Spatial and Temporal Variation of C, N, and S Stable Isotopes and Seagrass Coverage Related to Eutrophication Stress in Zostera marina

Abstract

Zostera marina is an ecologically valuable species that has been declining due to anthropogenic environmental stressors. In this study, spatial and temporal indicators of eelgrass stress, such as coverage and biomass, were compared with the isotopic composition of C, N, and S to understand the mechanism(s) of plant stress. Eelgrass samples were collected in June, July, and August of 2020 at five stations along an estuary spatial gradient in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence to measure above- and below-ground biomass and tissue isotopes in eelgrass leaves and roots/rhizomes. Eelgrass biomass was lowest at the innermost sampling station, which coincided with eutrophication-induced hypoxia relative to outer sampling stations. δ13C levels at the upstream station were depleted compared to downstream stations. Comparatively, δ15N and δ34S findings were not correlated with plant biomass. Thus, sulfide intrusion was not a major stressor for eelgrass in this estuary. Between the years 2014 and 2020, eelgrass coverage was found to have increased, which coincided with high and low recorded external nutrient loads from the Wheatley River, respectively. Ultimately, these findings indicate that isotopic composition and biomass can be useful in assessing the health of eelgrass in temperate estuaries.