title: The effects of terrestrial sediment inputs on ecosystem functions in seagrass meadows and unvegetated sediments

authors: Flowers, Georgina

subjects: seagrass

abstract: Ecological functions in estuarine seagrass and unvegetated soft sediment habitats underpin many valuable ecosystem services. However, changing land-use and climate are accelerating inputs of fine terrestrial sediments, threatening these habitats. The prolonged suspension of fine sediments can reduce seafloor light availability and long-term accumulations increase sediment mud content (particles < 63 µm), both of which could have significant consequences on ecosystem functioning. Understanding how ecosystem functioning may respond to environmental change is vital to estuary management. In this thesis, I investigated the short- and long-term effects of elevated terrestrial sediment inputs on benthic primary production and nutrient cycling in intertidal seagrass meadows (Zostera muelleri) and microphytobenthos-dominated unvegetated habitats. 
To investigate the effects of reduced seafloor light availability and prolonged submergence periods resulting from global heating induced sea-level rise, I conducted a two-year seasonal in situ assessment of photosynthesis-irradiance relationships during submerged and emerged conditions in an adjacent seagrass meadow and unvegetated sandflat. Submerged gross primary production (GPP) in both habitats and emerged GPP in the seagrass habitat were strongly controlled by light availability. Higher rates of light-saturated GPP were found during submerged periods compared to emerged periods in both habitats, but this difference was most pronounced in the unvegetated habitat. If the water-column remains clear, sea-level rise could therefore increase daily GPP in soft sediment habitats. However, declines in submerged GPP with increased water-column turbidity will be exacerbated with sea-level rise. 
Across a natural mud content gradient, I measured primary production in seagrass and unvegetated habitats to address the long-term implications of elevated sediment inputs. In sediments with ≤ 35 % mud content, net primary production (NPP) and GPP was independent of mud content in both habitats. However, extending the mud gradient in unvegetated habitats to 49 % (seagrass habitats restricted to ≤ 35 % mud content) resulted in NPP and GPP declining with increasing mud content. These results highlight that loss of seagrass meadows resulting in expansion of unvegetated habitats could lead to reductions in intertidal production; seen most acutely in areas with high mud content (≥ 39 %).
I also investigated the spatial and temporal variability in nutrient cycling in seagrass and unvegetated habitats to examine how environmental gradients affected sediment nutrient fluxes and denitrification rates. Ammonium effluxes were lower in the seagrass compared to the unvegetated habitats and were lower in both habitats during light compared to dark conditions. Denitrification rates were similar in both habitats but were found to decrease with increasing mud content. Overall, denitrification efficiency was highest in the seagrass habitat. These results indicate that future seagrass decline and/or increased mud content in soft sediment habitats will reduce resilience to eutrophication. 
This thesis demonstrates that future seagrass decline and elevated terrestrial sediment inputs are likely to have serious implications on the high rates of primary production and nutrient cycling of intertidal seagrass meadows and unvegetated habitats. Furthermore, it highlights the value of measuring ecosystem functions in different soft sediment habitat types across multiple spatial and temporal scales to inform future management against anthropogenic stressors.

text: The effects of terrestrial sediment inputs on ecosystem functions in seagrass meadows and unvegetated sediments Ecological functions in estuarine seagrass and unvegetated soft sediment habitats underpin many valuable ecosystem services. However, changing land-use and climate are accelerating inputs of fine terrestrial sediments, threatening these habitats. The prolonged suspension of fine sediments can reduce seafloor light availability and long-term accumulations increase sediment mud content (particles < 63 µm), both of which could have significant consequences on ecosystem functioning. Understanding how ecosystem functioning may respond to environmental change is vital to estuary management. In this thesis, I investigated the short- and long-term effects of elevated terrestrial sediment inputs on benthic primary production and nutrient cycling in intertidal seagrass meadows (Zostera muelleri) and microphytobenthos-dominated unvegetated habitats. 
To investigate the effects of reduced seafloor light availability and prolonged submergence periods resulting from global heating induced sea-level rise, I conducted a two-year seasonal in situ assessment of photosynthesis-irradiance relationships during submerged and emerged conditions in an adjacent seagrass meadow and unvegetated sandflat. Submerged gross primary production (GPP) in both habitats and emerged GPP in the seagrass habitat were strongly controlled by light availability. Higher rates of light-saturated GPP were found during submerged periods compared to emerged periods in both habitats, but this difference was most pronounced in the unvegetated habitat. If the water-column remains clear, sea-level rise could therefore increase daily GPP in soft sediment habitats. However, declines in submerged GPP with increased water-column turbidity will be exacerbated with sea-level rise. 
Across a natural mud content gradient, I measured primary production in seagrass and unvegetated habitats to address the long-term implications of elevated sediment inputs. In sediments with ≤ 35 % mud content, net primary production (NPP) and GPP was independent of mud content in both habitats. However, extending the mud gradient in unvegetated habitats to 49 % (seagrass habitats restricted to ≤ 35 % mud content) resulted in NPP and GPP declining with increasing mud content. These results highlight that loss of seagrass meadows resulting in expansion of unvegetated habitats could lead to reductions in intertidal production; seen most acutely in areas with high mud content (≥ 39 %).
I also investigated the spatial and temporal variability in nutrient cycling in seagrass and unvegetated habitats to examine how environmental gradients affected sediment nutrient fluxes and denitrification rates. Ammonium effluxes were lower in the seagrass compared to the unvegetated habitats and were lower in both habitats during light compared to dark conditions. Denitrification rates were similar in both habitats but were found to decrease with increasing mud content. Overall, denitrification efficiency was highest in the seagrass habitat. These results indicate that future seagrass decline and/or increased mud content in soft sediment habitats will reduce resilience to eutrophication. 
This thesis demonstrates that future seagrass decline and elevated terrestrial sediment inputs are likely to have serious implications on the high rates of primary production and nutrient cycling of intertidal seagrass meadows and unvegetated habitats. Furthermore, it highlights the value of measuring ecosystem functions in different soft sediment habitat types across multiple spatial and temporal scales to inform future management against anthropogenic stressors.

