Comparative Analysis of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Assimilation Rates by Macroalgae and Seagrasses according to Simulation Data

E. F. Vasechkina*, I. P. Naumenko, T. A. Filippova

Marine Hydrophysical Institute of RAS, Sevastopol, Russia

* e-mail: vasechkina.elena@gmail.com

Abstract

The paper considers assimilation and release of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds by sea macroalgae and grasses during primary production synthesis in a coastal euphotic zone. To reproduce the processes of aquatic plant functioning under competition for resources among themselves and phytoplankton, a mixed type benthic phytocenosis simulation model was used. The object-oriented concept of the model allows reproducing random spatial distribution of plant species in the computational domain. Plant biomass dynamics is calculated using an individual-based approach. The rates of physiological processes depend on temperature, light, nutrient concentrations in water and soil as well as the content of these elements in plant tissues. The empirical coefficients of the model are based on published data from laboratory experiments. Quantitative estimates of the efficiency of nutrient accumulation in the tissues of various plant groups were obtained. It is shown that brown and red macroalgae having coarser thallus structure as well as sea grasses have the highest bioremediation potential. For the coastal zone of Crimea these are species of cystoseira, phyllophora and seagrass zostera. Benthic phytocenoses, where these species predominate, support the health of coastal marine ecosystems under increased anthropogenic pressure.

Keywords

benthic phytocenosis, phytocenosis, bioremediation, object-oriented modelling, primary production

Acknowledgments

The work was performed under state assignment of FSBSI FRC MHI on topic no. 0555-2021-0005 “Complex interdisciplinary research of oceanologic processes, which determine functioning and evolution of the Black and Azov Sea coastal ecosystems”.

For citation

Vasechkina, E.F., Naumenko, I.P. and Filippova, T.A., 2022. Comparative Analysis of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Assimilation Rates by Macroalgae and Seagrasses according to Simulation Data. Ecological Safety of Coastal and Shelf Zones of Sea, (3), pp. 70–91. doi:10.22449/2413-5577-2022-3-71-92

DOI

10.22449/2413-5577-2022-3-71-92

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