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Masawa J, Winters G, Kaminer M, Szitenberg A, Gruntman M, Ashckenazi-Polivoda S. A matter of choice: Understanding the interactions between epiphytic foraminifera and their seagrass host Halophila stipulacea. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 196:106437. [PMID: 38479296 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2024.106437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
In sub/tropical waters, benthic foraminifera are among the most abundant epiphytic organisms inhabiting seagrass meadows. This study explored the nature of the association between foraminifera and the tropical seagrass species H. stipulacea, aiming to determine whether these interactions are facilitative or random. For this, we performed a "choice" experiment, where foraminifera could colonize H. stipulacea plants or plastic "seagrasses" plants. At the end of the experiment, a microbiome analysis was performed to identify possible variances in the microbial community and diversity of the substrates. Results show that foraminifera prefer to colonize H. stipulacea, which had a higher abundance and diversity of foraminifera than plastic seagrass plants, which increased over time and with shoot age. Moreover, H. stipulacea leaves have higher epiphytic microbial community abundance and diversity. These results demonstrate that seagrass meadows are important hosts of the foraminifera community and suggest the potential facilitative effect of H. stipulacea on epiphytic foraminifera, which might be attributed to a greater diversity of the microbial community inhabiting H. stipulacea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenipher Masawa
- Dead Sea and Arava Science Center, Masada National Park, Mount Masada, 869100, Israel; School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, Porter School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Gidon Winters
- Dead Sea and Arava Science Center, Masada National Park, Mount Masada, 869100, Israel; Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Eilat Campus, Eilat, 881000, Israel.
| | - Moran Kaminer
- Dead Sea and Arava Science Center, Masada National Park, Mount Masada, 869100, Israel
| | - Amir Szitenberg
- Dead Sea and Arava Science Center, Masada National Park, Mount Masada, 869100, Israel
| | - Michal Gruntman
- School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, Porter School of the Environment and Earth Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Sarit Ashckenazi-Polivoda
- Dead Sea and Arava Science Center, Masada National Park, Mount Masada, 869100, Israel; Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Eilat Campus, Eilat, 881000, Israel.
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Beca-Carretero P, Marín C, Azcárate-García T, Cara CL, Brun F, Stengel DB. Ecotype-Specific and Correlated Seasonal Responses of Biomass Production, Non-Structural Carbohydrates, and Fatty Acids in Zostera marina. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:396. [PMID: 38337929 PMCID: PMC10856944 DOI: 10.3390/plants13030396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Seagrasses, which are marine flowering plants, provide numerous ecological services and goods. Zostera marina is the most widely distributed seagrass in temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, tolerant of a wide range of environmental conditions. This study aimed to (i) examine seasonal trends and correlations between key seagrass traits such as biomass production and biochemical composition, and (ii) compare seasonal adaptation of two ecotypes of Z. marina exposed to similar environmental conditions on the west coast of Ireland. During summer, plants accumulated higher levels of energetic compounds and levels of unsaturated fatty acids (FAs) decreased. Conversely, the opposite trend was observed during colder months. These findings indicate a positive seasonal correlation between the production of non-structural carbohydrates and saturated fatty acids (SFAs), suggesting that seagrasses accumulate and utilize both energetic compounds simultaneously during favorable and unfavorable environmental conditions. The two ecotypes displayed differential seasonal responses by adjusting plant morphology and production, the utilization of energetic reserves, and modulating unsaturation levels of fatty acids in seagrass leaves. These results underscore the correlated seasonal responses of key compounds, capturing ecotype-specific environmental adaptations and ecological strategies, emphasizing the robust utility of these traits as a valuable eco-physiological tool.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Beca-Carretero
- Botany and Plant Science, School of Natural Sciences, University of Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland (D.B.S.)
- Department of Theoretical Ecology and Modelling, Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research, 28359 Bremen, Germany
- Centro de Investigación Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain;
| | - Clara Marín
- Centro de Investigación Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain;
| | - Tomás Azcárate-García
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Ecology and Environmental Sciences & Biodiversity Research Institute (IRBio), University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain;
- Department of Marine Biology and Oceanography, Institute of Marine Sciences (ICM-CSIC), 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Claudia L. Cara
- Botany and Plant Science, School of Natural Sciences, University of Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland (D.B.S.)
| | - Fernando Brun
- Department of Biology, Division of Ecology, Faculty of Marine and Environmental Sciences, University of Cadiz, 11510 Puerto Real, Spain;
| | - Dagmar B. Stengel
- Botany and Plant Science, School of Natural Sciences, University of Galway, H91 TK33 Galway, Ireland (D.B.S.)
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