Less Is More: Seagrass Restoration Success Using Less Vegetation per Area

Carolina V. Mourato, Nuno Padrão, Ester A. Serrão and Diogo Paulo ()
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Carolina V. Mourato: Algarve Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), Scientific Diver Centre, Campus Gambelas, University of the Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
Nuno Padrão: Algarve Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), Scientific Diver Centre, Campus Gambelas, University of the Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
Ester A. Serrão: Algarve Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), Biogeographical Ecology and Evolution, Campus Gambelas, University of the Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
Diogo Paulo: Algarve Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), Scientific Diver Centre, Campus Gambelas, University of the Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 17, 1-13

Abstract: Seagrass restoration in open coast environments presents unique challenges. Traditional sod transplant designs, though relatively successful in these environments, are impractical for large-scale restoration due to high biomass requirements. Here, we develop the checkers design, which aims to optimise the usage of biomass by transplanting fewer sods in a checkerboard pattern. We established six plots (9 m 2 each) for each species ( Zostera marina and Zostera noltei ), with 25 sods in each plot. The area, percent cover, density, and leaf length were measured at 1, 6, and 12 months. The plots located on the seaward end of the transplant design vanished over the winter, suggesting location-dependent survival influenced by winter storms. Nevertheless, both species exhibited increased percentages of cover, density, and vegetated area after one year, with variations between species. Z. noltei showed a slower expansion but greater resilience to winter, while Z. marina displayed a higher density and cover over the first 6 months but experienced area loss during the winter. Despite these differences, both species survived and increased vegetated areas after one year, indicating the viability and promise of the checkers method for large-scale restoration. However, careful consideration of location or storm-mitigating measures is essential for the successful implementation of this method.

Keywords: coastal restoration; ecosystem restoration; seagrass; transplants; Zostera marina; Zostera noltei (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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