cm maximum, 6.1±0.31 cm average) with shorter internodes and longer leaf-sheaths (0.74±0.05 cm and 10.1±0.5 cm, respectively) than those recorded for horizontal rhizomes (2.2±0.05 cm and 3.3±0.18 cm, respectively). Mean vertical rhizome growth rate, calculated from reconstructive techniques (0.083±0.003 cm d-1), is half than that estimated for horizontal rhizome growth (0.15±0.008 cm d-1) using the punching method. Vertical nodes lacked shoots, and resumed horizontal growth and shoot recruitment once the meristem reached the sediment surface. Plasticity in this trait allowed Z. noltii populations to withstand moderate burial in this highly dynamic environment.

Keywords: burial; phenotypic plasticity; seagrass; vertical growth; Zostera noltii
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Published Online: 2005-12-08
Published in Print: 2005-12-01

©2005 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York

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  2. Contents volume 48 (2005)
  3. Genus/Species index volume 48 (2005)
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  5. 5th Asia Mycological Congress and 9th International Marine and Freshwater Mycology Symposium, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 14–19 November 2004
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  20. Acknowledgement volume 48 (2005)
https://doi.org/10.1515/BOT.2005.059
Keywords for this article
burial; phenotypic plasticity; seagrass; vertical growth; Zostera noltii

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Author index volume 48 (2005)
  2. Contents volume 48 (2005)
  3. Genus/Species index volume 48 (2005)
  4. Special Issues of Botanica Marina
  5. 5th Asia Mycological Congress and 9th International Marine and Freshwater Mycology Symposium, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 14–19 November 2004
  6. Molecular approaches for assessing fungal diversity in marine substrata
  7. Diversity of marine fungi from Egyptian Red Sea mangroves
  8. Marine fungi from the Bahamas Islands
  9. Marine fungi on Nypa fruticans in Thailand
  10. Abundance of thraustochytrids on fallen decaying leaves of Kandelia candel and mangrove sediments in Futian National Nature Reserve, China
  11. Screening of marine fungi for lignocellulose-degrading enzyme activities
  12. Properties of the docosahexaenoic acid-producer Schizochytrium mangrovei Sk-02: effects of glucose, temperature and salinity and their interaction
  13. A systematic reassessment of the marine ascomycetes Torpedospora and Swampomyces
  14. Long-term acclimation to UV radiation: effects on growth, photosynthesis and carbonic anhydrase activity in marine diatoms
  15. Histioneis (Dinophysiales, Dinophyceae) from the western Pacific Ocean
  16. Molecular investigation reveals epi/endophytic extrageneric kelp (Laminariales, Phaeophyceae) gametophytes colonizing Lessoniopsis littoralis thalli
  17. Total dietary fiber content in Hawaiian marine algae
  18. The antibacterial compound sulphoglycerolipid 1-0 palmitoyl-3-0(6′-sulpho-α-quinovopyranosyl)-glycerol from Sargassum wightii Greville (Phaeophyceae)
  19. Evidence for vertical growth in Zostera noltii Hornem.
  20. Acknowledgement volume 48 (2005)
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