南极威德尔海陆缘固冰区叶绿素a及硅藻的分布

本文描述了1985年1月-2月联邦德国“极星”号极地考察船沿威德尔海陆缘固冰区调查期间所获得的冰柱状样内叶绿素a以及硅藻的分布,对三个不同区域柱状样的分析结果表明,底部10-30cm的海冰多呈褐色,其内由大量藻类,特别是由硅藻细胞的富集而形成,丰度变化大.在融化的底部冰样中,细胞数高达10⁸个/l,叶绿素a浓度高达2220mg/m³,中部常见到大量小型的失去色素乃至死亡的硅藻细胞.初步鉴定出26种硅藻,其多数隶属于茧形藻属(Amphiprora),斜纹,藻属(Pleurosigma),菱形藻属(Nitzschia),盒形藻属(Biddulphia),角刺藻属(Corethron),海毛藻属(Thalassiothrix),海链藻属(Thalassiosira),以及脆杆藻属(Fragilaria)等,本文还记录了两种不同的底部生态群落:寡种和多种集群的生态类型,并对硅藻的富集和分布成因作了一些讨论.     

福建福宁湾表层沉积物中甲藻孢囊分布与多样性研究

孢囊是甲藻生活史中特殊的休眠阶段,被认为是赤潮发生的种源。于2018年4月采集了福建福宁湾海域表层沉积物,对沉积物中甲藻孢囊的分布规律进行了研究,重点揭示有毒有害甲藻孢囊的分布;同时测定了沉积物中生源要素含量,以揭示孢囊分布与生源要素的关系。共鉴定甲藻孢囊25种,其中别什藻(Biecheleria tirezensis)孢囊占据优势。孢囊的种类多样性指数(H'')偏低,为2.06~2.34;均匀度指数(J)为0.71~0.81。孢囊密度介于178.6~386.3 cysts/g (以干重计,下同),平均为286.0cysts/g。孢囊密度高值区位于水深较深、沉积物颗粒较细的长表岛外海域,而低值区则位于长表岛至海尾角的近岸海域。值得注意的是,研究分析鉴定出9种有毒有害甲藻的孢囊,包括麻痹性贝类毒素(paralytic shellfish poisoning,PSP)原因种奥氏亚历山大藻(Alexandrium ostenfeldii)和链状/塔玛亚历山大藻(Alexandrium catenella/tamarense)孢囊复合体、goniodomine A原因种平野亚历山大藻(Alexandrium hiranoi)、虾夷扇贝毒素(yessotoxin,YTX)原因种具刺膝沟藻(Gonyaulax spinifera)和网状原角藻(Protoceratium reticulatum)、产生鱼毒素的哈曼褐多沟藻(Pheopolykrikos hartmannii)以及赤潮藻类Barrufeta bravensis、锥状斯氏藻(Scrippsiella acuminata)和垂裂莱万藻(Levanderina fissa),其中Barrufeta bravensis、Gonyaulax spinifera和Scrippsiella acuminata的孢囊分布广泛且密度较高,需引起关注。     

海南黎安港海草床分布特征、健康状况及影响因素分析

通过对黎安港海草资源进行调查，并采用《近岸海洋生态健康评价指南》（HY∕T087-2005）对海草床生态系统健康进行评价。结果表明，黎安港海草种类主要有2科3亚科4属4种，分别为圆叶丝粉草、泰来草、海菖蒲及卵叶喜盐草；海菖蒲分布广泛，其次为圆叶丝粉草及泰来草，海草床分布面积约为0.93 km²，黎安南岸海草分布面积最大，西岸次之，东岸最小。海草平均覆盖度为37.80%。圆叶丝粉草平均密度872.00株/m²，平均生物量150.34 g/m²，泰来草平均密度405.00株/m²，平均生物量62.45 g/m²；海菖蒲平均密度251.00株/m²，平均生物量778.50 g/m²，卵叶喜盐草平均密度6 768.00株/m²，平均生物量70.63 g/m²，2015年黎安港海草床处于健康状态；2018年处于健康状态边缘；2016年、2017年及2019年均处于亚健康状态，主要体现在沉积物环境、栖息地健康以及生物指标存在亚健康，2015年至2019年期间，黎安港海草床的健康状况总体呈现为健康转为亚健康的趋势，主要影响因素有水体交换能力较差、水产养殖活动影响、沿岸围填海工程及其他人为活动影响等。     

