Comparison of water velocity profiles through morphologically dissimilar seagrasses

van Keulen, M.ORCID: 0000-0001-6235-5788 and Borowitzka, M.A.ORCID: 0000-0001-6504-4563 (2000) Comparison of water velocity profiles through morphologically dissimilar seagrasses. Biologia Marina Mediterranea, 7 (2). pp. 143-146.

Abstract

The influence of seagrass morphology on water flow was studied by measuring water velocity profiles through natural seagrass meadows. Velocity profiles were measured through meadows of Amphibolis griffithii (Hydrocharitaceae), Posidonia australis (Posidoniaceae) and P. sinuosa. Significant differences in velocity profiles of different seagrass species were observed: profiles through Posidonia spp. showed a steady decline through the canopy to the seabed, however water velocity through Amphibolis decreased from 12.16 cm s-1 above the canopy, to 5.48 cm s-1 within the canopy, and increased again to 10.67 cm s-1, before decreasing near the seabed. A strong correlation exists between water velocity through the Amphibolis canopy and the distribution of leaf biomass, highlighting the influence of the "stem-and-leaf cluster" morphology on the velocity profile; this has implications for sediment stability issues.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Murdoch Affiliation:	School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology
Publisher:	Società italiana di biologia marina
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/10824

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