Abstract
Primary production and biomass of Cymodocea nodosa in the Ghar El Melh lagoon (N-E of Tunisia) were measured from November 2006 to October 2007. Leaf growth was determined using the Zieman method and rhizome production was measured by marking and monitoring terminal rhizomes. The following parameters were measured: the number of new leaves per year (16 leaves year-1), the leaf Plastochrone Interval (23 days) and the life span of single leaves (from 2 to 7 months). Seasonality was apparent, with maximum growth in July, maximum leaf production (3.35 g dry weight m-2 d-1) in August, maximum leaf biomass (127.2 g dry weight m-2) and maximum of the shoot density (1437 shoots m-2) in September. Forty-five to 65% of all shoots were reproductive, with flowering density higher than generally observed in C. nodosa elsewhere in the Mediterranean. Environmental parameters (insolation, water temperature and salinity) had a strong seasonal influence on seagrass morphology and production; shoot density, biomass and leaf production were high in summer and low in winter.
©2011 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin Boston