Decline in eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) in Long Island Sound near Millstone Point, Connecticut (USA) unrelated to thermal input

Evaluation of blast furnace slag as basal media for eelgrass bed

“…It was reported in the literature that a very wide range of silt-clay content values (0.8-56%) were observed in healthy eelgrass beds [33,[38][39][40][41]. The values of silt-clay content we obtained for NES and GS were within the range found in the literature; 6-9% and 2% for NES and GS, respectively.…”

Long Island Sound

“…Inhibition may result from thermal disruption of metabolic processes or from an increase in the minimum light requirement necessary to compensate for increasing respiratory demands (Staehr and Borum 2011). The higher mid-summer temperatures in LIS and its embayments lead to a bimodal growth pattern in most years, with best growth in the spring and fall and inhibition in the warm summer months (Olesen and Sand-Jensen 1993;Moore et al 1996;Bintz et al 2003;Keser et al 2003;Yarish et al 2006). During the winter, production is almost nonexistent for eelgrass in LIS ).…”

“…Only an estimated 1 % of the North Atlantic population remained, occurring primarily in the low S waters of upper estuarine areas (Cottam 1933). The eastern portion of LIS experienced a recovery by the 1950s, while recovery in WLIS was spotty and eventually failed (see references cited in: Rozsa 1994;Keser et al 2003;Yarish et al 2006;Johnson et al 2007). In the 1990s, Clinton Harbor was the westernmost location supporting eelgrass .…”

Evaluation of substrates for constructing beds for the marine macrophyte Zostera marina L.

“…Li et al (2012) showed that the freshwater eelgrass Vallisneria natans grown in silt and clay had greater height, more ramets and leaves, and greater biomass accumulation compared to V. natans grown in pebble and gravel substrates. Healthy eelgrass beds are found in substrates with wide range of silt and clay content (1-56%; Imao and Fushimi, 1985;Keser et al, 2003;Koch, 2001;Laugier et al, 1999;Tamaki et al, 2002). Although, a high silt-clay content can create a reducing environment due to decreased exchange of pore water with the water column (Huettel and Rusch, 2000;Koch, 2001).…”