A Restored Seagrass (Thalassia) Bed and Its Animal Community

Abstract

Quarterly sampling of animals in a restored seagrass (Thalassia) area in south Biscayne Bay, Florida, was undertaken to determine whether the recolonizing animal community would be similar in structure to a Thalassia community that had never been impacted by thermal effluents or restored. Samplings by 1 m bottom trawl (⅛ inch = 3.2 mm stretch-mesh), 3 replicates at each of 9 stations, and a 15-cm2 grab (5 replicates at 9 stations) were sorted as to species for most groups and quantified. Strong seasonal differences were found. The results were compared with data from previous work in the area which had been done during thermal emissions from a power-plant.Significant differences were found between the abundance and species of animals in restored areas and a nearby barren area that had never recovered from impact, though differences in species and abundances between the restored Thalassia sites and an unaffected control site were not statistically different. Populations of certain groups such as the commercial Pink Shrimp (Penaeus duorarum), caridean shrimps, and juvenile fishes, were numerically far higher in the restored area than in control or naturally reestablishing successional seagrasses, and at least an order of magnitude higher than in barren areas that had never recovered from impact.

Comparisons of fauna among natural and transplanted eelgrass Zostera marIna meadows: criteria for mitigation

“…Also, after 1.9 yr of transplant development at the Shackleford Shoals site, the numerical abundance and species composition between natural and transplanted beds was virtually indistinguishable. Such a trend would be consistent with the findings of McLaughlin et al (1983) for infauna and otter-trawled macrobenthos in a restored Thalassia bed. If we posit that the high affinity for eelgrass shoots by fauna were to continue, then a logical assumption would be that when the eelgrass population stabilized, the faunal population would too.…”

Macrophyte management: An integrated perspective

“…Until recently, the literature has mainly emphasised macrophyte control; today, macrophyte enhancement in both marine (McLaughlin et al 1983) and freshwater systems (Moss 1983) is also receiving attention. Enhancement methods fall into two broad categories:…”

Survival and Expansion of Mechanically Transplanted Seagrass Sods

“…Seagrass planting techniques have proven to be an effective means of creating viable seagrass habitat (Homziak et al 1982;McLaughlin et al 1983;Thayer et al 1986;Fonseca et al 1996b) and restoring ecosystem function (Fonseca et al 1996a;Sheridan 1999;Short et al 2000). Techniques are varied, involving seed sowing (Orth et al 1994;Harwell & Orth 1999), seedling/single shoot planting (Thorhaug 1974;Fonseca et al 1985;Balestri et al 1998), shoot bundles (Derrenbacker & Lewis 1982;Fonseca et al 1982), peat pots and plugs (Robilliard & Porter 1976;Fonseca et al 1994), and wire frames (Short et al 1999(Short et al , 2002.…”