Abstract Detail

Physiological Section

Thorhaug, Anitra [1].

Healing Biodiversity by Large Scale Seagrass Restoration in Anthropogenic Modified Settings with Resulting Persistent(up to 38 yr) Seagrass Beds including Reassembled Biodiversity .

In the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic subtropics and tropics aseries of seagrass meadows were planted under a variety of physiological conditions which will be reviewed and evaluated as long-term persistent meadows despite increasing pollution in the estuaries of their regrowth. These chiefly were within estuaries with moderate to severe anthropogenic effects. The species Thalassia testudinum had areas of 587298 m² planted in Biscayne Bay Florida in a set of 17 locations some as large as 206780 m² by seedling, sprig ,plug and machine. The first planting in 1973 persist today. Syringodium filiforme had 708980 m² planted chiefly by sprigs and plugs. Halodule wrightii 724355 m² which expanded rapidly in the majority of sites and persist in meadows today in north Biscayne Bay. All but a small portion of these three species are now persistent and most have expanded well beyond the meters planted. In the Laguna Madre, Texas,the Halodule wrightii planted by plug methods in 275361 m² restored from propeller scars, scrape down and barren bottoms. Halophila engelmanii was planted specimens in close to 30 ha.
The remarkable resilience of seagrass's physiological adaptation to increase pollution was the key factor. Halodule wrightii and Syringodium filiforme in sediments containing former intense sewer outfall grew giant size with extreme sheath elongation which lifted blades into a more intense photiczone which clearly had more red light available. Salinity alterations between extreme high and low as well as a large sediment accretion occurred for the Laguna Madre Halodule wrightii which is withstood. Other examples of persistent beds were found in Kingston Harbor where a less than 0.5 ha meadow became multi hectared, although turbidity from the major sewerage outfall, outgoing riverine pollutants, and bay turbidity were major water factors.

Broader Impacts:

1 - Yale University, School of Forestry and Environmental Sciences, 359 Prospect St., New Haven , Ct. , 06901, USA

Keywords:
seagrass restoration
Halodule wrightii
Thalassia testudinum
Syringodium filiforme
Halophila englemanii
seagrass plugs
Kingston Harbor
Laguna Madre, Texas
Biscayne Bay , Florida
persistent seagrass meadows
seagrass cut by machines
seagrass sprigs
seagrass seedlings and seeds
seagrass sods
propeller scars healed by seagrass
Jamaica
Gulf of Mexico seagrass
Florida
Texas.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 30
Location: Westminster Room/Chase Park Plaza
Date: Tuesday, July 12th, 2011
Time: 8:50 AM
Number: 30003
Abstract ID:445