Ana I. Sousa

USE OF FTIR, FT-RAMAN AND 13C-NMR SPECTROSCOPY FOR IDENTIFICATION OF SOME SEAWEED PHYCOCOLLOIDS

Many seaweeds produce phycocolloids, stored in the cell wall. Members of the Rhodophyceae produce polysaccharides the main components of which are galactose (galactans)-agar and carrageenan. In addition, alginic acid is extracted from members of the Phaeophyceae. This is a binary polyuronide made up of mannuronic acid and guluronic acid. The wide uses of these phycocolloids are based on their gelling, viscosifying and emulsifying properties, which generate an increasing commercial and scientific interest. In this work, the FTIR and FT-RAMAN spectra of carrageenan and agar, obtained by alkaline extraction from different seaweeds (e.g. Mastocarpus stellatus, Chondrus crispus, Calliblepharis jubata, Chondracanthus acicularis, Chondracanthus teedei and Gracilaria gracilis), were recorded in order to identify the type of phycocolloid produced. The spectra of commercial carrageenan, alginic acid and agar samples (SIGMA and TAAB laboratories) were used as references. Special emphasis was given to the 500-1500 cm(-1) region, which presents several vibrational modes, sensitive to the type of polysaccharide and to the type of glycosidic linkage. The FT-Raman spectra present a higher resolution than FTIR spectra, this allowing the identification of a larger number of characteristic bands. In some cases, phycocolloids can be identified by FT-Raman spectroscopy alone.

Contribution of Spartina maritima to the reduction of eutrophication in estuarine systems

Salt marshes are among the most productive ecosystems in the world, performing important ecosystem functions, particularly nutrient recycling. In this study, a comparison is made between Mondego and Tagus estuaries in relation to the role of Spartina maritima in nitrogen retention capacity and cycling. Two mono-specific S. maritima stands per estuary were studied during 1yr (biomass, nitrogen (N) pools, litter production, decomposition rates). Results showed that the oldest Tagus salt marsh population presented higher annual belowground biomass and N productions, and a slower decomposition rate for litter, contributing to the higher N accumulation in the sediment, whereas S. maritima younger marshes had higher aboveground biomass production. Detritus moved by tides represented a huge amount of aboveground production, probably significant when considering the N balance of these salt marshes. Results reinforce the functions of salt marshes as contributing to a reduction of eutrophication in transitional waters, namely through sedimentation processes.

The influence of Spartina maritima on carbon retention capacity in salt marshes from warm-temperate estuaries.

Salt marshes constitute highly productive systems playing an important role on ecosystem functions. The aim of this study is to compare the role of Spartina maritima salt marshes on carbon cycling. Thus, four salt marshes located in two mesotidal estuarine systems (Tagus and Mondego, two salt marshes per estuary) were studied. The S. maritima above- and belowground biomass, carbon production, decomposition rates (through a litterbag experiment) and carbon content in the sediment were estimated for a one year period in both systems and compared. In Corroios (located at the Tagus estuary) S. maritima salt marsh had the highest belowground production (1008 gC m(-2) y(-1)), slower decomposition rate (k=0.0024 d(-1)), and the highest carbon content in sediments (750 gC m(-2) y(-1)); and thus, the highest carbon retention capacity. The other three salt marshes had comparatively higher aboveground productions, higher decomposition rates and lower carbon retention capacity. Therefore, Corroios had the most important carbon cycling characteristics. As a whole, results show that differences in carbon cycling in salt marshes depend mostly on its own characteristics and maturity, rather than the system itself. The intrinsic characteristics of the salt marshes, namely the physicochemical conditions determined by the maturity of the system, are more important factors affecting the role of warm-temperate mesotidal salt marshes as carbon sinks.

Application of the generic DPSIR framework to seagrass communities of Ria de Aveiro: a better understanding of this coastal lagoon

ABSTRACT Azevedo, A., Sousa, A.I., Lencart e Silva, J.D., Dias, J.M. and Lillebø, A.I., 2013. Application of the generic DPSIR framework to seagrass communities of Ria de Aveiro: a better understanding of this coastal lagoon Seagrasses are rooted flowering plants, forming dense and highly productive meadows in transitional and coastal waters, which assure major functions and services contributing to the ecosystems health. However, the increased decline and fragmentation of seagrass meadows lead to the loss of the associated benefits. In Ria de Aveiro coastal lagoon (Portugal), seagrass meadows showed a marked decline during the past three decades. In this context, the DPSIR framework (Drivers-Pressures-State-Impacts-Response) arises as an useful tool for environmental assessments. The objective of this study was to apply the DPSIR conceptual model to the seagrass communities in the Ria de Aveiro lagoon, to identify the main drivers, pressures, state and impacts resulting in its decline. Lastly, it was intended to propose possible management responses towards the maintenance of the functions and services provided by the seagrass communities in the Ria de Aveiro. This framework provided an integrated view of the past-present information considering the background data available. The results obtained by the application of the DPSIR framework to the seagrass communities of Ria de Aveiro lagoon structured the existing data from the point of view of a multiple-effect chain, and it was suggested that seagrasses decline in this coastal system have been mainly due to anthropogenic pressures. In conclusion, this work is a relevant contribution from an ecological-scientific perspective of seagrass meadows in the Ria de Aveiro lagoon, with succinct information potentially useful to be integrated in management tools applied to the overall coastal lagoon.

