Title of article :
Relationship between epiphytes and the photosynthetic activity of temperate seagrasses
Author/Authors :
Orbita, Maria L. S. Department of Biological Sciences - College of Science and Mathematics - Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology, Iligan City, Philippines , Mukai, Hiroshi Field Science Education and Research Center - Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
Abstract :
The relationship between epiphytes and the photosynthetic activity of Zostera japonica,
Zostera marina, Zostera asiatica and Phyllospadix iwatensis was investigated. The epiphyte component
of the seagrass leaves was composed primarily of diatoms and red calcareous algae. The epiphyte
density was highest in the oldest region of the leaves and the oldest leaf in a shoot. The relationship
between epiphytes and the photosynthetic activity of seagrasses is inversely proportional. The highest
photosynthetic activity was observed in the younger leaves with low epiphyte density and vice-versa.
This result indicates that the colonization of epiphytes in seagrasses is age-dependent.
Keywords :
Epiphytes , photosynthetic activity , age , temperate seagrasses
Journal title :
Astroparticle Physics