东海几种鳗鲡目鱼类DNA条形码研究

本研究采集了分布于中国东海的前肛鳗(Dysomma anguillaris)、短尾蛇鳗(Ophichthus brevicaudatus)、艾氏蛇鳗(Ophichthus evermanni)、海鳗(Muraenesox cinereus)、黑尾吻鳗(Rhynchoconger ectenurus)、微鳍新鳗(Neenchelys parvipectoralis)、大头蚓鳗(Moringua macrocephalus)、梅氏美体鳗(Ariosoma meeki)和星康吉鳗(Conger myriaster)9种鳗鲡目(Anguilliformes)鱼类,采用PCR技术扩增了线粒体COI基因片段序列, 结合GenBank数据库中下载的5种鳗鲡目鱼类同源序列, 分析比较了序列组成和差异, 并以光海鳝(Muraena argus)和细点海鳝(Muraena augusti)为外群, 基于最大似然法构建了鳗鲡目中6科11属14种鱼类的系统发育树, 探讨了该类群鱼类的系统进化关系。结果显示:72条序列共检测到43种单倍型, 4种碱基含量分别为27.4%(T)、28.2%(C)、25.8%(A)、18.6%(G), 平均A+T含量(53.2%)高于G+C含量(46.8%), 表现出明显的碱基组成偏好性。基于K2P(Kimura 2-parameter)模型计算得出不同种间的平均遗传距离为0.218 8, 不同属间的平均遗传距离为0.225 0, 不同科间的平均遗传距离为0.232 7, 分类阶元越高, 遗传距离越大。系统进化树显示蛇鳗科物种都能够形成独立的分支, 并得到有效的区分, 而其他类群存在混杂现象。以上结果表明, 由于鳗鲡目鱼类种类多且分布广,线粒体COI基因只适用于较低分类阶元(如科内属间、属内种间)间的物种鉴定, 该类群鱼类系统发育关系还有待于结合多种DNA条形码进行深入探讨。     

某核电厂附近海域生态环境特征及潜在致灾生物研究

为了了解某核电厂周边海域的生态环境状况,筛选潜在威胁核电厂冷源安全的致灾生物,分析影响致灾生物时空分布的主要环境因素,本研究于2018年进行了4个季节的生态调查。结果表明,研究海域浮游植物密度秋季最高,春季优势种为东海原甲藻(Prorocentrum donghaiense),其他季节优势种为中肋骨条藻(Skeletonema costatum)等硅藻。浮游动物密度夏季最高,以桡足类为主,春、夏季优势种还包括球型侧腕水母(Pleurobrachia globosa)和薮枝螅水母(Obelia sp.)。底栖动物的密度和生物量在秋季最高,优势种主要为豆形短眼蟹(Xenophthalmus pinnotheroides)、长吻沙蚕(Glycera chirori)和丝异须虫(Heteromastus filiforms)。浮游植物、浮游动物和底栖动物群落均在夏季最为稳定,群落多样性水平和物种丰度较高,且分布较为均匀。浮游植物群落的细胞丰度与悬浮物和磷酸盐的浓度正相关性最高。浮游动物的密度受温度和盐度的影响较大。底栖动物的群落分布主要受悬浮物和无机营养盐的浓度影响。本研究共筛选出17种威胁该核电厂冷源安全的潜在致灾生物。海地瓜(Acaudina molpadioides)、棘刺锚参(Protankyra bidentata)、海葵(Actiniaria species)和球型侧腕水母的风险等级较高,其分布主要受温度和盐度的影响。后续工作中,该核电厂应根据潜在致灾生物与环境因子的关系加强暴发机制研究、提升监测预警能力,并优化驱赶消杀技术和干扰体系,为核电厂冷源安全提供理论和技术保障。     

