Site-specific success of three transplanting methods and the effect of planting time on the establishment of Zostera marina transplants

Eelgrass, Zostera marina, is the most abundant seagrass species on the coast of Korea, but most large eelgrass meadows have disappeared since the 1970s due to human-induced disturbance. To restore disturbed seagrass habitats in die-off areas, seagrass transplanting has been attempted using various methods. Here, we assessed the feasibility and efficiency of seagrass transplanting methods depending on the sediment type at the planting site. Additionally, the effect of planting time on the establishment of transplant was examined to determine the optimal season for planting. We conducted an eelgrass transplanting experiment from fall 2003 to summer 2004 at three sites with different sediment types using three planting techniques. The staple method resulted in the highest transplant survival rate (77.1-93.8%) at all three sites, but was labor intensive. Transplanting Eelgrass Remotely with Frame Systems (TERFS) method also resulted in relatively a high survival rate (58.7-69.0%) at all sites. The shell method is a newer eelgrass transplanting method in which oyster shells are used as an anchoring device, and does not require SCUBA diving for subtidal transplanting. The shell method resulted in high survival rates in muddy (81.3%) and silty sediments (76.5%), but remarkably low survival rate in sandy sediments (5.0%). The TERFS, and shell methods reduced underwater labor; thus, these methods is suitable for large-scale seagrass restoration. Eelgrass transplants planted in summer had exhibited significant mortality due to high summer water temperatures. Although transplants planted in fall to spring had relatively high survival rates, transplanting and collection of vegetative shoots are difficult in winter and spring. Therefore, fall was suggested as the most effective transplanting season off the coast of Korea.     

Patterns of Seagrass and Sediment Nutrient Distribution Suggest Anthropogenic Enrichment in Laamu Atoll, Republic of Maldives

Sampling of seagrass cover and sediment nutrients was undertaken in lagoonal habitats of Laamu Atoll (Republic of Maldives) adjacent to three traditional fishing villages (fishing the predominant economic activity for more than 30 yr), three other villages (not traditional landing sites), and four uninhabited islands to determine if chronic input of organic fishing waste from the traditional fishing villages could explain spatial distribution of seagrass cover. Results indicated significantly greater cover of seagrass at the traditional fishing village sites than the other two site groups. Analysis of dried sediments showed sediments at traditional fishing village sites were significantly enriched with phosphorus, though no significant difference in nitrogen was found between groups of sites. These results, together with studies showing that sediment nutrient pools can limit seagrass bed development, suggest that anthropogenic enrichment of lagoonal sediments by fishing waste over generational time scales may have caused substantial proliferation of seagrass beds.     

Monitoring in the Western Pacific region shows evidence of seagrass decline in line with global trends

Seagrass systems of the Western Pacific region are biodiverse habitats, providing vital services to ecosystems and humans over a vast geographic range. SeagrassNet is a worldwide monitoring program that collects data on seagrass habitats, including the ten locations across the Western Pacific reported here where change at various scales was rapidly detected. Three sites remote from human influence were stable. Seagrasses declined largely due to increased nutrient loading (4 sites) and increased sedimentation (3 sites), the two most common stressors of seagrass worldwide. Two sites experienced near-total loss from of excess sedimentation, followed by partial recovery once sedimentation was reduced. Species shifts were observed at every site with recovering sites colonized by pioneer species. Regulation of watersheds is essential if marine protected areas are to preserve seagrass meadows. Seagrasses in the Western Pacific experience stress due to human impacts despite the vastness of the ocean area and low development pressures.     

