SUMMARY

Sulfide toxicity is implicated in seagrass declines worldwide. To quantify the impact of eelgrass leaf detritus and the rhizosphere on sulfide concentrations, field samples of sulfide were collected in areas with and without eelgrass. Laboratory studies were conducted over 4 weeks using 10 aquaria with or without eelgrass and 0-8 pieces of Z. marina detritus located at 4 cm and 11 cm depth. Diffusive Gradients in Thin-Films (DGTs) were used to obtain 2D visualizations of sulfide concentrations within the sediment in relation to location of eelgrass detritus and the rhizosphere. The presence of leaf detritus accounted for higher than average sulfide concentrations and the rhizosphere exhibited reduced sulfide concentrations compared to other areas of the sediment.  VIEW HERE