Document Type
Data Set
Publication Date
2023
Collection Date(s)
2022-06-01, 2022-07-23
Abstract
Macroalgae form important coastal ecosystems and are considered to be highly
productive, yet individual macrophyte carbon uptake rates are
poorly documented and methodologies for in situ assessments of productivity
are not well developed. In this study, we employ a 13C enrichment method in
benthic chambers to calculate carbon uptake rates and assess d13C signatures of
a large stock of nearshore benthic macroalgae varying in taxa and morphology in
Southern California. Our objectives are to 1) identify the variability of carbon
uptake and inorganic carbon use among individuals of the same species or
morphology and speculate how macroalgae might respond to future changes in
ocean chemistry, and 2) establish accurate and accessible carbon uptake
procedures for coastal benthic primary producers. We found no significant
relationship between environmental factors such as nutrient concentrations,
PAR, temperature, salinity, and productivity rates, suggesting that unique
physiological complexions underpin the high variability of carbon uptake and
d13C in studied macrophyte samples. We consider three reasons our
experimental carbon uptake rates are 3–4 orders of magnitude lower than
existing literature, which reports carbon uptake in the same units despite using
different methods: 1) underrepresentation of Pmax, 2) incomplete carbon
fractionation corrections, and 3) reduced hydrodynamics within the
benthic chambers.
Grant Number
NSF DBI 1950350, NSF DEB 2312723
Grant Sponsor
National Science Foundation
Recommended Citation
Data for "In situ carbon uptake of marine macrophytes is highly variable among species, taxa, and morphology"
Metadata
Supplementary Datasheet #2.numbers (154 kB)
Benthic Chamber Deployment Metadata