An effective transplanting technique using shells for restoration of Zostera marina habitats

Significant declines in seagrass coverage have occurred in many parts of the world. In recent decades, transplanting projects for seagrass restoration at die-off areas have been attempted, but most current seagrass transplanting techniques are cost and labor intensive. We have developed a new seagrass transplanting method in which oyster shells are used as an anchoring device, and does not require SCUBA diving for sub-tidal planting. Here, we tested the shell method for feasibility and efficiency in large-scale seagrass restoration. Planting units consisting of two Zostera marina shoots anchored to one oyster shell were dropped from a boat to settle on the sediment at the test site. Four transplanting trials were conducted throughout the experimental period (December 2003, January, February, and November 2004) in Koje Bay on the southern coast of Korea. Eelgrass shoots planted using the shell method successfully established at the test areas, and the survival rates of transplants were comparable to those obtained using other common planting techniques. The transplant shoot density declined during the first 2–3 months following transplantation due to the initial transplant shock, and then surviving shoots became established at the sites and produced new lateral shoots after these periods. Plant size and leaf productivity of transplants 7 months post-transplanting were similar to or exceeded those of pre-existed shoots, suggesting that the physiological status of transplants is similar to that of natural population after 7 months. Because the shell method did not require workers to be in the water, the method was cost and labor effective. Additionally, given that shells originate from marine environments, the shell method did not leave any hazardous materials in the transplanting areas after restoration.     

Ecosystem carbon stocks across a tropical intertidal habitat mosaic of mangrove forest,seagrass meadow,mudflat and sandbar

Intertidal habitats provide numerous ecosystem services, including the sequestration and storage of carbon, a topic of great recent interest owing to land‐cover transitions and climate change. Mangrove forests and seagrass meadows form a continuum of intertidal habitats, alongside unvegetated mudflats and sandbars, however, studies that consider carbon stocks across these spatially‐linked, threatened ecosystems are limited world‐wide. This paper presents the results of a field‐based carbon stock assessment of aboveground, belowground and sediment organic carbon stock to a depth of 1 m at Chek Jawa, Singapore. It is the first study of ecosystem carbon stocks of both vegetated and unvegetated intertidal habitats in the tropics. Ecosystem carbon stocks were 497 Mg C ha^‐1 in the mangrove forest and 138 Mg C ha^‐1 in the seagrass meadow. Sediment organic carbon stock dominated the total storage in both habitats, constituting 62% and >99% in the mangrove forest and seagrass meadow, respectively. In the adjacent mudflat and sandbars, which had no vegetative components, sediment organic carbon stock ranged from 124–143 Mg C ha^‐1, suggesting that unvegetated habitats have a carbon storage role on the same order of importance as seagrass meadows. This study reinforces the importance of sediment in carbon storage within the intertidal ecosystem, and demonstrates the need to consider unvegetated habitats in intertidal ‘blue carbon’ stock assessments. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A habitat-specific fish-based approach to assess the ecological status of Mediterranean coastal lagoons

A habitat approach was promoted in the framework of ecological status assessment of transitional waters, assuming the importance of habitat heterogeneity to the overall system status. The approach was applied to the use of fish-based multimetric indices by adapting them to seagrass and marsh habitats in the Venice lagoon, Italy, through selection of appropriate metrics and reference conditions. While for marsh habitats, no clear patterns resulted, the index response for seagrass was consistent with the habitat degradation and loss recorded in the lagoon between 2002 and 2005 and with the higher habitat disturbance in southern and central lagoon sub-basins. The assessment of individual habitats is presented as a first step in the process of evaluating the overall condition of a Mediterranean lagoon environment, which should also take account of the diversity of habitats and their availability within the system to properly define an overall index of ecological status.     

Protecting the hand that feeds us: Seagrass (Zostera marina) serves as commercial juvenile fish habitat

Although fisheries are of major economic and food security importance we still know little about specific juvenile habitats that support such production. This is a major issue given the degradation to and lack of protection afforded to potential juvenile habitats such as seagrass meadows. In the present study we investigate the role of seagrass in supporting juvenile fish of commercial value. By assessing seagrass relative to adjacent sand we determined the presence of abundant juvenile fish. Nine commercial species were recorded and the most abundant of these were Plaice, Pollock and Herring. We provide the first quantitative evidence of the presence of juvenile fish of commercial value in seagrass surrounding Great Britain. Although the species that we found in seagrass as juveniles are not obligate seagrass users the resources that seagrass meadows offer to these fish provide significant long-term fitness benefits, potentially enhancing the whole population.     

Epiphyte loads on seagrasses and microphytobenthos abundance are not reliable indicators of nutrient availability in oligotrophic coastal ecosystems

Despite marked gradients in nutrient availability that control the abundance and species composition of seagrasses in south Florida, and the importance of nutrient availability in controlling abundance and composition of epiphytes on seagrasses in other locations, we did not find that epiphyte load on the dominant seagrass, Thalassia testudinum, or that the relative contribution of algal epiphytes to the epiphyte community, was positively correlated with nutrient availability in the water column or the sediment in oligotrophic seagrass beds. Further, the abundance of microphytobenthos, as indicated by Chlorophyll-a concentration in the sediments, was not directly correlated with concentrations of nutrients in the sediments. Our results suggest that epiphyte and microphytobenthos abundance are not unambiguous indicators of nutrient availability in relatively pristine seagrass environments, and therefore would make poor candidates for indicators of the status and trends of seagrass ecosystems in relatively low-nutrient environments like the Florida Keys.     

Impacts of a fuel oil spill on seagrass meadows in a subtropical port, Gladstone, Australia--the value of long-term marine habitat monitoring in high risk areas

We used an established seagrass monitoring programme to examine the short and longer-term impacts of an oil spill event on intertidal seagrass meadows. Results for potentially impacted seagrass areas were compared with existing monitoring data and with control seagrass meadows located outside of the oil spill area. Seagrass meadows were not significantly affected by the oil spill. Declines in seagrass biomass and area 1month post-spill were consistent between control and impact meadows. Eight months post-spill, seagrass density and area increased to be within historical ranges. The declines in seagrass meadows were likely attributable to natural seasonal variation and a combination of climatic and anthropogenic impacts. The lack of impact from the oil spill was due to several mitigating factors rather than a lack of toxic effects to seagrasses. The study demonstrates the value of long-term monitoring of critical habitats in high risk areas to effectively assess impacts.     

Seagrass population dynamics and water quality in the Great Barrier Reef region: a review and future research directions

Seagrasses in the Great Barrier Reef region, particularly in coastal habitats, act as a buffer between catchment inputs and reef communities and are important habitat for fisheries and a food source for dugong and green turtle. Within the Great Barrier Reef region there are four different seagrass habitat types now recognised. The spatial and temporal dynamics of the different types of seagrass habitat is poorly understood. In general seagrass growth is limited by light, disturbance and nutrient supply, and changes to any or all of these limiting factors may cause seagrass decline. The capacity of seagrasses to recover requires either recruitment via seeds or through vegetative growth. The ability of seagrass meadows to recover from large scale loss of seagrass cover observed during major events such as cyclones or due to anthropogenic disturbances such as dredging will usually require regeneration from seed bank. Limited research into the role of pollutants on seagrass survival suggests there may be ongoing impacts due to herbicides, pesticides and other chemical contaminants. Further research and monitoring of seagrass meadow dynamics and the influence of changing water quality on these is needed to enhance our ability to manage seagrasses on the Great Barrier Reef.     

Impacts of a fuel oil spill on seagrass meadows in a subtropical port,Gladstone, Australia – The value of long-term marine habitat monitoring in high risk areas

We used an established seagrass monitoring programme to examine the short and longer-term impacts of an oil spill event on intertidal seagrass meadows. Results for potentially impacted seagrass areas were compared with existing monitoring data and with control seagrass meadows located outside of the oil spill area.Seagrass meadows were not significantly affected by the oil spill. Declines in seagrass biomass and area 1 month post-spill were consistent between control and impact meadows. Eight months post-spill, seagrass density and area increased to be within historical ranges. The declines in seagrass meadows were likely attributable to natural seasonal variation and a combination of climatic and anthropogenic impacts. The lack of impact from the oil spill was due to several mitigating factors rather than a lack of toxic effects to seagrasses. The study demonstrates the value of long-term monitoring of critical habitats in high risk areas to effectively assess impacts.     

Experimental transplanting of Posidonia australis seagrass in Port Hacking, Australia, to assess the feasibility of restoration

Over the last 50 years, about one-third of the original area of the seagrass Posidonia australis has been lost from Port Hacking (Australia) due to anthropogenic impacts. To assess the feasibility of restoring these seagrass meadows, healthy Posidonia rhizomes were transplanted to four impact sites and one control site. Survival rates of transplanted shoots were monitored in situ bi-monthly for 16 months and, at the end of the experiment, rhizome growth, shoot growth, shoot production and growth architecture were assessed by harvesting tagged rhizomes. A total of 575 shoots were transplanted and after 16 months 650 shoots were present. Four of the five sites exhibited high survival rates in the short term (less than six months) but only two impact sites, Burraneer Bay (BB) and Red Jacks Point (RJP), and the control site (CS) survived to the end of the experiment. Total number of shoots increased by 61% at CS, tripled at BB, but decreased by 22% at RJP. Rhizome growth varied significantly between site, from 22.3 +/- 1.4 cm yr(-1) at BB to 9.1 +/- 1.0 cm yr(-1) at RJP. Shoot growth did not vary significantly between sites and was approximately 2-3 cm yr(-1). At BB and CS there was substantial colonisation of the surrounding substrate, with new rhizomes, orthotropic shoots and transitional shoots produced. Survival of transplants appeared to depend on whether the factors that had caused the original loss of Posidonia were still operating in the study area.     

Large-scale seagrass restoration in a damaged estuary

After several years of environmental planning, and the Port of Miami Expansion Program having been started, a large-scale seagrass restoration project, including a test plot programme, was initiated in a damaged estuary in south-eastern Florida, Biscayne Bay, in 1982. For the project 13 test plots throughout the area were selected, totalling 10.38 acres in area, which is the largest test plot programme implemented to date, with the exception of our ongoing test plot programme in Jamaica (16.9 acres). Three seagrasses, Thalassia testudinum, Halodule wrightii and Syringodium filiforme, were transplanted at each test plot by two methods: 9.4–18.6 months after transplantation, survival and growth of the plants were measured (survival measurements taken by Connell Associates, Inc., 1983). Thalassia sprigs ranked first in survival followed by Halodule sprigs.Test plots differed widely in the survival and growth of the three species. Nine of the 13 plots had one species/method successful enough for further planting. Mid-bay sites damaged by dredging had two species surviving 60% or more. High turbidity sites were the least successful. Only Thalassia sprigs were successful at high energy sites. Syringodium sprigs showed poor survival overall, and are not recommended for transplanting. Thalassia seedlings appeared adequate in low energy sites, but required heavier anchoring in medium energy sites. The major impacts to the test plots were dredging, filling and urban run-off. No industrial effluent sites were included.     

Ecology and restoration techniques for Sargassum beds in the Seto Inland Sea,Japan

Due to the reduction and degradation of coastal areas in Japan by land reclamation and anthropogenic perturbations, from the point of view of conservation of the coastal environment, the restoration of Sargassum beds is essential. Between 1978 and 1991, 6400 ha of seagrass and seaweed beds have been lost along the Japanese coast, of which Sargassum beds were 22%. New techniques for Sargassum bed restoration are summarized based on three coastal engineering techniques. (1) Construction of shallow and gentle sloping bottom substrata have been shown to be effective for the reestablishment of 'management-free seagrass and Sargassum beds' on developed coasts. (2) Seeding or transplanting using artificial substratum for extension of nursery and fishing grounds around natural Sargassum beds. (3) Periodic transplanting of Sargassum plants using artificially produced seedlings is effective to produce niches to allow faunal re-colonization in severely polluted and sparsely vegetated area. However, prior to implementation, the suitability and limitations of these three techniques requires to be ascertained for effective Sargassum bed restoration.     

