Lagoon Scale Processes in a Coastally Influenced Caribbean System: Implications for the Seagrass Thalassia testudinum

摘要: The Bocas del Toro archipelago in the Caribbean sea on northwest coast of Panama has high annual rainfall (>3000 mm) and a mountainous watershed, resulting inflow fresh water. two main lagoons have different geologic structure inputs; while Bahia Almirante carbon- ate sediment relatively small Laguna de Chiriqui predominantly siliclastic very large watershed. region also long history clearing agriculture. purpose this research was to use seagrass Thalassia testudinum as bio-indicator nutrient status these lagoons, particularly assess extent influence mainland inputs freshwater, nutrients sediments. Leaf tissue nitrogen phosphorus, well surface water quality porewater nutrients, were mea- sured from 32 sites throughout archipelago. showed clear but differences parameters between carbonate, moderate freshwater input siliclastic, Chiriqui. No evidence offshore (Cayos Zapatillos) gradient observed T. meadows. (ca. 2.4%) phosphorus 0.25%) chlorophyll concentrations higher than many tropical dominated ecosystems Caribbean. It is likely that partly result mountainous, volcanic watershed rainfall, extensive agriculture land yet be explicitly determined.