scholarly journals Response of eelgrass (Zostera marina) to an adjacent Olympia oyster restoration project

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (10) ◽  
pp. e0258119
Author(s):  
Sara Briley ◽  
Rick Ware ◽  
Christine Whitcraft ◽  
Danielle Zacherl
Keyword(s):  
Light Intensity ◽  
Zostera Marina ◽  
Shoot Density ◽  
Restoration Project ◽  
Olympia Oyster ◽  
Oyster Restoration ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Eelgrass Conservation ◽  
Eelgrass Beds ◽  
Ecological Concern

Recent restoration efforts for the native Olympia oyster, Ostrea lurida, are commonly motivated by potential return of oyster-associated ecosystem services, including increased water filtration. The potential impact of such restoration on another species of ecological concern, eelgrass, Zostera marina, is unclear, but has been hypothesized to be positive if oyster filter feeding increases light penetration to eelgrass. For two years after construction of an oyster restoration project, we assessed the response of adjacent eelgrass (impact) compared to control and reference eelgrass beds by monitoring changes in light intensity, eelgrass shoot density, biomass, leaf morphometrics, and epiphyte load. We observed lower light intensity consistently over time, including prior to restoration, near the constructed oyster bed relative to the control and one of the reference locations. We also observed minor variations between control and impact eelgrass morphology and density. However, the changes observed were not outside the range of natural variation expected in this system, based upon comparisons to reference eelgrass beds, nor were they detrimental. This limited impact to eelgrass may be due in part to the incorporation of a buffer distance between the restored oyster bed and the existing eelgrass bed, which may have dampened both positive and negative impacts. These findings provide evidence that Olympia oyster restoration and eelgrass conservation goals can be compatible and occur simultaneously.

scholarly journals Variation of carbon contents in eelgrass ( Zostera marina ) sediments implied from depth profiles

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 20180831 ◽  
Author(s):  
Theodor Kindeberg ◽  
Emilia Röhr ◽  
Per-Olav Moksnes ◽  
Christoffer Boström ◽  
Marianne Holmer
Keyword(s):  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Zostera Marina ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Sediment Cores ◽  
Depth Profiles ◽  
Seagrass Meadows ◽  
Spatio Temporal ◽  
Organic Carbon Storage ◽  
Eelgrass Beds

Seagrass meadows are able to store significant amounts of organic carbon in their underlying sediment, but global estimates are uncertain partly owing to spatio-temporal heterogeneity between and within areas and species. In order to provide robust estimates, there is a need to better understand the fate of, and mechanisms behind, organic carbon storage. In this observational study, we analyse a suite of biotic and abiotic parameters in sediment cores from 47 different eelgrass ( Zostera marina ) beds spanning the distributional range of the Northern Hemisphere. Depth profiles of particulate organic carbon (POC) revealed three patterns of vertical distribution where POC either increased, decreased or showed no pattern with sediment depth. These categories exhibited distinct profiles of δ 13 C and C:N ratios, where high POC profiles had a proportionally larger storage of eelgrass-derived material whereas low POC profiles were dominated by phytoplanktonic and macroalgal material. However, high POC did not always translate into high carbon density. Nevertheless, this large-scale dataset provides evidence that the variability in organic matter source in response to natural and anthropogenic environmental changes affects the potential role of eelgrass beds as POC sinks, particularly where eelgrass decline is observed.

SMALL SCALE PILOT PROJECT AS A TOOL FOR PLANNING LARGE SCALE RESTORATION

2008 ◽  
Vol 2008 (1) ◽  
pp. 1163-1169
Author(s):  
Leslie J. Craig ◽  
Tom Pride
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Oyster Reef ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Pilot Studies ◽  
Restoration Project ◽  
Survival And Growth ◽  
Oyster Restoration

ABSTRACT The use of pilot studies can be a useful tool in determining the most appropriate location, method and design for a large scale restoration project. This paper provides a case study where Trustees implemented a small pilot project and feasibility study to determine the best approach for a large scale oyster reef creation project. While the specific case study is the result of a CERCLA settlement (Alafia River Acid Spill of 1997), this model is transferable to other instances where Trustees are scoping for the most appropriate sites and methods to conduct settlement funded restoration. The Restoration Plan and Environmental Assessment on which the case settlement was based called for creation of approximately 4 acres of oyster reef in addition to 4 acres of estuarine marsh restoration. Through an initial scoping process, the Trustees determined that more information was needed to select the most appropriate locations and techniques to implement the large scale oyster restoration project. The Trustees identified 3 general locations with potential for larger scale oyster reef creation. A portion of settlement funding was used to contract for construction and monitoring of an oyster reef pilot project to examine the efficacy of oyster reef construction at the three locations using 4 different cultch materials. At each of the locations, 4 small reefs (approximately 75’ × 20’) were constructed and monitored for spat set, oyster survival and growth as well as subsidence. A baseline construction report and final monitoring report detailed the results. In addition, a separate report was completed that outlined the feasibility of constructing a 4 acre oyster reef in Hillsborough Bay, FL. This report included several construction considerations such as local sources and costs of cultch materials, shipping/transport, staging areas, construction equipment as well as potential local contractors. This paper reports the results of the oyster pilot project and feasibility report as well as lessons learned from each approach.

