Evaluation of the viability of Posidonia oceanica transplants associated with a marina expansion
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Jose L. Sánchez-Lizaso
Abstract
In March 2005, a preliminary Posidonia oceanica transplantation was carried out as a restoration measure prior to enlargement of a marina. Seagrass sods of approximately 1 m2 surface area and 40 cm depth (including rhizome and sediment) were cut free from the area expected to be impacted by harbor expansion. These fragments were transferred to nearby areas lacking P. oceanica, viz. in bare areas within the nearest meadows and at the same depth as the donor site (∼10 m). The present work was carried out with the aim of evaluating the feasibility of this technique through estimating the vitality of transferred plants (measured as density and cover) for comparison with plants from a nearby meadow with similar conditions. There was a high level of mortality among transplants and a considerable degradation of the shoots that remained alive at the time of the sampling. When results were expressed in terms of global density, the rate of survival of transplanted shoots decreased to 15% (50 vs. 361 shoots m-2 of meadow in transplant and control plots, respectively). These results indicate that transplant techniques for P. oceanica on a large scale are not feasible.
©2009 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York
Articles in the same Issue
- Guest introduction
- Mediterranean seagrasses
- Reviews
- Analysis of the trophic role of Mediterranean seagrasses in marine coastal ecosystems: a review
- Regression of Mediterranean seagrasses caused by natural processes and anthropogenic disturbances and stress: a critical review
- Research articles
- Wave energy and the upper depth limit distribution of Posidonia oceanica
- Spatial variability in ecological attributes of the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa
- Mesograzers in Posidonia oceanica meadows: an update of data on gastropod-epiphyte-seagrass interactions
- The importance of herbivory in the decline of a seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) meadow near a fish farm: an experimental approach
- Responses of the Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica to in situ simulated salinity increase
- Evaluation of the viability of Posidonia oceanica transplants associated with a marina expansion
- Meetings
- Meetings
Articles in the same Issue
- Guest introduction
- Mediterranean seagrasses
- Reviews
- Analysis of the trophic role of Mediterranean seagrasses in marine coastal ecosystems: a review
- Regression of Mediterranean seagrasses caused by natural processes and anthropogenic disturbances and stress: a critical review
- Research articles
- Wave energy and the upper depth limit distribution of Posidonia oceanica
- Spatial variability in ecological attributes of the seagrass Cymodocea nodosa
- Mesograzers in Posidonia oceanica meadows: an update of data on gastropod-epiphyte-seagrass interactions
- The importance of herbivory in the decline of a seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) meadow near a fish farm: an experimental approach
- Responses of the Mediterranean seagrass Posidonia oceanica to in situ simulated salinity increase
- Evaluation of the viability of Posidonia oceanica transplants associated with a marina expansion
- Meetings
- Meetings