year: 2024-04-15

title: Sediment removal as a restoration measure for the campus lakes

authors: Paul, Wendy J.

abstract: The Campus Lakes, Oranga and Knighton, were formed about 1969 as a means of draining the wet, swampy land that the University of Waikato was sited on. Since Prof. Wilf Malcolm, (Vice-chancellor, 1985-1994) first expressed concern about the water quality of the Campus Lakes (Kingsbury, 1989), they have been the subject of at least four reports and one thesis. A number of approaches for improving the lake water quality have been tried or recommended, largely without success. The lakes continue to be unsightly with exotic weed growing to nuisance proportions and phytoplankton scums and blooms occurring annually, as well as discoloration from high concentrations of suspended sediments. The indigenous biodiversity values are low due to domination by pest fish and exotic macrophytes.

This report is part of a larger scale recommendation to take an integrated approach towards the management of Oranga and Knighton lakes. The focus of this study was to investigate the possibility of removal of 0.2 m of the nutrient and organic-rich surficial sediments from the two lakes, and disposal of that sediment by spreading it onto the university playing fields. The specific aims of this study were to determine contaminant concentrations (heavy metals and persistent organochlorines) in the sediments and relate these concentrations to soil environmental guideline values for human health with parkland/recreational land use.

text: Sediment removal as a restoration measure for the campus lakes The Campus Lakes, Oranga and Knighton, were formed about 1969 as a means of draining the wet, swampy land that the University of Waikato was sited on. Since Prof. Wilf Malcolm, (Vice-chancellor, 1985-1994) first expressed concern about the water quality of the Campus Lakes (Kingsbury, 1989), they have been the subject of at least four reports and one thesis. A number of approaches for improving the lake water quality have been tried or recommended, largely without success. The lakes continue to be unsightly with exotic weed growing to nuisance proportions and phytoplankton scums and blooms occurring annually, as well as discoloration from high concentrations of suspended sediments. The indigenous biodiversity values are low due to domination by pest fish and exotic macrophytes.

This report is part of a larger scale recommendation to take an integrated approach towards the management of Oranga and Knighton lakes. The focus of this study was to investigate the possibility of removal of 0.2 m of the nutrient and organic-rich surficial sediments from the two lakes, and disposal of that sediment by spreading it onto the university playing fields. The specific aims of this study were to determine contaminant concentrations (heavy metals and persistent organochlorines) in the sediments and relate these concentrations to soil environmental guideline values for human health with parkland/recreational land use.

year: 2008-05

title: Maori perspectives of the environment: A review of resource use consent submissions made by iwi to Environment Waikato.

authors: Whangapirita, Laura

subjects: Maori

abstract: As part of our broader brief to gather, summarise, analyse and distribute information held by Environment Waikato on Maori and the environment, we reviewed and summarised iwi consent submissions made on various resource use consent applications. This report refers to values and beliefs sourced from iwi submissions held by Environment Waikato and are presented within a Maori values framework to highlight environmental perspectives of tangata whenua in the Waikato region.

text: Maori perspectives of the environment: A review of resource use consent submissions made by iwi to Environment Waikato. As part of our broader brief to gather, summarise, analyse and distribute information held by Environment Waikato on Maori and the environment, we reviewed and summarised iwi consent submissions made on various resource use consent applications. This report refers to values and beliefs sourced from iwi submissions held by Environment Waikato and are presented within a Maori values framework to highlight environmental perspectives of tangata whenua in the Waikato region.

year: 2003-11