Comparison of restored and natural seagrass beds near Corpus Christi,Texas |
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Authors: | P Sheridan |
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Institution: | 1.National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center,National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,Panama City |
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Abstract: | Structural equivalence between seagrass restoration sites and adjacent natural seagrass beds on the mid Texas coast was assessed
six times between April 1995 and May 1997. Throw traps and corers were used for quantitative sampling. Restoration sites were
2.7 to 6.6 yr old when first sampled and 3.7 to 8.2 yr old when last sampled. There were few significant differences in water
column, seagrass, or sediment characteristics, in fish and decapod (nekton) densities, or in nekton and benthos community
compositions between restored and natural seagrass habitats at any time during the study period. Differences in densities
of dominant benthic invertebrates were regularly observed, with greater densities of more taxa observed in natural seagrasses
than in restored beds. Densities of Class Oligochaeta and the polychaetePrionospio heterobranchiata are proposed as potential indicators of structural equivalence in restored seagrasses. This study indicates that seagrass
restorations in the vicinity of Corpus Christi, Texas, exhibit minimal quantitative differences in community structure (except
for benthos) relative to adjacent natural seagrass beds after 3 to 5 yr. |
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