An Effective Method for Collecting and Storing Seeds from <i>Zostera marina</i> (Eelgrass) in the Yellow Sea, China

Pan, Junfeng; Jiang, Xin; Li, Xiaojie; Han, Houwei; Zhang, Zhuangzhi; Li, Zhiling; Yu, Shenhui; Song, Shaofeng; Wu, Ruina; Jiang, Yongxin; Zhao, Nan; Yang, Guanpin

doi:10.1111/rec.12137

Cited by 11 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…Following this, all seeds were kept in high salinity artificial seawater (50 ppt) (Pan et al, 2011b) at 5 °C (Zarranz et al, 2010; Dooley, Wyllie-Echeverria & Van Volkenburgh, 2013) until initiation of our tests. With the maturation of seeds, the oyster white seeds (immature) become cyan, then brown or black (mature) (Pan et al, 2014). Only mature seeds in dark color were used in this experiment.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Salinity and temperature significantly influence seed germination, seedling establishment, and seedling growth of eelgrassZostera marinaL.

Zhou

Wang

et al. 2016

PeerJ

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Globally, seagrass beds have been recognized as critical yet declining coastal habitats. To mitigate seagrass losses, seagrass restorations have been conducted in worldwide over the past two decades. Seed utilization is considered to be an important approach in seagrass restoration efforts. In this study, we investigated the effects of salinity and temperature on seed germination, seedling establishment, and seedling growth of eelgrass Zostera marina L. (Swan Lake, northern China). We initially tested the effects of salinity (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 ppt) and water temperature (5, 10, 15, and 20 °C) on seed germination to identify optimal levels. To identify levels of salinity that could potentially limit survival and growth, and, consequently, the spatial distribution of seedlings in temperate estuaries, we then examined the effect of freshwater and other salinity levels (10, 20, and 30 ppt) on seedling growth and establishment to confirm suitable conditions for seedling development. Finally, we examined the effect of transferring germinated seeds from freshwater or low salinity levels (1, 5, and 15 ppt) to natural seawater (32 ppt) on seedling establishment rate (SER) at 15 °C. In our research, we found that: (1) Mature seeds had a considerably lower moisture content than immature seeds; therefore, moisture content may be a potential indicator of Z. marina seed maturity; (2) Seed germination significantly increased at low salinity (p < 0.001) and high temperature (p < 0.001). Salinity had a much stronger influence on seed germination than temperature. Maximum seed germination (88.67 ± 5.77%) was recorded in freshwater at 15 °C; (3) Freshwater and low salinity levels (< 20 ppt) increased germination but had a strong negative effect on seedling morphology (number of leaves per seedling reduced from 2 to 0, and maximum seedling leaf length reduced from 4.48 to 0 cm) and growth (seedling biomass reduced by 46.15–66.67% and maximum seedling length reduced by 21.16–69.50%). However, Z. marina performed almost equally well at salinities of 20 and 30 ppt. Very few germinated seeds completed leaf differentiation and seedling establishment in freshwater or at low salinity, implying that freshwater and low salinity may potentially limit the distribution of this species in coastal and estuarine waters. Therefore, the optimum salinity for Z. marina seedling establishment and colonization appears to be above 20 ppt in natural beds; (4) Seeds germinated in freshwater or at low salinity levels could be transferred to natural seawater to accomplish seedling establishment and colonization. This may be the optimal method for the adoption of seed utilization in seagrass restoration. We also identified seven stages of seed germination and seedling metamorphosis in order to characterize growth and developmental characteristics. Our results may serve as useful information for Z. marina habitat establishment and restoration programs.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Salinity and temperature significantly influence seed germination, seedling establishment, and seedling growth of eelgrassZostera marinaL.

