Rhodoliths are important foundation species of the benthic photic zone but are poorly known and rarely studied in Alaska. A bed of Lithothamnion soriferum rhodoliths was discovered in 2008 in Kinzarof Lagoon, Alaska, a shallow-water embayment dominated by eelgrass ( Zostera marina ). Rhodolith spatial extent and biomass were estimated to assess trends and environmental factors that may influence rhodolith distribution and abundance during four years spread over a 12-year period (2008–2010, and 2019). Presence and biomass of rhodoliths were negatively associated with percent eelgrass cover. Biomass of rhodoliths also decreased with increased water temperature. Rhodoliths occurred in two primary areas of the lagoon, a 182 ha core area in a shallow water (mean tide depth of −0.03 m MLLW) tidal channel with low eelgrass density, and a 22 ha outlying area at shallower water depths (>0.2 m MLLW) with moderate to high eelgrass cover. There was no apparent trend in rhodolith biomass over the study period despite wide variation in mean annual estimates. This study establishes a baseline for continued investigations and monitoring of this important benthic resource in Alaska.

中文翻译：

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在一个以海草为主的浅泻湖中发现的最近发现的阿拉斯加菱形石床的数量

红景天属是底栖光合带的重要基础物种，但鲜为人知，在阿拉斯加很少进行研究。2008年，在阿拉斯加的Kinzarof泻湖中发现了一片石楠碎屑石床，这是一种以鳗草（Zostera marina）为主的浅水湾。估计红景天的空间范围和生物量来评估趋势和环境因素，这些趋势和环境因素可能会影响12年期间（2008-2010和2019年）的四年内红景天的分布和丰度。假山石的存在和生物量与鳗草覆盖率呈负相关。水温升高，菱锰矿的生物量也降低。在泻湖的两个主要区域，即浅水（密度为-0.03 m MLLW的潮汐深度）潮汐通道中，鳗鱼草密度低的两个主要区域中出现了菱纹石，浅水深度（> 0.2 m MLLW）有一个22公顷的偏远地区，鳗草覆盖度中等到较高。尽管年平均估算值有很大差异，但在研究期间，杜鹃花生物质没有明显的趋势。这项研究为继续调查和监测阿拉斯加这一重要底栖资源建立了基线。