The ecology and leaf dynamics of the seagrass Thalassodendron ciliatum (Forsk,) den Hartog

Abstract

Thalassodendron ciliatum is recorded for the first time from the Papua New Guinea mainland. Net leaf productivity (3 and 6 day data) for three T. ciliatum populations (Red Sea, Torres Strait and the Papuan coastal lagoon) was remarkably similar, ranging from 1.70 to 1.78 cm² per shoot per day. The leaf area index of a monospecific T. ciliatum meadow was more than four times greater than that of a mixed-species meadow containing T. ciliatum as one component.