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EFFECTS OF IN SITU LIGHT REDUCTION ON WILD CELERY, VALLISNERIA AMERICANA, IN PERDIDO BAY, ALABAMA
Citation:
Quarles, R L. AND J M. Macauley. EFFECTS OF IN SITU LIGHT REDUCTION ON WILD CELERY, VALLISNERIA AMERICANA, IN PERDIDO BAY, ALABAMA. Presented at Gulf of Mexico Symposium 2000, Mobile, AL, 9-12 April 2000.
Description:
The effects of reducing ambient light using commercially available shade cloth were examined in a densely populated grassbed of wild celerly, Vallisneria americana. Grassbeds were shaded in treatments of 92% light reduction and 79% light reduction with control treatments (0% light reduction) mixed throughout. Measurements were taken of chlorophyll, above and below ground biomass, blade length/width ratios, total length and carbon:nitrogen ratios. Chlorophyll levels were consistently higher in seagrass blades in both the 78%, and the 92% light reduction treatments, except for the initial sampling period. This treatment also exhibited less biomass (above and below ground) and blade growth was inhibited. Even though significant effects were displayed in the 92% treatment, particularly in chlorophyll production in the blades, Vallisneria demonstrated a high tolerance for light reduction and can survive at least one growing season under greatly reduced light.