Comparison of Proximate Constituents in Two Seagrasses from the Gulf of Mexico, Florida Keys, and Belize, Central America

Abstract

The levels of soluble carbohydrate, protein, lipid, and ash in seagrasses Thalassia testudinum Banks ex Konig and Syringodium filiforme Kutzing were determined from collections made during a single month from subtropical populations on the west coast of Florida and the Florida Keys, and tropical populations from an atoll off Belize, Central America. A high similarity was found for proximate constituents when populations of T. testudinum from subtropical and tropical sites were compared. Larger differences in levels of proximate constituents occurred between species and plant components (blade, short shoot, rhizome) than between tropical and subtropical populations of T. testudinum. On the other hand, S. filiforme populations showed significant differences for all four proximate constituents when subtropical and tropical populations were compared. Total caloric values of plant segments, based on dry weight, were very similar between populations and species. The data arc interpreted as demonstrating a strong uniformity in levels of proximate constituents between populations regardless of latitudinal distribution, although seasonal and plant components may vary.