Altered nutrient cycling functionality in seagrass meadows under a simulated future marine heatwave event.

ABSTRACT: Seagrasses are important contributors to environmental nutrient cycling in marine ecosystems and can improve water quality by absorbing excess nitrogen (N). However, these ecosystems are vulnerable to human-mediated pressures, including marine heatwaves (MHWs), particularly those of longer duration. We performed an experiment simulating a 30-d, +5°C intensity MHW to examine the effects on maximum potential N cycling and transformation rates in different system compartments associated with the tropical seagrass Halophila ovalis. Under the MHW, the seagrass exhibited higher ammonium assimilation rates in the leaves, increased respiration rates, and highly variable survival and growth than those at ambient temperature. Contrary to expectations, sediment denitrification rates were lowered unde

SUBMITTER: Bass AV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12371151 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature