Tuesday, March 21, 2023
SCIENMAG: Latest Science and Health News
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • HOME PAGE
  • BIOLOGY
  • CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
  • MEDICINE
    • Cancer
    • Infectious Emerging Diseases
  • SPACE
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • CONTACT US
  • HOME PAGE
  • BIOLOGY
  • CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
  • MEDICINE
    • Cancer
    • Infectious Emerging Diseases
  • SPACE
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • CONTACT US
No Result
View All Result
Scienmag - Latest science news from science magazine
No Result
View All Result
Home SCIENCE NEWS Social & Behavioral Science

Pristine groundwater seeps support native algae on Hawai‘i’s coasts

January 20, 2022
in Social & Behavioral Science
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Native marine macroalgae, also known as limu, or as seaweed, thrive in environments created by natural groundwater seeps, specifically benefiting from the combined effects of enhanced  nutrients despite lowered salinity levels, according to a review published recently by a team of University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa researchers. Conversely, in areas where the seeping groundwater is tainted by excess nitrogen typical of wastewater, the study found it is invasive species that typically flourish in Hawaiʻi.

Schematic of groundwater flow

Credit: Illustration by Brooks Bays, SOEST Publication Services.

Native marine macroalgae, also known as limu, or as seaweed, thrive in environments created by natural groundwater seeps, specifically benefiting from the combined effects of enhanced  nutrients despite lowered salinity levels, according to a review published recently by a team of University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa researchers. Conversely, in areas where the seeping groundwater is tainted by excess nitrogen typical of wastewater, the study found it is invasive species that typically flourish in Hawaiʻi.

Native macroalgae studied here demonstrate faster growth and photosynthesis rates in regimes of natural leakage of groundwater along coastlines, also termed submarine groundwater discharge. But numerous studies have shown that the composition and amount of submarine groundwater discharge have been greatly affected by humans.

Human disturbed watersheds, particularly those with urban development and conventional agriculture, show a common theme of problems. Not just in Hawaiʻi but across the Pacific Islands, wastewater management can be a challenge, with tens of thousands of cesspools still in operation. Especially those along the shoreline are subject to subsurface inundation—readily delivering excess nitrogen and other contaminants to the coastline. Downstream of these areas, submarine groundwater discharge can be polluted by wastewater, agricultural fertilizer inputs and even common-use pharmaceuticals and pesticides.

To investigate the relationship between groundwater input and algal species in an area off southeast O‘ahu, Hawai‘i, the research team used a variety of methods. In the field, they relied on thermal infrared imagery of the coastline and naturally occurring chemical tracers to assess groundwater seepage; and documented the abundance of native and invasive algal species. In the lab, they measured the growth response of various species of algae to conditions that simulated varying compositions of submarine groundwater.

Their results point to the critical importance of sound land, water, and wastewater management policies and practices.

“There are multiple ways to improve the situation and prevent further deterioration of submarine groundwater discharge,” said Henrietta Dulai, lead author of the study and professor of Earth Sciences at the UH Mānoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology. “Recharge can be improved by land-use choices through having more permeable urban surfaces and by restoring native forests. Lower groundwater withdrawal rates can be achieved by better management of water resources and water re-use. Additionally, upgrades to our wastewater infrastructure in light of impending sea level rise should be one of the primary goals.”

Efforts to remove land-based sources of wastewater from SGD are likely to benefit our communities in short and long-term ways. In the short term, shallow reefs are likely to return to overall healthier water qualities in these now impacted coastal regions. In a longer term, regrowth of native, not invasive algae, in those same regions is likely.

“The bottom line is if we want to sustain native macroalgae, we need to preserve submarine groundwater discharge flow and keep associated nutrient loads in check,” said Celia Smith, study co-author, Botany professor at UH Mānoa School of Life Sciences, and Co-Director of the Marine Biology Graduate Program.  “Keeping the discharged groundwater as close to pristine as possible needs to be a goal. Otherwise, we risk setting the stage for persistent, multi-year invasive algal dominance.”

With future studies, the team aims to determine the responses by native and invasive algae to the full range of groundwater discharge—pristine to tainted—to inform biocontrol efforts that outplant native algae, as well as gain insight into sea level rise impacts on these plants.

Additional study co-authors are V. Gibson and D. Amato from UH Mānoa Botany and L. Bremer from UHERO.



Journal

Limnology and Oceanography Letters

DOI

10.1002/lol2.10232

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Risk to native marine macroalgae from land-use and climate change-related modifications to groundwater discharge in Hawaiʻi

Article Publication Date

17-Dec-2021

Tags: algaecoastsgroundwaterHawaiisNativepristineseepssupport
Share26Tweet16Share4ShareSendShare
  • Hitchhiking insect

    Spotted lanternfly spreads by hitching a ride with humans

    70 shares
    Share 28 Tweet 18
  • Multi-state study reports COVID-19 mRNA vaccines protective during Omicron BA.4/BA.5 predominanc

    70 shares
    Share 28 Tweet 18
  • The ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine presents four Next Generation Fellowship Awards at the 2023 ACMG Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting

    71 shares
    Share 28 Tweet 18
  • Genomic study of ancient humans sheds light on human evolution on the Tibetan Plateau

    80 shares
    Share 32 Tweet 20
  • New study from Japan shows SARS-CoV-2 Omicron XBB.1.5 variant is highly transmissible and infectious

    77 shares
    Share 31 Tweet 19
  • Cyprus’s copper deposits created one of the most important trade hubs in the Bronze Age

    79 shares
    Share 32 Tweet 20
ADVERTISEMENT

About us

We bring you the latest science news from best research centers and universities around the world. Check our website.

Latest NEWS

World’s strongest MRI investigates COVID and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue impacts on the brain

Artificial pancreas developed at UVA improves blood sugar control for kids ages 2-6, study finds

Reactive oxygen impacts carbon cycling in tidal sands

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 205 other subscribers

© 2023 Scienmag- Science Magazine: Latest Science News.

No Result
View All Result
  • HOME PAGE
  • BIOLOGY
  • CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
  • MEDICINE
    • Cancer
    • Infectious Emerging Diseases
  • SPACE
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • CONTACT US

© 2023 Scienmag- Science Magazine: Latest Science News.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In