Carbonate sedimentation in seagrass beds on Ishigaki‐jima,Ryukyu Islands,southwestern Japan

In order to investigate biota and sedimentary facies, and to delineate processes of carbonate sedimentation in seagrass beds, we conducted sedimentological investigations along three onshore–offshore transects at two sites (Nagura and Yoshihara) on Ishigaki‐jima, Ryukyu Islands. Along the transects, the seagrass beds extended seaward 20–40 m from shore, and their widths parallel to the shore ranged from 60 to >110 m. The seagrass was dominated by Thalassia hemprichii, Cymodocea rotundata and subordinate C. serrulata. Seasonal changes in seagrass coverage were evident, with mean coverage relatively higher in summer and fall (July and October) than in winter and spring (January and April). The surface sediment throughout the seagrass beds was dominated by medium to very coarse sand‐sized bioclasts displaying grainstone/packstone fabrics. Bioclasts were dominated by corals and coralline algae, with lesser benthic foraminifers, mollusks, echinoids, and Halimeda. The grainstone/packstone was underlain by gravelly sediment with coral clasts, showing a rudstone fabric, at the Nagura Site. The lower part of the core sediment was blackened, indicating a reducing environment. Two dates of corals collected at the Nagura and Yoshihara sites (24.5 cm and 16.5 cm below the sea bottom) were 2781–2306 and 4374–3805 cal BP (2σ age range), respectively, suggesting extremely low sedimentation rates (<0.1 mm/year). Sediment influx was higher during July–January than during January–July. The relatively large influx during summer and fall is caused by massive sediment transport during typhoons and storms. The total sediment influx (i.e., suspension‐load sediment transportation) is 74–96 kg CaCO₃/m²/year at the Nagura Site and 21–57 kg CaCO₃/m²/year at the Yoshihara Site. Sediment influx was significantly greater in the seagrass beds than in surrounding areas, providing supporting evidence for an sediment trapping function of seagrass beds. Our data indicate that seagrass beds in the Ryukyu Islands are characterized by high sediment fluxes and extremely low sedimentation rates.     

Habitat use and preference of adult pike (Esox lucius L.) in an anthropogenically impacted lowland river

To efficiently manage northern pike (Esox lucius), information is needed on its habitat use and preference. However, knowledge gaps still exist, especially on pike habitat use and preference in rivers characterised by artificial environments. We investigated the use of the main river, tributaries and side arms at the macro-scale, and the use and preference of riparian habitats by adult pike at the meso-scale in an anthropogenically impacted river basin. Adult pike were followed in winter and spring by radio telemetry. At the macro-scale pike intensively used the main river in winter and spring, but also frequented specific side arms in winter and specific tributaries in spring, which may indicate the importance of these habitats to adult pike. At the meso-scale, reedy semi-natural banks were used the most, irrespective of any assumption on habitat availability or use. The findings underline the value of protecting the least impacted, (semi)natural habitats for adult pike in an anthropogenically impacted river system. The large behavioural differences in habitat use between individuals at both habitat scales further underline the importance of habitat heterogeneity. The results also provide insight into the impact of riparian habitat restoration on adult pike and may be used to more efficiently manage pike rivers, e.g. by enhancing the lateral connectivity with river side arms or by reconstructing natural riparian habitats.     

