Impacts of multiple environmental factors on the native Caribbean seagrasses and the invasive sea vine Halophila stipulacea
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Abstract
The abundance of Caribbean seagrass meadows has declined due to multiple human-induced stressors and the recent introduction of the invasive seagrass species Halophila stipulacea, a native to the Red Sea and Indo-Pacific regions. To investigate how environmental factors influence the interaction between the native Caribbean seagrasses and the invasive Halophila, a 13-month study was conducted in four seagrass meadows along the coast of Culebra, Puerto Rico. These meadows had varying environmental conditions and different levels of Halophila invasion. At each site, we monitored water movement, temperature, solar radiation, sedimentation rate, and five allometric measurements of seagrass; seagrass coverage, canopy height, shoot density, and above/below-ground biomass at 3-month intervals. The environmental factors varied over time and by site. Thalassia was the most common native seagrass species found at three sites. Halophila was present in all study sites but showed no direct impact on the native seagrasses. Water motion emerged as the most significant factor influencing allometric measures, affecting these characteristics positively or negatively, depending on the specific metric rather than the seagrass species.
Funding source: US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service (NOAA/NOS)
Award Identifier / Grant number: NA19NOS4820126
Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge Dr. Edwin Hernández-Delgado, Pedro Gómez, Sebastián Toledo-Molinary, and volunteers from SAM for their invaluable contributions during data collection. We also extend our gratitude to Dr. Edwin Hernández-Delgado for reviewing the manuscript. We also extend our sincere appreciation to the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources for their essential logistical support.
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Research ethics: This study did not involve human participants. All procedures were conducted under permit O-VSPVS15-SJ-01101-3122019, issued by the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources.
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Informed consent: Not applicable.
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Author contributions: CTH contributed to the design and implementation of the research, analysis of the results, writing of the manuscript, and conceived the original and supervised the project; CPRD contributed to the design and implementation of the research, analysis of the results, and writing of the manuscript. JLSG contributed to the analysis of the results and the manuscript writing. RLT contributed to the analysis of the results and writing of the manuscript. All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
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Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.
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Conflict of interest: The authors declare that they have no affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.
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Research funding: The study was supported by the US National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service (NOAA/NOS)-NA19NOS4820126.
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Data availability: Not applicable.
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