Seagrass epiphyte loads along a nutrient availability gradient, Florida Bay, USA

Total epiphyte load, epiphyte chlorophyll load, epiphyte autotrophic ~ n d e x and seagrass short shoot size are compared with water column nutrient concentrations and the elemental composition of seagrass leaf tlssue The spa t~a l patterns ~n these parameters are described across a nutrlent ava~lability gradlent In Flonda Bay, Flor~da, USA Multivanate and un~var ia te statistical analyses were performed on these parameters to test for correlations with vanous measures of nutnent availab~lity Most of the vanation in Thalassia testudjnum short shoot size could be descnbed by phospho~us availab111ty dissolved organic matter in the watei column and water column inorganic nltrogen concentrations Total epiphyte and epiphyte chlorophyll loads were significantly, but weakly, colrelated with phosphorus avallab~lity The measurement of total epiphyte loads and observat~ons of ep iphy t~c species composition along a transect adjacent to a p o ~ n t source of nutnents revealed that the effect of nutrient en r~chmen t on epiphyte levels IS pronounced but very localized Epiphyte levels may not be as sensltive to moderate nutnent enrichment as othel seagrass parameters ( e g leaf tissue nutrient content)