黄渤海典型鳗草海草床重金属生态风险评估

为全面了解我国黄渤海鳗草(Zostera marina L.)床重金属污染水平, 本研究以大连林阳北海、葫芦岛兴城、唐山乐亭-曹妃甸和青岛湾四处鳗草床为研究对象。于夏季采集鳗草、海水和沉积物样品并分析其重金属(Cu、Zn、Pb和Cd)含量。以此分析海草的重金属富集特征, 并对比评估不同鳗草床重金属潜在生态风险。结果表明, 夏季四处鳗草床海水重金属含量由高到低依次为: Zn > Cu > Pb > Cd, 均低于国家一级水质标准; 对沉积物来说, 重金属含量由高到低依次为: Zn > Pb > Cu > Cd, 均低于国家一级沉积物质量标准。鳗草对重金属的富集因重金属种类和海草积累部位而异, 其地上组织对Cu、Zn、Cd的富集能力高于地下组织。研究区域海水中Cu、Zn、Pb和Cd潜在风险等级均处于低风险水平。而对沉积物而言, 葫芦岛兴城鳗草床Cd的潜在风险等级处于较高风险水平(E_i值为156.9)。唐山乐亭-曹妃甸和青岛湾鳗草床的地质累积指数(I_geo)由大到小依次为: Cd > Pb > Zn > Cu。综合所有元素的潜在生态风险指数(I_R), 葫芦岛兴城鳗草床的潜在生态风险值最高。     

黄条（鱼师）(Seriola aureovittata)生长对工厂化养殖密度的微生态适应特性

研究低(5 kg/m³)、中(10 kg/m³)、高(15 kg/m³)三个养殖密度对工厂化养殖黄条（鱼师）生长的影响, 从消化道菌群角度分析了养殖黄条（鱼师）的生长的密度适应性。利用Illumina MiSeq平台对不同养殖密度条件下黄条（鱼师）的消化道(胃、肠道、幽门盲囊)菌群进行16S rRNA高通量测序, 并进行了菌群的多样性、结构特征和菌群基因功能预测的分析。结果显示, 相较于中、低密度组, 高养殖密度显著(P<0.05)抑制了黄条（鱼师）的终末体质量、特定生长率并显著上调了血清应激相关激素水平。消化道微生物群落在属水平上, 乳杆菌属(Lactobacillus)、鞘氨醇单胞菌属(Sphingomonas)、双歧杆菌属(Bifidobacterium)、Faecalibaculum、Ruminococcaceae_UCG等在中、高密度组中丰度降低, 克雷伯氏菌属(Klebsiella)等在中、高密度组中丰度增加, 均与低密度组差异显著(P<0.05)。KEGG通路分析发现, 各养殖密度组的菌群基因主要集中在代谢、环境信息过程、遗传信息过程三个一级功能通路。该实验设置的中、高密度组相对低密度组, 消化道菌群的组成和结构上呈现有益菌(乳酸杆菌属等)显著性减少和条件致病菌(克雷伯氏菌属)显著性增加(P<0.05)的趋势。在菌群功能方面, 与低密度组相比, 中、高密度组消化道特别是在代谢、遗传及环境信息过程的二级功能通路上注释的tags数目相对低密度组显著增加(P<0.05)。研究结果为建立工厂化养殖模式下适宜密度调控和健康养殖技术建立提供了理论依据。     

威海荣成桑沟湾海域海草床分布现状及其生态特征

海草床是生物圈最高产的生态系统之一，在氮捕获、碳封存、水质净化及维持生物多样性等方面发挥关键作用。2016年8月通过对威海荣成桑沟湾海域的现场调查，发现分布总面积约为471.72 ha的海草床，种类为鳗草（Zostera marina）、红纤维虾形草（Phyllospadix iwatensis）、日本鳗草（Zostera japonica）和丛生鳗草（Zostera caespitosa），分布面积分别为395.33 ha、37.28 ha、32.74 ha和6.37 ha。鳗草分布范围较广，平均茎枝密度817.0±27.6 shoots/m²，平均生物量646.6±41.8 g DW/m²；红纤维虾形草主要分布于桑沟湾北部养殖池和南部楮岛海域，平均茎枝密度2 649.0±29.8 shoots/m²，平均生物量2 381.3±27.3 g DW/m²；日本鳗草主要分布于桑沟湾西部八亩地海域，平均茎枝密度506.0±26.2 shoots/m²，平均生物量118.3±12.5 g DW/m²；丛生鳗草主要分布于桑沟湾南部楮岛海域，其平均密度为513.0±17.9 shoots/m²，平均生物量为479.1±28.1 g DW/m²。结合历史资料，发现桑沟湾海域海草床严重退化，分析了海草床的退化原因并提出了相应的建议和对策，以期为海草资源及滨海生境修复提供参考。     

