Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Comment on J. C. Zieman, J. W. Fourqurean, and T. A. Frankovich. 1999. Seagrass Dieoff in Florida Bay: Long-term trends in abundance and growth of turtle grass,Thalassia testudinum. Estuaries 22:460–470

  • Technical Notes and Comments
  • Published:
Estuaries Aims and scope Submit manuscript

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Literature Cited

  • Atkinson, M. J. 1987. Low phosphorus sediments in a hypersaline marine bay.Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 24:335–347.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boesch, D. F., N. E. Armstrong, C. F. D'Elia, N. G. Maynard, H. W. Paerl, andS. L. Williams. 1993. Deterioration of the Florida Bay ecosystem: An evaluation of the scientific evidence. FWS/PMC. Florida Bay Research Program, Miami, Florida.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boyer, J. N., J. W. Fourqurean, andR. D. Jones. 1999. Seasonal and long-term trends in the water quality of Florida Bay (1989–1997).Estuaries 22:412–430.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brand, L. 2002. The transport of terrestrial nutrients to south Florida coastal waters, p. 361–413.In J. W. Porter and K. G. Porter (eds.), The Everglades, Florida Bay, and Coral Reefs of the Florida Keys: An Ecosystem Sourcebook. CRC Press Boca Raton, Florida.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bricker, S. B., C. C. Clement, D. E. Pirhalla, S. P. Orlando, andD. R. G. Farrow. 1999. National Estuarine Eutrophication Assessment: Effects of Nutrient Enrichment in the Nation's Estuaries. National Oceans Studies Special Projects Office, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Springs, Maryland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burkholder, J. M., K. M. Mason, andH. B. Glasgow, Jr. 1992. Water column nitrate enrichment promotes decline of eelgrassZostera marina: Evidence from seasonal mesocosm experiments.Marine Ecology Progress Series 81:163–178.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Butler, M. J., J. K. Hunt, W. F. Herrinkind, M. J. Childress, R. Bertelsen, W. Sharp, T. Matthews, J. M. Field, andH. G. Marshall. 1995. Cascading disturbances in Florida Bay, USA: Cyanobacterial blooms, sponge mortality, and implications for juvenile spiny lobstersPanularis argus.Marine Ecology Progress Series 129:119–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carlson, P. R., L. A. Yarbro, andT. R. Barber. 1994. Relationship of sediment sulfide to mortality ofThalassia testudinum in Florida Bay.Bulletin of Marine Science 54:733–746.

