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The ecological importance of the dwarf seagrass Zostera japonica in intertidal areas on the southern coast of Korea

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Abstract

The intertidal seagrass Zostera japonica, which is distributed in the intertidal and shallow subtidal zones, is exposed to nutrients from over-enriched land-based discharge and storm water runoff before they can be washed out to sea. Despite its ecological importance, only a few studies have examined the ecology and physiology of Z. japonica in northeast Asia. In this study, we investigated the productivity and tissue nutrient contents of above- and below-ground tissues to evaluate the potential role of Z. japonica in carbon capture and as a nutrient sink. The average total, above-, and below-ground productivity per shoot was 0.56, 0.34, and 0.21 mg DW shoot-1 day-1, respectively. Annual leaf production was 1.5 times higher than annual below-ground production. Estimated annual whole-plant carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus incorporation based on shoot production and tissue nutrient contents was 312.8 g C m-2 y-1, 25.7 g N m-2 y-1, and 1.6 g P m-2 y-1, respectively. These values were equivalent to 7.8 × 103 kg C y-1, 6.4 × 102 kg N y-1, and 40 kg P y-1 for all Z. japonica beds in Geoje Bay. This suggests that Z. japonica meadows can incorporate a considerable amount of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in the intertidal zone. High N:P ratios of above- and below-ground tissues suggest that Z. japonica growth is probably limited by phosphorus availability in the study area.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Estuarine & Coastal Ecology Laboratory, Department of Marine Life Sciences, Jeju National University, Jeju, 63243, Korea

    Sun Kyeong Choi, Sangil Kim & Sang Rul Park

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan, 46241, Korea

    Kun-Seop Lee

  3. Department of Marine Fisheries, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China

    Wen-Tao Li

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  1. Sun Kyeong Choi
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  2. Sangil Kim
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Correspondence to Sang Rul Park.

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Choi, S.K., Kim, S., Lee, KS. et al. The ecological importance of the dwarf seagrass Zostera japonica in intertidal areas on the southern coast of Korea. Ocean Sci. J. 51, 1–12 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12601-016-0001-4

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