Abstract
The accurate measurement of epiphytic carbonate is vital in the construction of carbonate budgets. Prior studies have produced estimates of epiphytic carbonate production, but the results of these investigations are not directly comparable due to the variety of methods employed by the investigators. This investigation field-tested four methods of measuring epiphytic carbonate. These four methods were the gravimetric leaf acidification technique, the EDTA titration of epiphytized leaves, the EDTA titration with seagrass blanks, and the scrape and titrate method. The leaf acidification method and the EDTA titrimetric method without seagrass blanks resulted in significantly larger estimates of epiphytic carbonate than those produced using the other two methods. It is believed that the leaf acidification technique and the EDTA titration of epiphytized leaves results in overestimates of epiphytic carbonate due to the leaching of organic matter during acidification. The scrape and titrate method, involving the separation of epiphyte material from the seagrass leaves, is believed to most accurately measure epiphytic carbonate.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature Cited
American Public Health Association, American Water Works Association, and the Water Pollution Control Federation. 1989. Standard Methods for the Examination of of Water and Wastewater, 17th edn. Washington, D.C.
Bittaker, H. F. andR. L. Iverson. 1976.Thalassia testudinum productivity: A field comparison of measurement methods.Marine Biology 37:39–46.
Bosence, D. 1989. Carbonate production in Florida Bay.Bulletin of Marine Science 44:419–433.
Burkholder, P. R. and T. E. Doheny. 1968. The biology of eelgrass with special reference to Hempstead and South Oyster bays, Nassau County, Long Island, New York. Lamont Geological Observatory, Contribution 1227.
Frankovich, T. A. andJ. C. Zieman. 1994. Total epiphyte and epiphytic carbonate production onThalassia testudinum across Florida Bay.Bulletin of Marine Science 54:679–695.
Land, L. S. 1970. Carbonate mud: Production by epibiont growth onThalassia testudinum.Journal of Sedimentary Petrology 40:1361–1363.
Lowenstam, H. A. 1955. Aragonite needles secreted by algae and some sedimentary implications.Journal of Sedimentary Petrology 25:270–272.
Nelsen, J. E. andR. N. Ginsburg. 1986. Calcium carbonate production by epibionts onThalassia in Florida Bay.Journal of Sedimentary Petrology 56:622–628.
Patriquin, D. 1972. Carbonate mud production by epibionts onThalassia: An estimate based on leaf growth rate data.Journal of Sedimentary Petrology 42:687–689.
Penhale, P. A. 1977. Macrophyte-epiphyte biomass and productivity in an eelgrass (Zostera marina) L. community.Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 26:211–224.
Stockman, K. W., R. N. Ginsburg, andF. A. Shinn. 1967. The production of lime mud by algae in South Florida.Journal of Sedimentary Petrology 37:633–648.
Walker, D. I. andW. J. Woelkerling. 1988. A quantitative study of sediment contribution by epiphytic coralline red algae in seagrass meadows in Shark Bay, Western Australia.Marine Ecology Progress Series 43:71–77.
Zieman, J. C. andR. G. Wetzel. 1980. Productivity in seagrasses: Methods and rates, p. 87–116.In R. C. Phillips and C. P. McRoy (eds.), Handbook of Seagrass Biology: An Ecosystem Perspective. Garland STPM Press, New York.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Frankovich, T.A., Zieman, J.C. A comparison of methods for the accurate measurement of epiphytic carbonate. Estuaries 18, 279–284 (1995). https://doi.org/10.2307/1352639
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2307/1352639