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Seagrass viviparous propagules as a potential long-distance dispersal mechanism

Thomson, Alexandra C. G., York, Paul H., Smith, Timothy M., Sherman, Craig D. H., Booth, David J., Keough, Michael J., Ross, D. Jeff and Macreadie, Peter I. 2015, Seagrass viviparous propagules as a potential long-distance dispersal mechanism, Estuaries and coasts, vol. 38, pp. 927-940, doi: 10.1007/s12237-014-9850-1.

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Title Seagrass viviparous propagules as a potential long-distance dispersal mechanism
Author(s) Thomson, Alexandra C. G.
York, Paul H.
Smith, Timothy M.
Sherman, Craig D. H.ORCID iD for Sherman, Craig D. H. orcid.org/0000-0003-2099-0462
Booth, David J.
Keough, Michael J.
Ross, D. Jeff
Macreadie, Peter I.ORCID iD for Macreadie, Peter I. orcid.org/0000-0001-7362-0882
Journal name Estuaries and coasts
Volume number 38
Start page 927
End page 940
Total pages 14
Publisher Springer
Place of publication New York, N.Y.
Publication date 2015
ISSN 1559-2723
1559-2731
Keyword(s) Dispersal
Propagules
Recruitment
Resilience
Seagrass
Zostera
Summary Resilience of seagrass meadows relies on the ability of seagrass to successfully recolonise denuded areas or disperse to new areas. While seed germination and rhizome extension have been explored as modes of recovery and expansion, the contribution of seagrass viviparous propagules to meadow population dynamics has received little attention. Here, we investigated the potential of seagrass viviparous propagules to act as dispersal vectors. We performed a series of density surveys, and in situ and mesocosm-based experiments in Port Phillip Bay, VIC, Australia, using Zostera nigricaulis, a species known to produce viviparous propagules. Production of viviparous propagules was higher at sites with high wind and current exposure, compared to more sheltered environments. A number of propagules remained buoyant and healthy for more than 85 days, suggesting the capacity for relatively long-distance dispersal. Transplanted propagules were found to have improved survivorship within seagrass habitats compared to bare sediment over the short term (4 weeks); however, all propagules suffered longer-term (<100 days) mortality in field experiments. Conditions outside of meadows, including sediment scouring, reduced the likelihood of successful colonisation in bare sediment. Furthermore, sediment characteristics within meadows, such as a smaller grain size and high organic content, positively influenced propagule establishment. This research provides preliminary evidence that propagules have the potential to act as an important long-distance dispersal vector, a process that has previously gone unrecognised. Even though successful establishment of propagules may be rare, viviparous propagules show great potential for seagrass populations given they are facing global decline. © 2014 Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation.
Language eng
DOI 10.1007/s12237-014-9850-1
Field of Research 060205 Marine and Estuarine Ecology (incl Marine Ichthyology)
Socio Economic Objective 960903 Coastal and Estuarine Water Management
HERDC Research category C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal
ERA Research output type C Journal article
Copyright notice ©2015, Springer
Persistent URL http://hdl.handle.net/10536/DRO/DU:30072030

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