Intertidal ovoid seagrass

Long description

Intertidal seagrass meadows dominated by the seagrasses with an ovoid growth, mostly Halophila ovalis but also: Halophila capricorni, Halophila decipiens and Halophila minor. These meadows can also support other growth forms, including Halophila spinulosa, Halophila tricostata, Zostera muelleri subsp. capricorni*, Cymodocea rotundata, Cymodocea serrulata, Enhalus acoroides, Halodule pinifolia, Halodule uninervis, Thalassia hemprichii, Thalassodendron ciliatum and Syringodium isoetifolium.

Seagrasses are not a taxonomically unified group, but rather an ecological group that arose through convergent evolution and includes several different families. They are all flowering plants that live underwater and need light to photosynthesise. They also produce seeds. They grow on muds, sands and fine gravels, which may be mobile. Meadows may include other structural macrobiota such as encrusting algae, erect macrophyte algae, bryozoans, sponges and molluscs (e.g. bivalves, cockles, whelks, razor clam beds), together with mobile invertebrate fauna, such as sea cucumbers, crabs (e.g. commercial sand crabs and other portunids) and polychaete worms.

*Revision of Zostera capricorni has resulted in classification to subspecies. In Queensland, Zostera capricorni has been revised to Zostera muelleri subsp. capricorni[8].

Special values

Seagrasses provide a wide range of services, including:

• primary production, carbon fixation and nutrient removal
• support numerous herbivore- and detritivore-based food webs, including food for dugongs and green turtles (mostly H. uninervis and H. ovalis), and many fisheries species (e.g. prawns and fishes)
• fisheries habitat (e.g. food, refuge and reproduction)
• coastal protection, erosion control and sediment capture
• tourism, recreation, education and research[12][20][9].

The fisheries value of seagrass habitat as nursery grounds for juvenile commercial fish and prawn species in Queensland is well documented[16][21]. Sea cucumbers may also be collected from seagrass meadows for commercial aquaculture. Not only do seagrass provide habitat for fish, but the proximity of seagrass meadows to other ecosystems (mangroves, coral reefs) increases their abundance in these ecosystems[7][13].

Seagrass meadows, particularly those containing H. uninervis and H. ovalis, provide food for dugong[20] and green sea turtles[10]. Green turtles tend to graze the leaves of mostly H. ovalis. Halodule uninervis[20] and H. ovalis[14] are reported to be the most nutritious seagrasses due to high nitrogen and starch content. Grazing of H. uninervis and H. ovalis has been shown to increase production of a nitrogen-rich standing crop[14][1][10]. Preferential grazing of H. ovalis can prevent the expansion of the often dominant Zostera muelleri and increase the abundance of the H. ovalis (i.e. cultivation grazing)[14].

Species from the Halophila genus are early coloniser and often found in areas subject to disturbance, such as the receiving waters of runoff from built up areas. Colonising species typically have fast shoot turnover, short lifespan, fast sexual maturation and development of a (dormant) seed bank. They have low physiological resistance to disturbance but a rapid ability to recover[9].

Diagnostic attributes

Inundation 'Intertidal – Lower low', 'Intertidal – Mid low', 'Intertidal – Upper low', 'Intertidal – Low undifferentiated', 'Intertidal – Lower medium', 'Intertidal – Upper-medium', 'Intertidal – Medium undifferentiated', 'Intertidal – High', 'Intertidal – Undifferentiated', 'Intertidal – High undifferentiated', although usually occurring below mean sea level.

Structural macrobiota 'Seagrass – ovoid'

Qualifiers

Seagrass ecosystems vary in Period and Trend (seasonally and from year to year). The species composition, extent and Biomass of seagrass meadows can vary seasonally and between years. The extent and biomass of seagrass meadows along the Queensland east coast are typically maximal in late spring and summer, and minimal over winter[2][6][19].

Distribution

Seagrass meadows grow throughout the world’s coastal waters, with large areas along Queensland’s coastline. Approximately 58 species of seagrass have been recorded across the globe with about 30 recorded in Australian waters and at least 15 in Queensland[15].