scholarly journals Disruption of essential habitat by a coastal invader: new evidence of the effects of green crabs on eelgrass beds

2011 ◽  
Vol 68 (9) ◽  
pp. 1852-1856 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrey Malyshev ◽  
Pedro A. Quijón
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Zostera Marina ◽  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Carcinus Maenas ◽  
Green Crab ◽  
Atlantic Canada ◽  
Marine Science ◽  
Eelgrass Beds ◽  
New Evidence

Abstract Malyshev, A., and Quijón, P. A. 2011. Disruption of essential habitat by a coastal invader: new evidence of the effects of green crabs on eelgrass beds. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 68: 1852–1856. Eelgrass (Zostera marina) beds have been declining in Atlantic Canada and elsewhere, partly as a result of sediment disruption and direct feeding/cutting of basal meristems by the green crab (Carcinus maenas). Green crabs are detrimental to eelgrass beds, and field and laboratory experiments have confirmed that the deleterious role of this invasive species is mediated by at least two mechanisms, depending on the size/age of the crabs: uprooting by adults and grazing by juveniles. Eelgrass uprooting and grazing by green crabs are likely to contribute to further declines or a lack of recovery of eelgrass beds.

scholarly journals Toxicity of reduced nitrogen in eelgrass (Zostera marina) is highly dependent on shoot density and pH

Oecologia ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 158 (3) ◽  
pp. 411-419 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. van der Heide ◽  
A. J. P. Smolders ◽  
B. G. A. Rijkens ◽  
E. H. van Nes ◽  
M. M. van Katwijk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Zostera Marina ◽  
Shoot Density ◽  
Reduced Nitrogen

scholarly journals Habitat degradation of an eelgrass bed variably affects epifaunal biodiversity

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Rossi ◽  
Marie Pierrejean
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Zostera Marina ◽  
Habitat Complexity ◽  
Photosynthetic Activity ◽  
Habitat Degradation ◽  
Shoot Density ◽  
Seagrass Habitat ◽  
Abiotic Stressors ◽  
Complex Patterns ◽  
Epifaunal Assemblages

Seagrass habitat complexity can determine species diversity and abundance, through, for instance, changes in the availability of microhabitats, refuge from predators or changes in the intensity and frequency of abiotic stressors. Human-related perturbations cause seagrass habitat degradation and, therefore, reduce its complexity, thereby affecting biodiversity. We have followed the epifaunal assemblages of a Zostera marina meadow and deliberately modified seagrass shoot density three times during a year to measure how epifaunal assemblages responded to habitat degradation and whether patterns of response were consistent through time. We have also measured in the laboratory how epifauna controlled epiphyte biomass, which could feedback on seagrass photosynthetic activity, growth and productivity, thereby changing its resilience to disturbances. Results have shown complex patterns, variable in time.

scholarly journals Habitat degradation of an eelgrass bed variably affects epifaunal biodiversity

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Rossi ◽  
Marie Pierrejean
Keyword(s):  
Species Diversity ◽  
Zostera Marina ◽  
Habitat Complexity ◽  
Photosynthetic Activity ◽  
Habitat Degradation ◽  
Shoot Density ◽  
Seagrass Habitat ◽  
Abiotic Stressors ◽  
Complex Patterns ◽  
Epifaunal Assemblages

Seagrass habitat complexity can determine species diversity and abundance, through, for instance, changes in the availability of microhabitats, refuge from predators or changes in the intensity and frequency of abiotic stressors. Human-related perturbations cause seagrass habitat degradation and, therefore, reduce its complexity, thereby affecting biodiversity. We have followed the epifaunal assemblages of a Zostera marina meadow and deliberately modified seagrass shoot density three times during a year to measure how epifaunal assemblages responded to habitat degradation and whether patterns of response were consistent through time. We have also measured in the laboratory how epifauna controlled epiphyte biomass, which could feedback on seagrass photosynthetic activity, growth and productivity, thereby changing its resilience to disturbances. Results have shown complex patterns, variable in time.

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