皱纹盘鲍肠道菌群组成及PCR-DGGE 指纹图谱分析

对养殖和野生皱纹盘鲍(Haliotis discus hannai Ino )不同个体间肠道菌群数量和种类组成进行了研究, 并采用PCR-DGGE 指纹技术对比分析了二者肠道优势菌群的差异。研究结果表明, 养殖和野生皱纹盘鲍肠道好氧及兼性厌氧菌总数分别为(3.50±0.85)×10⁶个/g, (3.03±1.10)×10⁶个/g; 两组鲍鱼肠道优势菌基本相同, 均为弧菌属(Vibrio), 次优势菌均为玫瑰杆菌属(Roseobacter) 和希瓦氏菌属(Shewanella), 在养殖组中检测到芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus), 表明皱纹盘鲍对肠道细菌具有特异选择性。此外, PCR-DGGE 指纹图谱结果表明, 从养殖和野生皱纹盘鲍肠道样品分别获得14 条和12 条扩增条带,其中人工组中有2 条特异性条带; 二者相似性系数(戴斯系数)为92.31%。     

浙江三门湾鱼卵、仔稚鱼群聚结构时空变化研究

鱼卵和仔稚鱼在海洋生态系统能量传递中起重要作用,作为渔业资源的早期补充群体,其分布、群聚结构对评估渔业资源和保护渔业资源具有重要意义。为了解三门湾鱼卵、仔稚鱼群聚结构时空变化规律,对该海域鱼卵、仔稚鱼进行春、夏两季调查,分析了该海域鱼卵、仔稚鱼组成及群聚结构变化等特征。结果发现:(1)两季共鉴定出鱼卵、仔稚鱼8目21科40种,其中定性样品鱼卵、仔稚鱼8目21科36种,定量样品鱼卵、仔稚鱼4目11科24种;鱼卵优势种为斑鰶(Konosirus punctatus)、鲷科未定种(Sparidae)、蓝点马鲛(Scomberomorus niphonius)、鮻(Liza haematocheila)、舌鳎属(Cynoglossus spp.)、石首鱼科未定种(Sciaenidae)、小公鱼属(Stolephorus spp.);仔稚鱼优势种为鮻、孔虾虎鱼(Trypauchen vagina)、小公鱼属、细棘虾虎鱼属(Acentrogobius spp.)、缟虾虎鱼属(Tridentiger spp.)。(2)三门湾湾内与湾外鱼卵、仔稚鱼群聚的组成存在显著差异,且湾内密度均高于湾外,反映出优势种鱼类在产卵季对于水文环境(如海流、温度)的空间响应。(3)三门湾鱼卵、仔稚鱼的群聚组成季节波动明显,主要由鱼类产卵的季节节律以及以洄游习性等差异形成。结果表明,三门湾鱼卵、仔稚鱼群聚结构空间、季节差异明显,与历史资料相比,鱼卵、仔稚鱼资源从“年际”短时间尺度看已初步显现一定恢复态势。     

Effects of mining wastes on a seagrass ecosystem: metal accumulation and bioavailability, seagrass dynamics and associated community structure

Two different Cymodocea nodosa (Ucria) Ascherson beds growing in mining-contaminated sediments were compared with two reference beds in the Mar Menor coastal lagoon. The accumulation of Zn, Pb and Cd in different fractions of the plant, the sediment parameters that regulate the availability of metals, the seabed structure and dynamics of each seagrass bed and its associated macroinvertebrate community were studied. C. nodosa accumulates metals from the sediments and reflects their bioavailability for this seagrass. At each station, the metal content of the rhizomes was lower than that of leaves and roots. The concentration of acid-volatile sulfides does not seem to influence the availability of metals to the seagrass, possibly due to oxygen transport to underground tissues. The highest metal concentration in all the contaminated stations was found in the leaf-biofilm, due to the formation of complexes between metals and the extracellular polymeric substances that form the biofilm. All the seagrass beds were seen to be undergoing expansion, those growing in contaminated sediments accumulating great quantities of metals and showing highest photosynthetic leaf surface area and highest leaf biomass. However, these structural parameters were not seen to be responsible for the differences in the faunal composition observed between contaminated and reference beds. Moreover, the multivariate analysis identified the metal content of leaves, biofilm and sediments as important variables that may be responsible for these differences in faunal composition. In this study we have demonstrated that both the seagrass C. nodosa and the biofilm on the plant leaves may be used as environmental tools in the Mar Menor lagoon. The former is an useful indicator of sediment contamination, whereas the latter seems to be a good sentinel of water quality.     

