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Relationship between productivity and N 2 (C 2 H 2 ) fixation in a Thalassia testudinum community 1
Author(s) -
Capone Douglas G.,
Penhale Polly A.,
Oremland Ronald S.,
Taylor Barrie F.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
limnology and oceanography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.7
H-Index - 197
eISSN - 1939-5590
pISSN - 0024-3590
DOI - 10.4319/lo.1979.24.1.0117
Subject(s) - thalassia testudinum , epiphyte , macrophyte , seagrass , botany , nitrogen fixation , biology , productivity , nitrogen , agronomy , ecology , ecosystem , chemistry , macroeconomics , organic chemistry , economics
N 2 (C 2 H 2 ) fixation and primary production were measured in communities of Thalassia testudinum at two sites in Bimini Harbor (Bahamas). Production was determined by uptake of [ 14 C]NaHCO 3 , by leaf growth measurements, and by applying an empirical formula based on leaf dimensions. The last two methods gave similar results but the 14 C method gave higher values. Anaerobic sediment N 2 fixation supplied about ¼ to ½ of the nitrogen demand for leaf production (by leaf growth method) and there was a significant correlation between N 2 fixation and CO 2 fixation rates when all components of the communities were considered (macrophyte, phyllosphere epiphytes, and detrital leaves). N 2 fixation is important to production in Thalassia communities and the plant and its leaf epiphytes may be distinct entities in terms of nitrogen and carbon metabolism.