Influence of multiple stressors on the auto-remediation processes occurring in salt marshes.

Due to increasing global population, salt marshes have been subjected to multiple stressors such as increasing nutrient loadings and historical contamination. In order to better understand how does the salt marsh plants auto-remediation capacity (phytoaccumulation of metals) is affected by cultural eutrophication, an experiment was performed under controlled conditions. Plants were exposure to equal metal concentrations (Zn, Cu, and Ni - micronutrients, and Cd - class B metal) simulating historical contamination and three different concentrations of nitrogen (nitrate) simulating steps of cultural eutrophication. According to our study, under the tested concentrations, cultural eutrophication does not seem to affect Zn, Cu and Ni phytoremediation of H. portulacoides, but the ecosystem service of Cd phytoremediation seems to be promoted. Nevertheless, Cd high toxicity and bioaccumulation should be taken into account, as well as the vulnerability of salt marsh ecosystems, whose reduction will have drastic consequences to the ecosystem health.

‘Blue Carbon’ and Nutrient Stocks of Salt Marshes at a Temperate Coastal Lagoon (Ria de Aveiro, Portugal)

Ria de Aveiro is a mesotidal coastal lagoon with one of the largest continuous salt marshes in Europe. The objective of this work was to assess C, N and P stocks of Spartina maritima (low marsh pioneer halophyte) and Juncus maritimus (representative of mid-high marsh halophytes) combined with the contribution of Halimione portulacoides, Sarcocornia perennis, and Bolbochenous maritimus to the lagoon ≈4400 ha marsh area. A multivariate analysis (PCO), taking into account environmental variables and the annual biomass and nutrient dynamics, showed that there are no clear seasonal or spatial differences within low or mid-high marshes, but clearly separates J. maritimus and S. maritima marshes. Calculations of C, N and P stocks in the biomass of the five most representative halophytes plus the respective rhizosediment (25 cm depth), and taking into account their relative coverage, represents 252053 Mg C, 38100 Mg N and 7563 Mg P. Over 90% of the stocks are found within mid-high marshes. This work shows the importance of this lagoon’s salt marshes on climate and nutrients regulation, and defines the current condition concerning the ‘blue carbon’ and nutrient stocks, as a basis for prospective future scenarios of salt marsh degradation or loss, namely under SLR context.

Temporal dynamics of sediment bacterial communities in monospecific stands of Juncus maritimus and Spartina maritima.

In the present study, we used 16S rRNA barcoded pyrosequencing to investigate to what extent monospecific stands of different salt marsh plant species (Juncus maritimus and Spartina maritima), sampling site and temporal variation affect sediment bacterial communities. We also used a bioinformatics tool, PICRUSt, to predict metagenome gene functional content. Our results showed that bacterial community composition from monospecific stands of both plant species varied temporally, but both host plant species maintained compositionally distinct communities of bacteria. Juncus sediment was characterised by higher abundances of Alphaproteobacteria, Myxococcales, Rhodospirillales, NB1-j and Ignavibacteriales, while Spartina sediment was characterised by higher abundances of Anaerolineae, Synechococcophycidae, Desulfobacterales, SHA-20 and Rhodobacterales. The differences in composition and higher taxon abundance between the sediment bacterial communities of stands of both plant species may be expected to affect overall metabolic diversity. In line with this expectation, there were also differences in the predicted enrichment of selected metabolic pathways. In particular, bacterial communities of Juncus sediment were predicted to be enriched for pathways related to the degradation of various (xenobiotic) compounds. Bacterial communities of Spartina sediment in turn were predicted to be enriched for pathways related to the biosynthesis of various bioactive compounds. Our study highlights the differences in composition and predicted functions of sediment-associated bacterial communities from two different salt marsh plant species. Loss of salt marsh habitat may thus be expected to both adversely affect microbial diversity and ecosystem functioning and have consequences for environmental processes such as nutrient cycling and pollutant remediation.

Effect of spatio-temporal shifts in salinity combined with other environmental variables on the ecological processes provided by Zostera noltei meadows

The present study aims to assess the plastic response of Zostera noltei meadows traits under spatio-temporal shifts in salinity combined with sediment environmental variables (temperature; pH; loss-on-ignition (LOI); carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools (top 5 cm)). Z. noltei biomass, C and N pools, leaf photosynthetic performance and esterified fatty acid (FA) profile were assessed within a temperate coastal lagoon during winter and late spring, along sites spatially distributed. None of the surveyed traits for Z. noltei displayed a clear spatial trend. Z. noltei proved to be euryhaline, whose biology was only slightly affected within this salinity range, in each season (14–39 in winter; 33–41 in late spring). Seasonal differences in salinity and environmental parameters explain the differences recorded in Z. noltei traits (aboveground biomass, N and C pools; photosynthetic performance). Spatio-temporal salinity shifts did not significantly affect the pool of FA present in Z. noltei. Overall, within the salinity range surveyed, the ecological processes studied and regulating Z. noltei meadows do not appear to be at risk. This work reinforces the plasticity of Z. noltei to salinity shifts within the studied range, with this finding being particularly relevant in the context of extreme weather events (e.g., winter freshwater floods, summer droughts).