The following relates to distribution of this ecosystem type within the Central Queensland mapping area:

• Seagrass mapping represents the maximum known extent of that ecosystem since 2000 and details concerning period and trend of each meadow are documented within the structural macrobiota attribute dataset
• Extensive seagrass meadows in Port Curtis are the only described large area of seagrass between Hervey Bay and Shoalwater Bay, and are therefore very important regionally[17][6]
• Halophila ovalis provides food for green sea turtles[10], and was observed in Port Curtis during recent seagrass surveys[17]
• Intertidal meadows of ovoid seagrass in the Central Queensland mapped area are typically dominated by H. ovalis with some H. decipiens
• Spatial Inventory of seagrass in Hervey Bay, its tributaries/estuaries and the Great Sandy Strait was last updated in 2003 and seagrass meadows may have changed in extent since it was last mapped. Some estuarine seagrasses may or may not represent current seagrass extent
• Seagrasses were mapped in Baffle Creek but their growth form has not been identified[18]
• Thalassia hemprichii does not occur in Central Queensland.

Comments

Other relevant attributes include Water clarity, Energy magnitude and Energy source (wave) together with Sediment texture, Freshwater volume and Trace elements. Seagrasses need light to be able to photosynthesise and turbid water inhibits light penetration, thus the depth that light can penetrate is a major control[4]. Severe storms (cyclones), and/or high rainfall, river discharge and the associated low Water clarity and high concentrations of nutrients and other potential contaminants, and sediment deposition leads to seagrass loss (see SeagrassWatch annual reports for inshore seagrass monitoring in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park)[11][3]. Trace elements (nutrients N, P), herbicides and other contaminants are known to affect seagrass health and other Structural macrobiota. This includes epiphytic algae and macroalgae which are indicators of high nutrients.

Water temperature is also relevant. Marine heatwaves can negatively impact seagrass meadows[5][12].

Mapping represents locations that seagrass has been recorded at some point in time, and therefore locations where seagrass may grow now or in the future providing environmental conditions are suitable (e.g. wave action, Water clarity, Sediment stability, Temperature and the presence of nutrients and other potential contaminants).

Additional Information

Seagrass - Queensland Government

Case study: Hervey Bay seagrass and dugong - Queensland Government

Saltmarshes, seagrasses and algae - Queensland Department of Primary Industries

Seagrass-Watch: guides and manuals

Seagrasses in Queensland (pamphlet)

Seagrass - Queensland Government

Seagrasses - Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS)

A Vulnerability Assessment for the Great Barrier Reef - Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority

Seagrass Restoration Network

References

1. ^ Aragones, LV, Lawler, IR, Foley, WJ & Marsh, H (October 2006), 'Dugong grazing and turtle cropping: grazing optimization in tropical seagrass systems?', Oecologia. [online], vol. 149, no. 4, pp. 635-647. Available at: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s00442-006-0477-1 [Accessed 3 April 2019].
2. ^ Bruinsma, C & Danaher, K (2001), Queensland Coastal Wetland Resources: Round Hill Head to Tin Can Inlet.. [online], vol. QI99081, Department of Primary Industries, Queensland Government., Brisbane. Available at: http://era.daf.qld.gov.au/id/eprint/3545/.
3. ^ Campbell, SJ & McKenzie, LJ (2004), 'Flood related loss and recovery of intertidal seagrass meadows in southern Queensland, Australia', Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, vol. 60, no. 3, pp. 477-490, Elsevier.
4. ^ Collier, CJ, Chartrand, K, Honchin, C, Fletcher, A & Rasheed, M (2016), Light thresholds for seagrasses of the GBRWHA: a synthesis and guiding document. [online], p. 49. Available at: http://nesptropical.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/NESP-TWQ-3.3-FINAL-REPORTa.pdf.
5. ^ Collier, CJ, Ow, YX, Langlois, L, Uthicke, S, Johansson, CL, O'Brien, KR, Hrebien, V & Adams, MP (23 August 2017), 'Optimum Temperatures for Net Primary Productivity of Three Tropical Seagrass Species', Frontiers in Plant Science. [online], vol. 8. Available at: http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpls.2017.01446/full [Accessed 5 April 2019].
6. ^ a b Danaher, K, Rasheed, M & Thomas, R (2005), The intertidal wetlands of Port Curtis, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries.
7. ^ Gilby, B, Olds, A, Connolly, R, Maxwell, P, Henderson, C & Schlacher, T (8 February 2018), 'Seagrass meadows shape fish assemblages across estuarine seascapes', Marine Ecology Progress Series. [online], vol. 588, pp. 179-189. Available at: http://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v588/p179-189/ [Accessed 15 March 2019].
8. ^ Jacobs, S & Les, D (26 October 2009), 'New combinations in Zostera (Zosteraceae)', Telopea. [online], vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 419-423. Available at: http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/emuwebnswlive/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=55023&reftable=ebibliography [Accessed 25 March 2019].
9. ^ a b Kilminster, K, McMahon, K, Waycott, M, Kendrick, GA, Scanes, P, McKenzie, L, O'Brien, KR, Lyons, M, Ferguson, A & Maxwell, P (2005), 'Unravelling complexity in seagrass systems for management: Australia as a microcosm', Science of the Total Environment, vol. 534, pp. 97-109, Elsevier.
10. ^ a b c Kuiper-Linley, M, Johnson, CR & Lanyon, JM (2007), 'Effects of simulated green turtle regrazing on seagrass abundance, growth and nutritional status in Moreton Bay, south-east Queensland, Australia', Marine and Freshwater Research. [online], vol. 58, no. 5, p. 492. Available at: http://www.publish.csiro.au/?paper=MF06241 [Accessed 5 April 2019].
11. ^ Lee Long, W, Mellors, J & Coles, R (1993), 'Seagrasses between Cape York and Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia', Marine and Freshwater Research. [online], vol. 44, no. 1, p. 19. Available at: http://www.publish.csiro.au/?paper=MF9930019 [Accessed 5 April 2019].
12. ^ a b McKenzie, LJ, Collier, CJ, Langlois, LA, Yoshida, RL, Smith, N & Waycott, M (2018), Marine Monitoring Program: Annual Report for inshore seagrass monitoring 2016-2017. Report for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. [online], p. 248pp., Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, Townsville. Available at: http://elibrary.gbrmpa.gov.au/jspui/handle/11017/3398.
13. ^ Olds, AD, Connolly, RM, Pitt, KA & Maxwell, PS (2012), 'Primacy of seascape connectivity effects in structuring coral reef fish assemblages', Marine Ecology Progress Series, vol. 462, pp. 191-203, Inter-Research, Nordbuente 23 Oldendorf/Luhe 21385 Germany.
14. ^ a b c Preen, AR, Long, WJL & Coles, RG (1995), 'Flood and cyclone related loss, and partial recovery, of more than 1000 km 2 of seagrass in Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia', Aquatic Botany, vol. 52, no. 1, pp. 3-17, Elsevier.
15. ^ Queensland Government, Seagrasses in Queensland. [online], Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries. Available at: https://www.seagrasswatch.org/wp-content/uploads/Resources/Brochure-Poster/Brochure/PDF/Seagrasses_in_Queensland_Fisheries_Info_Pamphlet.pdf.
16. ^ Rasheed, MA, Lee Long, WJ, McKenzie, LJ, Roder, CA, Roelofs, AJ & Coles, RG (1996), Port of Karumba: seagrass monitoring baseline surveys, Dry-season (Oct.) 1994 - Wet-season (Mar.) 1995, Ports Corp. of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld..
17. ^ a b Rasheed, MA, Thomas, R, Roelofs, AJ, Neil, KM & Kerville, SP (2003), Port Curtis and Rodds Bay Seagrass andBenthic Macro-Invertebrate Community Baseline Survey.
18. ^ Scheltinga, DM & Moss, A (2007), A framework for assessing the health of coastal waters: a trial of the national set of estuarine, coastal and marine indicators in Queensland. June 2007 Final report (condensed version). [online], Environmental Protection Agency Queensland, prepared for the National Land & Water Resources Audit, Canberra. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/237620104_A_framework_for_assessing_the_health_of_coastal_waters_a_trial_of_the_national_set_of_estuarine_coastal_and_marine_indicators_in_Queensland.
19. ^ Sheaves, M (2005), 'Nature and consequences of biological connectivity in mangrove systems', Marine Ecology Progress Series. [online], vol. 302, pp. 293-305. Available at: http://www.int-res.com/abstracts/meps/v302/p293-305/ [Accessed 15 March 2019].
20. ^ a b c Sheppard, JK, Preen, AR, Marsh, H, Lawler, IR, Whiting, SD & Jones, RE (2006), 'Movement heterogeneity of dugongs, Dugong dugon(Müller), over large spatial scales', Journal of experimental marine biology and ecology, vol. 334, no. 1, pp. 64-83, Elsevier.
21. ^ Watson, R, Coles, R & Lee Long, W (1993), 'Simulation estimates of annual yield and landed value for commercial penaeid prawns from a tropical seagrass habitat, Northern Queensland, Australia', Marine and Freshwater Research. [online], vol. 44, no. 1, p. 211. Available at: http://www.publish.csiro.au/?paper=MF9930211 [Accessed 8 April 2019].

Last updated: 22 July 2019