Mimicry of emergent traits amplifies coastal restoration success

Ralph J. M. Temmink (), Marjolijn J. A. Christianen, Gregory S. Fivash, Christine Angelini, Christoffer Boström, Karin Didderen, Sabine M. Engel, Nicole Esteban, Jeffrey L. Gaeckle, Karine Gagnon, Laura L. Govers, Eduardo Infantes, Marieke M. Katwijk, Silvija Kipson, Leon P. M. Lamers, Wouter Lengkeek, Brian R. Silliman, Brigitta I. Tussenbroek, Richard K. F. Unsworth, Siti Maryam Yaakub, Tjeerd J. Bouma and Tjisse Heide ()
Additional contact information
Ralph J. M. Temmink: Radboud University
Marjolijn J. A. Christianen: Radboud University
Gregory S. Fivash: Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research and Utrecht University
Christine Angelini: University of Florida
Christoffer Boström: Åbo Akademi University
Karin Didderen: Bureau Waardenburg
Sabine M. Engel: STINAPA
Nicole Esteban: Swansea University
Jeffrey L. Gaeckle: Washington State Department of Natural Resources
Karine Gagnon: Åbo Akademi University
Laura L. Govers: Radboud University
Eduardo Infantes: University of Gothenburg, Kristineberg Marine Research Station
Marieke M. Katwijk: Radboud University
Silvija Kipson: University of Zagreb
Leon P. M. Lamers: Radboud University
Wouter Lengkeek: Radboud University
Brian R. Silliman: Duke University
Brigitta I. Tussenbroek: Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Richard K. F. Unsworth: Project Seagrass
Siti Maryam Yaakub: DHI Water & Environment
Tjeerd J. Bouma: Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research and Utrecht University
Tjisse Heide: Radboud University

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Restoration is becoming a vital tool to counteract coastal ecosystem degradation. Modifying transplant designs of habitat-forming organisms from dispersed to clumped can amplify coastal restoration yields as it generates self-facilitation from emergent traits, i.e. traits not expressed by individuals or small clones, but that emerge in clumped individuals or large clones. Here, we advance restoration science by mimicking key emergent traits that locally suppress physical stress using biodegradable establishment structures. Experiments across (sub)tropical and temperate seagrass and salt marsh systems demonstrate greatly enhanced yields when individuals are transplanted within structures mimicking emergent traits that suppress waves or sediment mobility. Specifically, belowground mimics of dense root mats most facilitate seagrasses via sediment stabilization, while mimics of aboveground plant structures most facilitate marsh grasses by reducing stem movement. Mimicking key emergent traits may allow upscaling of restoration in many ecosystems that depend on self-facilitation for persistence, by constraining biological material requirements and implementation costs.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17438-4

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