The deepening of the thermocline, correlated to the rising temperature, can contribute affecting seagrass per-formance in a changing climate scenario. Here, the effect of the thermocline deepening on the seagrass Posidonia oceanica has been investigated in Cyprus through a manipulative experiment that allowed also testing the effects of the irradiance, origin depth and translocation. P. oceanica shoots were collected from 31 m of depth and transplanted at 12 m under a shading net, simulating the 31 m light conditions. Morphology (i.e. leaf area, leaf necrosis, number of leaves) and physiology (i.e. growth rate) were evaluated. Thermocline and origin depth effects were found with an increase of leaf necrosis, while a translocation effect was highlighted by a decrease in leaf area. No differences in shoot growth rate due to treatments were found. This experiment indicated an overall wide morphological and physiological acclimation of P. oceanica cuttings in coping with future thermocline conditions and it indirectly provides information for restoration efforts.
Experimental thermocline deepening highlights the resilience of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica: An opportunity to investigate shoot adaptability / Stipcich, Patrizia; Resaikos, Vasilis; Ceccherelli, Giulia. - In: MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN. - ISSN 1879-3363. - 189:(2023). [10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.114824]
Experimental thermocline deepening highlights the resilience of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica: An opportunity to investigate shoot adaptability
Stipcich Patrizia
;Ceccherelli Giulia
2023-01-01
Abstract
The deepening of the thermocline, correlated to the rising temperature, can contribute affecting seagrass per-formance in a changing climate scenario. Here, the effect of the thermocline deepening on the seagrass Posidonia oceanica has been investigated in Cyprus through a manipulative experiment that allowed also testing the effects of the irradiance, origin depth and translocation. P. oceanica shoots were collected from 31 m of depth and transplanted at 12 m under a shading net, simulating the 31 m light conditions. Morphology (i.e. leaf area, leaf necrosis, number of leaves) and physiology (i.e. growth rate) were evaluated. Thermocline and origin depth effects were found with an increase of leaf necrosis, while a translocation effect was highlighted by a decrease in leaf area. No differences in shoot growth rate due to treatments were found. This experiment indicated an overall wide morphological and physiological acclimation of P. oceanica cuttings in coping with future thermocline conditions and it indirectly provides information for restoration efforts.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.