Gulf-Wide comparison of Thalassia testudinum demographics, morphology, flowering rates, and physiological responses to short-term shading (2010)

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This project will examine and compare phenotypic expressions and responses to light stress of genetically isolated Thalassia testudinum populations in three major regions of seagrass habitat in the Gulf of Mexico: Florida Keys, Florida panhandle, and Corpus Christi Bay, TX. I will examine population demographics such as average shoot age, average growth rate, and average flowering rate with comparisons among the three areas previously mentioned. I will also compare morphologies of T. testudinum from these genetically distinct populations and examine the relationship between phenotypic expression and local environmental conditions, such as temperature, salinity, and light availability. To determine any relationships between genetic response to changes in light quality and geographic location of a population, a short term shading experiment will be conducted in situ using light extinctions of 0, 45, and 90% of surface irradiance. This novel experiment is essential for understanding the tightly interwoven relationships between seagrass physiology and the surrounding abiotic environmental factors.

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Additional Info

Field Value
Author Just Cebrian or Ashley McDonald
Maintainer data@disl.org
Last Updated July 23, 2022, 03:04 (UTC)
Created July 23, 2022, 03:04 (UTC)
Access_Constraints Permission to access these data must be given by Dr. Just Cebrian or Ashley McDonald.
ISO 19115 Topic Categories biota, 002, environment, 007, oceans, 014
Place Keywords Gulf of Mexico, GOM, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, FKNMS, Florida Bay, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Pensacola Bay, Florida, East Flats, Corpus Christi Bay, Texas, Big Lagoon
Theme Keywords Thalassia testudinum, turtle grass, seagrass, demographics, morphology, biomass, flowering rate, shading, adaptability, physiological response, structural plasticity, comparison
Use_Constraints Acknowledgment of the DISL: Marine Ecosystems Lab and would be appreciated in products developed from these data, and such acknowledgment as is standard for citation and legal practices for data source is expected by users of these data. Users should be aware that comparison with other data sets for the same area from other time periods may be inaccurate due to inconsistencies resulting from changes in mapping conventions, data collection, and computer processes over time. The distributor shall not be liable for improper or incorrect use of these data, based on the description of appropriate/inappropriate uses described in the metadata document. These data are not legal documents and are not to be used as such.
dc.contributor Dr. James Fourqurean Dr. Ken Dunton Bart Christiaen
dc.coverage.placeName Gulf of Mexico GOM Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary FKNMS Florida Bay Gulf Islands National Seashore Pensacola Bay Florida East Flats Corpus Christi Bay Texas Big Lagoon
dc.coverage.t.max 20100722T
dc.coverage.t.min 20100322T
dc.coverage.x.max -80.8
dc.coverage.x.min -97.1
dc.coverage.y.max 30.3
dc.coverage.y.min 24.8
dc.creator Dauphin Island Sea Lab's Marines Ecosystem Lab
dc.date Unpublished material
dc.description This project will examine and compare phenotypic expressions and responses to light stress of genetically isolated Thalassia testudinum populations in three major regions of seagrass habitat in the Gulf of Mexico: Florida Keys, Florida panhandle, and Corpus Christi Bay, TX. I will examine population demographics such as average shoot age, average growth rate, and average flowering rate with comparisons among the three areas previously mentioned. I will also compare morphologies of T. testudinum from these genetically distinct populations and examine the relationship between phenotypic expression and local environmental conditions, such as temperature, salinity, and light availability. To determine any relationships between genetic response to changes in light quality and geographic location of a population, a short term shading experiment will be conducted in situ using light extinctions of 0, 45, and 90% of surface irradiance. This novel experiment is essential for understanding the tightly interwoven relationships between seagrass physiology and the surrounding abiotic environmental factors.
dc.language en
dc.subject Thalassia testudinum turtle grass seagrass demographics morphology biomass flowering rate shading adaptability physiological response structural plasticity comparison
dc.title Gulf-Wide comparison of Thalassia testudinum demographics, morphology, flowering rates, and physiological responses to short-term shading (2010)
spatial { "type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [ [ [ -97.1, 30.3 ], [ -80.8, 30.3 ], [ -80.8, 24.8 ], [ -97.1, 24.8 ], [ -97.1, 30.3 ] ] ] }