Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC), Instituto de Investigaciones Oceanológicas (IIO), Marine Botany Research Group, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.
Universidad Autónoma de Baja California (UABC), Instituto de Investigaciones Oceanológicas (IIO), Marine Botany Research Group, Ensenada, Baja California, Mexico.
Mar Pollut Bull. 2024 Feb;199:115943. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115943. Epub 2024 Jan 3.
The surfgrass Phyllospadix scouleri grows in highly productive meadows along the Pacific coast of North America. This region has experienced increasingly severe marine heatwaves (MHWs) in recent years. Our study evaluated the impact of consecutive MHWs, simulated in mesocosms, on essential ecophysiological features of P. scouleri. Overall, our findings show that the plants' overall physiological status has been progressively declining. Interestingly, the indicators of physiological stress in photosynthesis only showed up once the initial heat exposure stopped (i.e., during the recovery period). The warming caused increased oxidative damage and a decrease in nitrate uptake rates. However, the levels of non-structural carbohydrates and relative growth rates were not affected. Our findings emphasize the significance of incorporating recovery periods in this type of study as they expose delayed stress responses. Furthermore, experiencing consecutive intense MHWs can harm surfgrasses over time, compromising the health of their meadows and the services they offer to the ecosystem.
沿北美太平洋海岸生长的海草 Phyllospadix scouleri 生长在生产力极高的草地上。近年来，该地区经历了越来越严重的海洋热浪（MHW）。我们的研究评估了中观模型中连续海洋热浪对 P. scouleri 基本生理生态特征的影响。总的来说，我们的研究结果表明，植物的整体生理状况一直在逐渐下降。有趣的是，光合作用中生理压力的指标仅在初始热暴露停止后（即恢复期）才出现。变暖导致氧化损伤增加和硝酸盐吸收速率下降。然而，非结构性碳水化合物和相对生长率的水平不受影响。我们的研究结果强调了在这种类型的研究中纳入恢复期的重要性，因为它们会暴露出延迟的应激反应。此外，随着时间的推移，连续经历强烈的海洋热浪会对海草造成伤害，从而损害其草地的健康及其为生态系统提供的服务。
