Leaf growth, nutrient, and stable isotope responses of seagrass exposed to nutrient enrichment, Laamu Atoll, Maldives, 2022-2023
https://doi.org/10.5285/8760a6d4-b9df-406d-b910-678ab0f6557f
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The data consist of leaf extension rates of seagrass growth as the primary response variable; elemental and isotopic compositions of seagrass above- and below-ground biomass; seagrass morphological parameters; site-characterisation environmental parameters and temperature recorded over the experimental windows.
This dataset contains in-situ experimental information relating two separate nutrient enrichment experiments that were conducted in January/February 2022 and January 2023 over 2-week periods. The experiments were designed to understand the growth response of seagrass to elevated nutrient concentrations relative to controls plots. We used agricultural fertilisers to elevate local concentrations. In 2022, we used a slow-release fertiliser and compared growth response rates at two contrasting site types with 3 treatment levels (Control, Low N and High N). In 2023, we used an all-purpose granular fertiliser, the same 3 treatment levels but varied how the fertiliser was delivered to the seagrass, i.e., water-column diffusion vs below-ground diffusion. Both experiments were conducted on the same island of Gan, in Laamu atoll, Maldives.
The work has been undertaken has been funded by the GCRF-UKRI South Asian Nitrogen Hub and enabled through the University of Edinburgh and Maldivian non-governmental organisation, Maldives Resilient Reefs.
This dataset contains in-situ experimental information relating two separate nutrient enrichment experiments that were conducted in January/February 2022 and January 2023 over 2-week periods. The experiments were designed to understand the growth response of seagrass to elevated nutrient concentrations relative to controls plots. We used agricultural fertilisers to elevate local concentrations. In 2022, we used a slow-release fertiliser and compared growth response rates at two contrasting site types with 3 treatment levels (Control, Low N and High N). In 2023, we used an all-purpose granular fertiliser, the same 3 treatment levels but varied how the fertiliser was delivered to the seagrass, i.e., water-column diffusion vs below-ground diffusion. Both experiments were conducted on the same island of Gan, in Laamu atoll, Maldives.
The work has been undertaken has been funded by the GCRF-UKRI South Asian Nitrogen Hub and enabled through the University of Edinburgh and Maldivian non-governmental organisation, Maldives Resilient Reefs.
Publication date: 2026-02-17
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Format
Comma-separated values (CSV)
Spatial information
Study area
Spatial representation type
Tabular (text)
Spatial reference system
WGS 84
Temporal information
Temporal extent
2022-01-01 to 2022-02-28
2023-01-01 to 2023-01-31
Provenance & quality
Seagrass biomass was collected from each plot and then analysed for elemental and isotopic compositions (percent carbon, percent nitrogen δ13C and δ15N).
Seagrass morphological parameters were recorded at the start and end of the experiment, including information on percent cover of seagrass and algae, canopy height and leaf density. Seagrass sheath density was calculated by randomly throwing 20 x 0.25m2 quadrats around the perimeter of the experimental sites and the number of sheaths counted.
Environmental data about the experimental sites was collected at the start of the experiments to characterise the environment. This included water quality sampling, sediment organic nitrogen and carbon content, water depth, sediment depth and grain size analysis. Temperature was logged throughout the experiments using HOBO loggers.
Manual checks were performed on the data points to look for any error in data entry or values reported outside the expected range. Any outliers were then investigated and corrected where appropriate.
Seagrass morphological parameters were recorded at the start and end of the experiment, including information on percent cover of seagrass and algae, canopy height and leaf density. Seagrass sheath density was calculated by randomly throwing 20 x 0.25m2 quadrats around the perimeter of the experimental sites and the number of sheaths counted.
Environmental data about the experimental sites was collected at the start of the experiments to characterise the environment. This included water quality sampling, sediment organic nitrogen and carbon content, water depth, sediment depth and grain size analysis. Temperature was logged throughout the experiments using HOBO loggers.
Manual checks were performed on the data points to look for any error in data entry or values reported outside the expected range. Any outliers were then investigated and corrected where appropriate.
Licensing and constraints
This dataset is available under the terms of the Open Government Licence 
Cite this dataset as:
Arnull, J.; Tudhope, A.W.; Wilson, A.M.W.; Ganeshram, R.S.; Hashim, A.S.; Ziyadh, A.M. (2026). Leaf growth, nutrient, and stable isotope responses of seagrass exposed to nutrient enrichment, Laamu Atoll, Maldives, 2022-2023. NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/8760a6d4-b9df-406d-b910-678ab0f6557f
Related
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Correspondence/contact details
Other contacts
Publisher
NERC EDS Environmental Information Data Centre
info@eidc.ac.uk
Rights holder
University of Edinburgh