    Google Scholar 

  • Conover, J. T. 1964. The ecology, seasonal periodicity, and distribution of benthic plants in some Texas lagoons.Botanica Marina 7:4–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D'Avanzo, C. andJ. N. Kremer. 1994. Diel oxygen dynamics and anoxic events in an eutrophic estuary of Waquoit Bay, Massachusetts.Estuaries 17:131–139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dawes, C. J., C. Uranowski, J. Andorfer, andB. Teasdale. 1999. Changes in the macroalga taxa and zonation at the Content Keys, Florida.Bulletin of Marine Science 64:95–102.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeFelice, D. R. andG. W. Lynts. 1978. Benthic marine diatom associations: Upper Florida Bay (Florida) and associated sounds.Journal of Phycology 14:25–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Delgado, O. andB. E. Lapointe. 1995. Nutrient-limited productivity of calcareous versus fleshy macroalgae in a eutrophic, carbonate-rich tropical marine environment.Coral Reefs 13:151–159.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Den Hartog, C. 1977. Structure, function, and classification in seagrass communities, p. 89–119.In C. P. McRoy and C. Helfferich (eds.), Seagrass Ecosystems: A Scientific Perspective. Marcel Deckker, Inc., New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dixon, L. K. andJ. R. Leverone. 1995. Light requirements ofThalassia testudinum in Tampa Bay, FL. Final report. Southwest Florida Water Management District, Tampa, Florida.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duarte, C. M. 1995. Submerged aquatic vegetation in relation to different nutrient regimes.Ophelia 41:87–112.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fourqurean, J. W., R. D. Jones, andJ. C. Zieman. 1993. Processes influencing water column nutrient characteristics and phosphorus limitation of phytoplankton biomass in Florida Bay, FL, USA: Inferences from spatial distributions.Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 36:295–314.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Goodman, J. L., K. A. Moore, andW. C. Dennison. 1995. Photosynthetic responses of eelgrass (Zostera marina) to light and sediment sulfide in a shallow barrier island lagoon.Aquatic Botany 50:37–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gunderson, L. H. andC. J. Walters. 2002. Resilience in wet landscapes of southern Florida, p. 165–182.In L. H. Gunderson and L. Pritchard (eds.), Resilience and the behavior of large-scale systems. Island Press, Washington, D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hall, M. O., M. J. Durako, J. W. Fourqurean, andJ. C. Zieman. 1999. Decadal-scale changes in seagrass distribution and abundance in Florida Bay.Estuaries 22:445–459.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harvell, C. D., K. Kim, J. M. Burkholder, R. R. Colwell, P. R. Epstein, D. J. Grimes, E. E. Hofmann, E. K. Lipp, A. D. M. E. Osterhaus, R. M. Overstreet, J. M. Porter, G. W. Smith, andG. R. Vasta 1999. Emerging marine diseases—Climate links and anthropogenic factors.Science 285:1505–1510.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hauxwell, J., J. Cebrian, C. Furlong, andI. Valiela. 2001. Macroalgal canopies contribute to eelgrass (Zostera marina) decline in temperate estuarine ecosystems.Ecology 82:1007–1022.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howarth, R., D. Anderson, J. Cloern, C. Elfring, C. Hopkinson, B. Lapointe, T. Malone, N. Marcus, K. McGlathery, A. Sharpley, andD. Walker. 2000. Nutrient pollution of coastal rivers, bays, and seas. Issues in Ecology, Number 7. Ecological Society of America, Washington, D. C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jagels, R. 1973. Studies of a marine grassThalassia testudinum I. Ultrastructure of the osmoregulatory leaf cells.American Journal of Botany 60:1003–1009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jagels, R. 1983. Further evidence for osmoregulation in epidermal leaf cells of seagrasses.American Journal of Botany 70: 327–333.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lapointe, B. E. 1999. Simultaneous top-down and bottom-up forcess control macroalgal blooms on coral reefs. Reply to the comment of Hughes et al.Limnology and Oceanography 44: 1586–1592.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lapointe, B. E., P. J. Barile, C. S. Yentsch, M. M. Littler, D. S. Littler, and B. Kakuk. 2003. The relative importance of nutrient enrichment and herbivory on macroalgal communities near Norman's Pond Cay, Exuma Cays, Bahamas: A “natural” experiments.Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology in press.

  • Lapointe, B. E. andM. W. Clark. 1992. Nutrient inputs from the watershed and coastal eutrophications in the Florida Keys.Estuaries 15:465–476.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lapointe, B. E., M. M. Littler, andD. S. Littler. 1993. Modification of benthic community structure by cultural eutrophication: The Belize Barrier Reef.Proceedings from the 7th International Coral Reef Symposium 1:323–333.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lapointe, B. E. andW. R. Matzie. 1996. Effects of stormwater nutrient discharges on eutrophication processes in nearshore waters of the Florida Keys.Estuaries 19:422–435.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lapointe, B. E., W. R. Matzie, andP. J. Barile. 2002. Biotic phase-shifts in Florida Bay and fore reef communities of the Florida Keys: Linkages with historical freshwater flows and nitrogen from Everglades runoff. p. 629–648.In J. W. Porter and K. G. Porter (eds.), The Everglades, Florida Bay, and Coral Reefs of the Florida Keys: An Ecosystem Sourcebook. CRC Press Boca Raton, Florida.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lapointe, B. E., W. R. Matzie, and P. J. Barile. 2004 Anthropogenic nutrient enrichment of seagrass and coral reef communities in the Lower Florida Keys: Discrimination of local versus regional nitrogen sources.Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology in press.

  • Lapointe, B. E., D. A. Tomasko, andW. R. Matzie. 1994. Eutrophication and trophic state classification of seagrass communities in the Florida Keys.Bulletin of Marine Science 54:696–717.

