Data from: Marine Phytophthora species can hamper conservation and restoration of vegetated coastal ecosystems
Govers, Laura L., Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Man in 't Veld, Willem, Department of Mycology, National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO-NL), Post Office Box 9102, 6700 HC, Wageningen, The Netherlands
Meffert, Johan P., Department of Mycology, National Plant Protection Organisation (NPPO-NL), Post Office Box 9102, 6700 HC, Wageningen, The Netherlands
Bouma, Tjeerd J., College of William & Mary
van Rijswick, Patricia C.J., Department of Aquatic Ecology and Environmental Biology, Institute for Water and Wetland research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Heusinkveld, Jannes H. T., The Fieldwork Company, Stockholmstraat 2b, 9723 BC, Groningen, The Netherlands
Orth, Robert J., Institute of Marine Science
van Katwijk, Marieke M., Department of Environmental Science, Institute for Water and Wetland research, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
van der Heide, Tjisse, Radboud University Nijmegen
Citation
Govers, Laura L. et al. (2016), Data from: Marine Phytophthora species can hamper conservation and restoration of vegetated coastal ecosystems, Dryad, Dataset, https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.k72dj
Abstract
Phytophthora species are potent pathogens that can devastate terrestrial plants, causing billions of dollars of damage yearly to agricultural crops and harming fragile ecosystems worldwide. Yet, virtually nothing is known about the distribution and pathogenicity of their marine relatives. This is surprising, as marine plants form vital habitats in coastal zones worldwide (i.e. mangrove forests, salt marshes, seagrass beds), and disease may be an important bottleneck for the conservation and restoration of these rapidly declining ecosystems. We are the first to report on widespread infection of Phytophthora and Halophytophthora species on a common seagrass species, Zostera marina (eelgrass), across the northern Atlantic and Mediterranean. In addition, we tested the effects of Halophytophthora sp. Zostera and Phytophthora gemini on Z. marina seed germination in a full-factorial laboratory experiment under various environmental conditions. Results suggest that Phytophthora species are widespread as we found these oomycetes in eelgrass beds in six countries across the North Atlantic and Mediterranean. Infection by Halophytophthora sp. Zostera, P. gemini, or both, strongly affected sexual reproduction by reducing seed germination sixfold. Our findings have important implications for seagrass ecology, because these putative pathogens probably negatively affect ecosystem functioning, as well as current restoration and conservation efforts.
Usage Notes
Phytopthora prescreening seed scores
This file contains prescreening data of Zostera marina seeds which were scored for infection (total, P. gemini and Halophytophthora sp. Zostera separately) and germination right after collection of the seeds in the field, prior to the experiment.
results Phytopthora prescreening_seed scores.xlsx
Phytopthora experiment seed scores
This file contains experimental data of Zostera marina seeds which were scored for infection (total, P. gemini and Halophytophthora sp. Zostera separately) and germination after the 110 days incubation experiment. This file contains both individual seed data and data per experimental unit.
results Phytopthora experiment_seed scores.xlsx
Phytophthora experiment porewater sulfide concentrations
This file contains porewater sulfide concentrations of each experimental unit, measured several days before the termination of the experiment.
results Phytophthora experiment_porewater biogeochemistry.xlsx
Location