Photo-library method for mapping seagrass biomass

The creation of seagrass biomass maps by diving/snorkelling is time-consuming and expensive. This paper presents a method for estimating seagrass dry weight using a photo-library of classes of differing seagrass biomass. Field data were collected at seagrass beds in Ngederrak Reef, Palau, in 2006. Photos of 25 × 25 cm quadrats were taken prior to the collection the above-ground biomass for determination of biomass dry weight. Fifteen classes of seagrass biomass and substrate type were identified. The dry weight for each class of seagrass was measured in laboratory. A photo-library was created for biomass classification where each in situ quadrat photo is accompanied with seagrass dry weight of the sample and a photo of the sorted sample taken in laboratory. The photo-library of quadrats was then used to estimate seagrass biomass on photos gathered along 100 m long transects at 2 m intervals. This procedure was conducted by three different observers. The seagrass dry weight estimates were consistent between interpreters even if one of the interpreters had no experience in seagrass research. This approach allows quick collection of seagrass dry weight data over large areas. The method can be used for creating seagrass biomass maps by snorkelling/diving and/or for calibrating and validating biomass maps created by remote sensing.     

红纤维虾形草(Phyllospadix iwatensis)种子形态及内部特征

海草床可以为海洋动物提供产卵、索饵、繁育等场所。目前, 海草床面积急剧下降, 其中我国关于虾形草属(Phyllospadix)海草的研究相对较少, 对于虾形草主要繁育载体种子的描述、显微观察和萌发过程方面存在较多空白。本研究以红纤维虾形草(Phyllospadix iwatensis)为研究对象, 对其生长环境、种子外部特征、内部结构、萌发过程等进行了定性定量描述。结果表明, 虾形草果实种子对于海洋环境有着外部形态与内部结构的适应性, 外部形态特点包括独特的果序和果实形状, 以及翅状结构和内侧鬃毛, 其中果序呈弯虾形, 平均长度3.4cm, 果实呈马掌形, 直径3~4mm, 内部结构特征包括胚乳占比大、果皮种皮解剖结构复杂等, 具有作为海岸带植被修复工具种的优势。本研究补充了目前对虾形草等海洋沉水植物种子的研究资料, 为虾形草海草种质库保护与海草床修复提供了建议和参考。     

Influence of the seagrass,Zostera marina L., on current flow

A salt-water flume was used to describe the mechanics of current flow around an articial Zostera marina meadow. Shear velocity and roughness height were positively correlated with seagrass surface area, and were positively/negatively correlated with current velocity. Current velocity intrusion into the meadow before diminution and maximum reduction (both at the 2 cm height line) proceed by factors of 1·25 and 2·07 cm into the meadow per cm s^?1 of current velocity, respectively.Froude number was correlated with mean bending angle of the canopy as a whole. Maximum bending had occurred with Froude = 1, but most bending had taken place by Froude = 0·4, a velocity of 40–50 cm s^?1 in this experiment.The meadow edge is the most dynamic zone of a seagrass meadow in regard to current flow. Bending of the shoot canopy is a mechanism for re-direction of current flow and in-canopy reduction of current velocity. Meadow dimensions may be regulated by scouring processes in different hydraulic regimes. Shoot bending and subsequent in-meadow current velocity reduction are mechanisms that affect self-shading and photosynthetic capabilities as well as providing habitat stability.     

