@article {131,
	title = {Characterization of soils beneath a Posidonia oceanica meadow},
	journal = {Geoderma},
	volume = {185{\textendash}186},
	year = {2012},
	note = {id: 2300},
	pages = {26-36},
	abstract = {The study of a 475 cm core (spanning 4316 y BP) sampled in a Posidonia oceanica meadow (Portlligat Bay, NW Mediterranean) allowed us to make the first detailed description of the soil below this endemic seagrass. The sediments under P. oceanica (often referred to as mat or matte) are low density (average bulk density of 0.69 g DW cm- 3) marine soils mainly composed of siliciclastic (46\%) and biogenic carbonated (46\%) fine-grained sediments (particles 1 mm) and finer organic matter (3\% of SOM;},
	issn = {0016-7061},
	doi = {10.1016/j.geoderma.2012.03.020},
	url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016706112001395},
	author = {Serrano, O. and Mateo, M. A. and Renom, P. and Juli{\`a}, R.}
}
@article {181,
	title = {The Posidonia oceanica marine sedimentary record: A Holocene archive of heavy metal pollution},
	journal = {Science of The Total Environment},
	volume = {409},
	year = {2011},
	note = {id: 2098},
	pages = {4831-4840},
	abstract = {The study of a Posidonia oceanica mat (a peat-like marine sediment) core has provided a record of changes in heavy metal abundances (Fe, Mn, Ni, Cr, Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn, As and Al) since the Mid-Holocene (last 4470 yr) in Portlligat Bay (NW Mediterranean). Metal contents were determined in P. oceanica. Both, the concentration records and the results of principal components analysis showed that metal pollution in the studied bay started ca. 2800 yr BP and steadily increased until present. The increase in Fe, Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn and As concentrations since ca. 2800 yr BP and in particular during Greek (ca. 2680{\textendash}2465 cal BP) and Roman (ca. 2150{\textendash}1740 cal BP) times shows an early anthropogenic pollution rise in the bay, which might be associated with large- and short-scale cultural and technological development. In the last ca. 1000 yr the concentrations of heavy metals, mainly derived from anthropogenic activities, have significantly increased (e.g. from ~ 15 to 47 μg g- 1 for Pb, ~ 23 to 95 μg g- 1 for Zn and ~ 8 to 228 μg g- 1 for As). Our study demonstrates for the first time the uniqueness of P. oceanica meadows as long-term archives of abundances, patterns, and trends of heavy metals during the Late Holocene in Mediterranean coastal ecosystems.},
	issn = {0048-9697},
	doi = {10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.08.001},
	url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969711008242},
	author = {Serrano, O. and Mateo, M. A. and Due{\~n}as-Boh{\'o}rquez, A. and Renom, P. and L{\'o}pez-S{\'a}ez, J. A. and Mart{\'\i}nez Cortizas, A.}
}
@article {447,
	title = {Long-term stability in the production of a NW Mediterranean Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile meadow},
	journal = {Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology},
	volume = {291},
	year = {2010},
	note = {id: 1911; 611AI Times Cited:3 Cited References Count:116Y},
	pages = {286-296},
	abstract = {Long-term changes in leaf net production of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica (L) Defile. and in the irradiance arriving at the meadow canopy, were investigated in a NW Mediterranean meadow using a palaeoecological approach. We conducted in situ shade experiments to find the relationships between the carbon stable isotope ratio (delta(13)C) of plant tissues, leaf net production, and ambient irradiance. The relationships were highly significant and fitted the Michaelis-Menten equation and power functions. These functions were used to reconstruct light and net production using the delta(13)C of P. oceanica detritus as a palaeoecological proxy along a 150 cm core of P. oceanica matte (a peat-like deposit formed by this endemic seagrass species). The delta(13)C values of sheath detritus along the core (i.e.. the net leaf production) showed a weak but significant decrease towards the present time (R = 0.308: P = 0.02) probably as a result of (1) an increase in DIC availability, and/or (2) a progressive change in the carbon isotopic signature of DIC, both of which are consistent with a rise in anthropogenic atmospheric CO(2). The canopy irradiance, reconstructed for the last 1200 years, showed a mean value of 128 mu E m(-2) s(-1) with a range of 12.5-280 mu E m(-2) s(-1). The reconstruction of the net leaf production for the same period yielded a mean value of 2.5 mg dw day(-1) shoot(-1) with a range of 2.0-2.7 mg dw day(-1) shoot(-1). Both ranges are within the values reported in the literature for present day studies. The absence of significant fluctuations or sudden changes through time suggests remarkable ecosystem stability during the last millennium. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.},
	issn = {0031-0182},
	doi = {10.1016/J.Palaeo.2010.03.001},
	author = {Mateo, M. A. and Renom, P. and Michener, R. H.}
}
@article {661,
	title = {Palaeoecological potential of the marine organic deposits of Posidonia oceanica: A case study in the NE Iberian Peninsula},
	journal = {Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology},
	volume = {271},
	year = {2009},
	note = {402ksTimes Cited:20Cited References Count:55},
	month = {Jan 15},
	pages = {215-224},
	abstract = {A high-resolution sedimentary sequence sampled from the Portlligat Bay (NE Iberian Peninsula) has been studied in order to assess its palaeoecological potential. This sedimentary sequence is considered a very particular one, as it is a peat-like deposit derived from the accumulation of the belowground dead parts of the marine phanerogam Posidonia oceanica through the last 1600 years. This study represents the first attempt to explore the palaeoecological potential of such deposits from a palynological point of view, and has allowed the reconstruction of the vegetation dynamics and changes, human impact and the palaeoclimatic characteristics, demonstrating the value of these sedimentary records in palaeopalynological studies. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.},
	issn = {0031-0182},
	doi = {10.1016/j.palaeo.2008.10.020},
	author = {L{\'o}pez-S{\'a}ez, J. A. and Lopez-Merino, L. and Mateo, M. A. and Serrano, O. and Perez-Diaz, S. and Serrano, L.}
}
@article {1876,
	title = {Very high-resolution seismo-acoustic imaging of seagrass meadows (Mediterranean Sea): Implications for carbon sink estimates},
	journal = {Geophysical Research Letters},
	volume = {35},
	year = {2008},
	note = {id: 896; 351AE Times Cited:1 Cited References Count:14},
	month = {2008},
	abstract = {Posidonia oceanica is a widespread coastal Mediterranean seagrass which accumulates in its subsurface large quantities of organic material derived from its roots, rhizomes and leaf sheaths embedded in sandy sediments. These organic deposits may be up to several meters thick as they accumulate over thousands of years forming the matte, whose high content in organic carbon plays a major role in the global ocean carbon cycle. In this study, very highresolution seismo-acoustic methods were applied to image the subsurface features of a P. oceanica seagrass meadow at Portlligat (Cadaque{\textquoteright}s, Girona, Spain), in the NW-Mediterranean Sea. Our findings yield fresh insights into the settling of the P. oceanica meadow in the study area, and define with unprecedented detail the potential volume occupied by the matte. A strong reflector, located from 4.3 to 11.7 m depth, was recognized in several seismo-acoustic profiles as the substratum on which P. oceanica first settled in the study area. A 3D bathymetric model of this substratum allowed us to reconstruct the Portlligat palaeo-environment prior to the settling of P. oceanica, which corresponded to a shallow coastal setting protected from the open sea. A core drilled in the meadow at Portlligat revealed the presence of a 6 m thick dense matte composed of medium to coarse sandy sediments mixed with plant debris and bioclasts. Radiocarbon datings revealed a constant accretion rate of the matte of about 1.1 m/kyr. Gravelly bioclastic deposits observed at the base of the core correspond to the base of the matte and gave a date of 5616 +/- 46 Cal yr BP. For the first time, very high-resolution marine geophysical techniques allowed us to accurately define the volume occupied by P. oceanica matte, which in the study area reaches up to almost 220,000 +/- 17,400 m(3). This result is an important step forward in our efforts to estimate the size of the carbon sink represented by P. oceanica meadows along the Mediterranean coasts significantly contributing to the biosphere carbon cycle.},
	keywords = {cycle},
	isbn = {0094-8276},
	author = {Lo Iacono, C. and Mateo, M. A. and Gracia, E. and Guasch, L. and Carbonell, R. and Serrano, L. and Serrano, O. and Danobeitia, J.}
}
@inbook {1437,
	title = {Carbon flux in seagrass ecosystems},
	booktitle = {Seagrasses: Biology, Ecology and Conservation.},
	year = {2006},
	note = {id: 2006},
	month = {2006},
	pages = {157-191},
	publisher = {Springer},
	organization = {Springer},
	address = {The Netherlands},
	author = {Mateo, M. A. and Cebri{\'a}n, J. and Dunton, K. and Mutchler, T.},
	editor = {Larkum, A. W. D.}
}
@article {1022,
	title = {Non-pollen palynomorphs from organic deposits of Posidonia oceanica: a new tool for palaeoenvironmental studies in marine peat-like deposits},
	journal = {Palyno-Bulletin},
	volume = {2},
	year = {2006},
	note = {id: 2005},
	pages = {38-40},
	abstract = {The in situ accumulation of large quantities of biogenic materials over millennia is very relevant and occurs only in a limited number of ecosystems. Peat bogs are probably the bestknown example among terrestrial ecosystems (e.g. Aaby \& Berglund, 1986) and coral reefs among marine ecosystems (e.g. Clausen \& Roth, 1975). In situ organic accumulations in the marine environment are rare, having been described for mangroves and seagrass species. The Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica accumulates large quantities of organic debris. Roots, rhizomes and leaf sheaths are progressively buried fonning a bioconstruction called {\textquoteright}matte{\textquoteright}. The organic material remains with little morphological alteration for millennia (Mateo et aI. , 1997), constitnting a marine peat-like deposit with a great interest from a palaeoenvironmental point of view. The present paper evaluates the palaeoecological potential of the organic deposits generated by the marine phanerogame Posidonia oceanica in the Bay of Port Lligat, Girona, NE Spain. This stndy discusses the detailed evolution of the vegetation in the landscape of the area.},
	author = {L{\'o}pez-S{\'a}ez, J. A. and L{\'o}pez-Garc{\'\i}a, P. and Pozuelo, R. and Mateo, M. A. and Renom, P. and Garrido, D.}
}
@conference {1815,
	title = {An unexplored sedimentary record for the study of environmental change in Mediterranean environments: Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile peats},
	booktitle = {The Study of Environmental Change Using Isotope Techniques. IAEA C\&S Papers Series},
	year = {2002},
	note = {id: 351},
	month = {2002},
	pages = {163-173},
	address = {Vienna},
	author = {Mateo, M. A. and Renom, P. and Juli{\`a}, R. and Romero, J. and Michener, R.}
}
@article {279,
	title = {Detritus dynamics in the seagrass Posidonia oceanica: Elements for an ecosystem carbon and nutrient budget},
	journal = {Marine Ecology-Progress Series},
	volume = {151},
	year = {1997},
	note = {id: 2004; PT: J; UT: WOS:A1997XE68700005},
	pages = {43-53},
	abstract = {Leaf decay, leaf Litter export, burial in belowground sinks, and respiratory consumption of detritus were examined at 2 different depths in a Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile meadow off the Medes Islands, NW Mediterranean. At 5 m, the amount of exported leaf Litter represented carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus losses of 7, 9 and 6 \% of the plant primary production, respectively. About 26 \% of the carbon produced by the plant in 1 yr was immobilized by burial in the belowground compartment, i.e. as roots and rhizomes. Annual nitrogen and phosphorus burial in the sediment was 8 and 5 \% of total N and P needs, respectively. Respiratory consumption (aerobic) of carbon leaf detritus represented 17\% of the annual production. An additional, but very substantial, loss of carbon as very fine particulate organic matter has been estimated at ca 48\%. At 13 m the pattern of carbon losses was similar, but the lesser effect of wave action (relative to that at 5 m) reduced exportation, hence increasing the role of respiratory consumption. Data on carbon losses indicated that only a small part of the plant production was actually available to fuel the food web of this ecosystem. Total nutrient losses were in the range of 21 to 47 \% of annual needs. From differences found in N and P concentrations between living and dead tissues, it is suggested that important nutrient recycling (50 to 70\%) may be due either to reclamation or to leaching immediately after plant death.},
	issn = {0171-8630},
	doi = {10.3354/meps151043},
	author = {Mateo, M. A. and Romero, J.}
}