    Google Scholar 

  • Larentyev, P. J., H. A. Bootsma, T. H. Johengen, J. F. Cavaletto, andW. S. Gardner. 1998. Microbial plankton resource limitation: Insights from community structure and seston stoichiometry in Florida Bay, USA.Marine Ecology Progress Series 165:43–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • McGlathery, K. J. 1995. Nutrient and grazing influences on a subtropical seagrass community.Marine Ecology Progress Series 122:239–252.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McIvor, C. C., J. A. Ley, andR. D. Bjork. 1994. Changes in freshwater inflow from the Everglades to Florida Bay, including the effects on biota and biotic responses, p. 117–146.In S. Davis and J. C. Ogden (eds.), The Everglades: The Ecosystem and its Restoration. St. Lucie Press, Delray Beach, Florida.

    Google Scholar 

  • McMillan, C. andF. N. Moselley. 1967. Salinity tolerances of five marine spermatophytes of Redfish Bay, Texas.Ecology 48: 503–506.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nationals Research Council (NRC). 2000. Clean coastal waters: Understanding and reducing the effects of nutrient pollution. Ocean Studies Board, Water Science and Technology Board, Washington, D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Research Council (NRC). 2002. Florida Bay research programs and their relation to the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. Committee on Restoration of the Greater Everglades Ecosystem, Water Science and Technology Board, Board on Environmental studies and Toxicology, Washington, D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Porter, J. W., V. Kosmynin, K. L. Patterson, K. G. Porter, W. C. Japp, J. L. Wheaton, K. Hackett, M. Lybolt, C. P. Tsokos, G. Yanev, D. M. Marcinek, J. Dotten, D. Eaken, M. Patterson, O. W. Meier, M. Brill, andP. Dustan. 2002. Detection of coral reef change by the Florida keys coral reef monitoring project, p. 749–769.In J. W. Porter and K. G. Porter (eds.), The Everglades, Florida Bay, and Coral Reefs of the Florida Keys: An Ecosystem Sourcebook. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pregnall, A. M., R. D. Smith, T. A. Kursar, andR. S. Alberte. 1984. Metabolic adaptation ofZostera marina (eelgrass) to diurnal periods of root anoxia.Marine Biology 83:141–147.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Price, A. G. R., C. J. Crossland, A. R. Dawson-Shepard, R. J. McDowall, P. A. H. Medley, M. Stafford-Smith, R. F. G. Ormond, andT. J. Wrathall. 1988. Aspects of seagrass ecology along the eastern coast of the Red Sea.Botanica Marina 31:83–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Puhlich, W. M. 1986. Variations in leaf soluble amino acids and ammonium content in subtropical seagrasses related to salinity stress.Plant Physiology 80:283–286.

    Google Scholar 

  • Quammen, M. L. andC. Onuf. 1993. Laguna Madre: Seagrass changes continue decades after salinity reduction.Estuaries 16:302–310.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Redfield, G. W. 2000. Ecological research for aquatic science and environmental restoration in south Florida.Ecological Applications 10:990–1005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reyes, E. andM. Merino. 1991. Diel dissolved oxygen dynamics and eutrophication in a shallow well-mixed tropical lagoon (Cancun, Mexico).Estuaries 14:372–381.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Robblee, M. B., T. R. Barber, P. R. Carlson, M. J. Durako, J. W. Fourqurean, L. K. Muehlstein, D. Porter, L. A. Yarbro, R. T. Zieman, andJ. C. Zieman. 1991. Mass mortality of the tropical seagrassThalassia testudinum in Florida Bay.Marine Ecology Progress Series 71:297–299.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rudnick, D. T., Z. Chen, D. L. Childers, J. N. Boyer, andT. D. Fontaine. 1999. Phosphorus and nitrogen inputs to Florida Bay: The importance of the Everglades watershed.Estuaries 22:398–416.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, S. R. 1995. Final report on the marine environmental impact of the Wellington Water Works reverse osmosis plant. Bermuda Biological Station for Research, Inc., Ferry Reach, Bermuda.

