IAN Seminar Series

Although environmental requirements of submerged aquatic vegetation have been studied for years, reliable metrics for predicting their response to current or future conditions remain elusive. The combined effects of temperature, CO 2 , and light availability controlled by water quality and epiphytes were explored using GrassLight, a bio-optical model that provided a predictive environment for evaluating the interaction of multiple stressors on SAV distribution and density across the submarine landscape of the Chesapeake Bay. Model predictions were validated against in situ measures of spectral diffuse attenuation, SAV density and distribution. The potential for photosynthesis stimulated by ocean acidification to mitigate the effects of high summer temperature, water quality and epiphyte load on SAV populations growing near the southern limit of their distribution were explored. The model accurately reproduced the submarine light environment from measured water quality parameters, and predicted their impacts o