Zhou

Wang

et al. 2016

PeerJ

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“…Infection during storage has been documented from multiple countries (the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, USA) and seed loss due to infection may be as high as 40% 20 . These results may thus be applicable to all seed-based Z. marina restoration projects around the world 8 9 11 15 55 57 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 82%

“…Although germination tests were conducted at 20.0 ppt, negative effects of storing seeds in freshwater appeared to be lasting. In addition, storing Zostera seeds at low salinities may also increase seed loss by enhancing premature germination 15 55 56 . Taking this into account and because both infection and germination were similar in the 10.0 and 25.0 ppt salinity treatments, we recommend storing seeds for restoration purposes at higher (i.e.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Copper treatment during storage reduces Phytophthora and Halophytophthora infection of Zostera marina seeds used for restoration

Govers

Zee²,

Meffert³

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

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Restoration is increasingly considered an essential tool to halt and reverse the rapid decline of vital coastal ecosystems dominated by habitat-forming foundation species such as seagrasses. However, two recently discovered pathogens of marine plants, Phytophthora gemini and Halophytophthora sp. Zostera, can seriously hamper restoration efforts by dramatically reducing seed germination. Here, we report on a novel method that strongly reduces Phytophthora and Halophytophthora infection of eelgrass (Zostera marina) seeds. Seeds were stored in seawater with three different copper sulphate concentrations (0.0, 0.2, 2.0 ppm) crossed with three salinities (0.5, 10.0, 25.0 ppt). Next to reducing seed germination, infection significantly affected cotyledon colour: 90% of the germinated infected seeds displayed a brown cotyledon upon germination that did not continue development into the seedling stage, in contrast to only 13% of the germinated non-infected seeds. Copper successfully reduced infection up to 86% and the 0.2 ppm copper sulphate treatment was just as successful as the 2.0 ppm treatment. Infection was completely eliminated at low salinities, but green seed germination was also dramatically lowered by 10 times. We conclude that copper sulphate treatment is a suitable treatment for disinfecting Phytophthora or Halophytophthora infected eelgrass seeds, thereby potentially enhancing seed-based restoration success.

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“…However, most of these projects suffered from low seagrass survival rates and high cost (Qiu et al, 2014), and had a very small project area (with only five having a restoration area of > 1 ha), which may limit the positive effects of self-sustaining feedback critical in seagrass restorations (Katwijk et al, 2015). While some experiments tested if Zostera marina in the Yellow Sea could establish populations from seeds, such a seeding method has not yet been applied in restoration practices (Pan et al, 2014). In addition, in 2011, Hepu Dugong State Nature Reserve, Guangxi Province restored 12 ha seagrass habitats by removing fish farms to enhance habitat quality and achieve gradual seagrass recovery (Environmental Protection Bureau of Guangxi, 2011).…”

Section: Seagrass Restorationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Shifting paradigms in coastal restoration: Six decades' lessons from China

Liu

Cui

2016

Science of The Total Environment

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With accelerating degradation of coastal environment worldwide, restoration has been elevated as a global strategy to enhance the functioning and social services of coastal ecosystems. While many developing countries suffer from intense coastal degradation, current understanding of the science and practice of their coastal restorations is extremely limited. Based on analysis of >1000 restoration projects, we provide the first synthesis of China's coastal restorations. We show that China's coastal restoration has recently entered a rapidly developing stage, with an increasing number of restoration projects carried out in multiple types of coastal ecosystems. While long-term, national-level restorations enforced by the government appear promising for some coastal ecosystems, especially mangroves, restorations of many other coastal ecosystems, such as salt marshes, seagrasses and coral reefs, have been much less implemented, likely due to under-appreciation of their ecosystem services values. Furthermore, the planning, techniques, research/assessment, and participation models underlying current restorations remain largely inadequate for restoration to effectively halt rapid coastal degradation. To promote success, we propose a framework where paradigms in current restorations from planning to implementation and assessment are transformed in multiple ways. Our study has broad implications for coastal environmental management policies and practices, and should inform sustainable development of coupled human-ocean systems in many countries.

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An Effective Method for Collecting and Storing Seeds from Zostera marina (Eelgrass) in the Yellow Sea, China

Cited by 11 publications

References 17 publications

Salinity and temperature significantly influence seed germination, seedling establishment, and seedling growth of eelgrassZostera marinaL.

Salinity and temperature significantly influence seed germination, seedling establishment, and seedling growth of eelgrassZostera marinaL.

Copper treatment during storage reduces Phytophthora and Halophytophthora infection of Zostera marina seeds used for restoration

Shifting paradigms in coastal restoration: Six decades' lessons from China

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