海南高隆湾海草床修复成效及影响因素

为缓解海南岛东海岸海草床的持续退化,在高隆湾光滩区采用单株定距移植法移植泰来草(Thalassia hemprichii)及海菖蒲(Enhalus acoroides)进行海草床修复研究,修复面积约为1 000 m~2。结果表明,采用铁架加网的修复方式,泰来草1 a后平均成活率为56.39%,其成活率在移植7个月后下降比较明显,容易被掩埋;由于其植株高大,受风浪影响较小,海菖蒲移植1 a后其成活率为88.75%。泰来草比海菖蒲明显容易生根出芽,其新分枝率比海菖蒲高很多,移植1 a后,其斑块平均新分枝率达到22.64%,海菖蒲仅为3.13%;由于海菖蒲植株高大,且不易死亡,其平均盖度为21.90%,远远高于泰来草(4.25%)。由椰子壳、竹筐及泥框作为移植固定修复方式,其修复成活率、新分枝率、盖度及美观程度远远低于铁架加网的修复方式。修复效果优劣为:铁架加网竹筐泥框椰子壳。高隆湾海草床修复的主要影响因素为水动力及悬沙、修复品种、人工岛及人为活动(捕鱼)等的影响。为确保修复效果,本研究提出在我国南方底质为珊瑚礁碎屑及潮汐动能较大的开放水域,宜选用海菖蒲及泰来草相互间隔单株移植,并竖立警示及标识牌,雇佣当地渔民看护,定期监测及管理,加强海草床群落结构及生物功能提升方面的研究等建议,可为今后其他开放水域海草床修复提供基础数据及理论支撑。     

Distribution patterns of benthic juvenile gobies in and around seagrass habitats: effectiveness of seagrass shelter against predators

The significance of a sheltering effect of seagrass against predators influencing the distribution patterns of benthic juveniles of the streaked goby Acentrogobius sp. was investigated by field experimentation in and around seagrass habitats at Moroiso and Aburatsubo Bays, Miura Peninsula, Japan. In the former bay, juveniles were always restricted to the seagrass bed, whereas at the latter, they also occurred over the surrounding bare sand substrate. Juveniles never occurred inside predator-exclusion cages over unvegetated sand in Moroiso Bay. Additionally, a tethering experiment resulted in similarly small numbers of juveniles being preyed upon in both the seagrass bed and over bare sand, suggesting that the predation risk for juveniles may not differ between the habitat types and was thus not responsible for their distribution patterns. The availability of symbiotic shrimp burrows, which were scarce in bare sand in Moroiso Bay but abundant in a similar area in Aburatsubo Bay, was also hypothesized as a determinant of distribution pattern. In a manipulative experiment at Aburatsubo Bay, however, juveniles showed no response to alterations in the availability of symbiotic shrimp burrows, indicating that neither the sheltering effect of seagrass against predators nor the availability of symbiotic shrimp burrows was a significant factor in streaked goby juvenile distribution. Food availability may be a determinant, because food abundance patterns were concordant with the juvenile distribution pattern.     

海草的卫星遥感研究进展

海草、沙滩、砾石以及淤泥等不同底质类型对光谱的反射率不同,通过卫星遥感检测反射率的变化可以鉴别海草等底质类型。由于海草体内含有叶绿素a、叶绿素b以及花青素和叶黄素等色素,通过检测这些色素的光谱可以对海草分布以及生存状态进行卫星遥感检测。主要从多光谱、高光谱等角度对近岸光学浅水中海草的卫星遥感以及国内对海草和水体生物光学研究状况等方面进行阐述,并对未来的研究趋势进行展望。     

Patterns in tropical seagrass photosynthesis in relation to light, depth and habitat

Seagrass meadows across north-eastern Australia, survive a range of environmental conditions in coastal bays, reefs, estuarine and deepwater habitats through adaptation of a range of structural, morphological and physiological features. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of spatial features (habitat type, site and depth) and photon flux on the photosynthetic performance of 11 tropical seagrass species. Pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorometry was used to generate rapid light curves from which measures of maximal electron transport rate (ETR_max), photosynthetic efficiency (α), saturating irradiance (E_k) and effective quantum yield (ΔF/F_m′) were derived. The amount of light absorbed by leaves (absorption factor) was also determined for each population. In intertidal habitats many seagrass species exhibited typical sun-type responses with a close coupling of both ETR_max and E_k with photon flux. Photosynthetic performance ranged from minima in Thalassodendron ciliatum to maxima in Syringodium isoetifolium. The absence of a coupling between photosynthetic performance and photon flux in subtidal populations was most likely due to highly variable light climates and possible light attenuation, and hence the photo-biology of estuarine and deepwater seagrasses exhibited photosynthetic responses indicative of light limitation. In contrast seagrass species from shallow reef and coastal habitats for the most part exhibited light saturation characteristics. Of all the variables examined ETR_max, E_k and ΔF/F_m′ were most responsive to changing light climates and provide reliable physiological indicators of real-time photosynthetic performance of tropical seagrasses under different light conditions.