Estuarine conservation and restoration: the Somme and the Seine case studies (English Channel, France)

Megatidal estuaries such as the Seine and the Somme (North-Western France) are rather well delimited and human impacts on them are well understood. Since the middle of the 19th Century, there has been a slow but irreversible degradation of the state of these English Channel estuaries. However, current conservation and restoration strategies tend to freeze habitats in a particular state, their status being defined, most often, through a patrimonial or utilitarian approach. Connectedness between biotopes (sensu habitat+community) has a tendency to be neglected, especially with regard to main ecological gradients, i.e., salinity. In this paper, evaluation methodologies are proposed with the intention of assessing changes to ecosystem functions, under anthropogenic disturbance, controlled or otherwise. The Seine (a heavily industrialised ecosystem) is compared to the Somme (considered here for its pseudo-natural features) in order to discriminate between oceanic processes (siltation and plugging of estuaries) and anthropogenic influences. Preservation and restoration of habitats rely on a robust scientific methodology. The multi-scale approach adopted in the projects presented here relies on sensitive socio-ecological assessment procedures, tools for evaluating ecological quality, and well-built monitoring programmes based upon pertinent indicators. Such managerial tools were used to refine strategies and make them compatible with the sustainable co-development of resources in a European context. This paper demonstrates how scientists were able to acquire and apply knowledge in the field of rehabilitation and restoration. Jointly with managers and policy-makers, they have brought scientific information and socio-economics together in order to answer questions about the restoration of sites or habitats and to anticipate future propositions in the spirit of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM).     

Productivity,carbon assimilation and intra-annual change in tropical reef platform seagrass communities of the Torres Strait,north-eastern Australia

Detailed data on seagrass distribution, abundance, growth rates and community structure information were collected at Orman Reefs in March 2004 to estimate the above-ground productivity and carbon assimilated by seagrass meadows. Seagrass meadows were re-examined in November 2004 for comparison at the seasonal extremes of seagrass abundance. Ten seagrass species were identified in the meadows on Orman Reefs. Extensive seagrass coverage was found in March (18,700 ha) and November (21,600 ha), with seagrass covering the majority of the intertidal reef-top areas and a large proportion of the subtidal areas examined. There were marked differences in seagrass above-ground biomass, distribution and species composition between the two surveys. Major changes between March and November included a substantial decline in biomass for intertidal meadows and an expansion in area of subtidal meadows. Changes were most likely a result of greater tidal exposure of intertidal meadows prior to November leading to desiccation and temperature-related stress.     

Effects of anthropogenic disturbance on the abundance and size of epibenthic jellyfish Cassiopea spp

Jellyfish blooms in pelagic systems appear to be increasing on a global scale because of anthropogenic impacts, but much less is known about the link between human activities and epibenthic jellyfish abundance. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the epibenthic jellyfish, Cassiopea spp., were found in greater abundance, and attained larger sizes, in coastal habitats adjacent to high human population densities compared to sites adjacent to uninhabited areas on Abaco Island, Bahamas. Cassiopea spp. were found to be significantly more dense and larger in areas with high human population densities. Ambient nutrient levels and nutrient content of seagrass were elevated in high human population density sites, and may be one mechanism driving higher abundance and size of Cassiopea spp. Cassiopea spp. may have important effects on community structure and ecosystem function in critical coastal ecosystems (e.g., seagrass beds), and their impacts warrant further study.     

Contrasting recovery of shallow and deep water seagrass communities following climate associated losses in tropical north Queensland,Australia

Tropical seagrass decline and recovery from severe storm impacts was assessed via quarterly measurements of seagrass biomass, species composition and experimental investigations of recovery in north Queensland. Shallow and deep seagrass meadows suffered major declines. Significant recovery in the two years following loss only occurred at deeper sites. Halophila spp. in deep water areas had a high capacity for recovery through the availability of seed banks. In contrast, the shallow species did not recover quickly from experimental disturbance, had poor seed reserves and relied on asexual propagation. The potential for shallow species to recover rapidly from widespread losses was limited as seed banks were limited or non-existent. Understanding inter- and intra-specific differences in seagrass recovery and how this interacts with location is critical to predict the consequences of climate events to tropical seagrasses. This is especially important as more frequent severe storms are predicted as a consequence of climate change.