    Google Scholar 

  • South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) 1995. Florida Bay adaptive environmental assessment and management workshop, July 11–13. Duck Key, Florida.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tabb, D. C., D. L. Dubrow, andR. B. Manning. 1962. The ecology of northern Florida Bay and adjacent estuaries. State of Florida Board of Conservation, Technical series No. 39, The Marine Laboratory, University of Miami, Miami, Florida.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tabb, D. C. andM. A. Roessler. 1989. History of studies on juvenile fishes of coastal waters of Everglades National Park.Bulletin of Marine Science 44:23–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tomas, C. R., B. Bendis, andK. Johns. 1999. Role of nutrients in regulating plankton blooms in Florida Bay, p. 323–327.In H. Kumpf, K. Steidinger, and K. Sherman (eds.), The Gulf of Mexico Large Marine Ecosystem: Assessment, Sustainability, and Management. Blackwell Sciences, Malden, Massachusetts.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tomasko, D. A., N. J. Blake, C. W. Dye, andM. A. Hammond. 1999. Effects of the disposal of reverse osmosis seawater desalination discharges on a seagrass meadow (Thalassia testudinum) offshore of Antigua, West Indies, p. 99–112.In S. Bortone (ed.), Seagrasses: Monitoring, Ecology, Physiology, and Management. CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tomasko, D. A., C. J. Dawes, andM. O. Hall. 1996. The effects of anthropogenic nutrient enrichments on turtle grass (Thalassia testudinum) in Sarasota Bay, Florida.Estuaries 19:448–456.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tomasko, D. A. andM. O. Hall. 1999. Productivity and biomass of the seagrassThalassia testudinum along a gradient of freshwater influence in Charlotte Harbor, Florida (USA).Estuaries 22:592–602.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tomasko, D. A. andB. E. Lapointe. 1991. Productivity and biomass ofThalassia testudinum as related to water column nutrient availability and epiphyte levels: Field observations and experimental studies.Marine Ecology Progress Series 75:9–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 1996. Water Quality Protection Program for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, First Biennial Report to Congress. EPA, Washington, D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Valiela, I., J. McClelland, J. Hauxwell, P. J. Behr, D. Hersh, andK. Foreman. 1997. Macroalgal blooms in shallow estuaries: Controls and ecophysiological and ecosystem consequences.Limnology and Oceanography 42:1105–1118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Katwijk, M. M., L. H. T. Vergeer, G. H. W. Schmitz, andJ. G. M. Roelots. 1997. Ammonium toxicity in eelgrassZostera marina.Marine Ecology Progress Series 157:159–173.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vitousek, P. M., J. D. Aber, R. W. Howarth, G. E. Likens, P. A. Matson, D. W. Schindler, W. H. Schlesinger, andD. G. Tilman. 1997. Human alteration of the global nitrogen cycle: Sources and consequences.Ecological Applications 7:737–752.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zieman, J. C. andJ. W. Fourqurean. 1985. The distribution and abundance of benthic vegetation in Florida Bay, Everglades National Park. Final report contract # CX5280-2-2204. South Florida Research Center, National Park Service, Homestead, Florida.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zieman, J. C., J. W. Fourqurean, andT. A. Frankovich. 1999. Seagrass die-off in Florida Bay: Long-term trends in abundance and growth of turtle grassThalassia testudinum.Estuaries 22:460–470.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zieman, J. C., J. W. Fourquean, andL. Iverson. 1989. Distribution, abundance, and productivity of seagrasses and macroalgae in Florida Bay.Bulletin of Marine Science 44:292–311.

    Google Scholar 

Sources of Unpublished Material

  • Durako, M. J., Unpublished Data. University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Center for Marine Research, 7205 Wrightsville Avenue, Wilmington, North Carolina 28403

  • Hall, M., Unpublished Data. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Marine Research Institute, 100 Eighth Avenue, Southeast, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Marine Science, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institution, Inc., 5600 U.S. 1 North, 34946, Fort Pierce, Florida

    Brian E. Lapointe & Peter J. Barile

Authors
  1. Brian E. Lapointe
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Peter J. Barile
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Brian E. Lapointe.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lapointe, B.E., Barile, P.J. Comment on J. C. Zieman, J. W. Fourqurean, and T. A. Frankovich. 1999. Seagrass Dieoff in Florida Bay: Long-term trends in abundance and growth of turtle grass,Thalassia testudinum. Estuaries 22:460–470. Estuaries 27, 157–164 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02803569

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02803569

Keywords

Search

Navigation