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Empirical Relationship Between Eelgrass Extent and predicted Watershed-derived Nitrogen Loading for Shallow New England Estuaries
Citation:
LATIMER, J. S. AND S. A. REGO. Empirical Relationship Between Eelgrass Extent and predicted Watershed-derived Nitrogen Loading for Shallow New England Estuaries. ESTUARINE, COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE. Elsevier Science Ltd, New York, NY, 90:231-240, (2010).
Impact/Purpose:
Excess nitrogen input to coastal aquatic resources of the United States is a problem of broad national significance. National, regional and local environmental managers are in the process of developing methods and models that will aid in the determination of how much nitrogen is too much for estuaries. Eelgrass is a valuable resource capable of providing high quality habitat for fish and shellfish, protection of biodiversity, and other important ecological services. This study describes eelgrass response to nitrogen inputs for small-to-medium sized estuaries in southern New England. Results show that excess nitrogen loading is associated with the significant loss of this important marine resource.
Description:
Seagrasses provide important ecological services that directly or indirectly benefit human well-being and the environment. Excess nitrogen inputs are a major cause of losses of eelgrass in the marine environment. In this paper we describe the results of a field-based empirical study aimed at quantifying the extent of eelgrass as a function of watershed-derived nitrogen loading for small-to-medium-sized shallow estuaries in southern New England. Findings confirm that reduced extent of eelgrass corresponds to increased loading of nitrogen to estuaries. At lower levels of nitrogen loading (≤ 50 Kg N ha-1 yr-1), eelgrass extent is variable and is likely controlled by other ecosystem factors unrelated to water quality. At higher loading rates, mean eelgrass extent is estimated to be between 7-12%.