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Release of dissolved organic matter by some marine macrophytes

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Abstract

The amount of photoassimilated carbon released as dissolved organic carbon was investigated for 5 species of benthic marine macrophytes (Thalassia testudinum, Diplanthera wrightii, Acanthophora spicifera, Chondria dasyphylla, and Dictyota dichotoma) and 1 species of pelagic marine macrophyte (Sargassum natans). Release rates ranged between 0.006 and 0.053 mg C g-1 h-1. Percent release values ranged from 1.1 to 3.8%. Spermatophytes had slightly lower percent release values than algae. Investigations performed on the ability of release products to be utilized by heterotrophic organisms showed that 20 to 30% of the released organic carbon was assimilated within a 2-h period.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA

    M. Brylinsky

  2. Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, B3H 4J1, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

    M. Brylinsky

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  1. M. Brylinsky
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Communicated by T.R. Parsons, Vancouver

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Brylinsky, M. Release of dissolved organic matter by some marine macrophytes. Mar. Biol. 39, 213–220 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00390995

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