Numerous mitigation transplants of the eelgrass Zostera marina in southern California shuffle genetic diversity and may promote hybridization with Zostera pacifica

Olsen, Jeanine L.; Coyer, James A.; Chesney, Bryant

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2014.05.001

Cited by 16 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 72 publications

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“…The point at which disturbance becomes destructive is difficult to quantify because, within limits, disturbance can also have a positive effect on, for example, the reproductive rate and recruitment success, leading to an increase in genetic and genotypic diversity, as hypothesized in the IDH (Connell ) and as observed in some southern Californian populations of Z. marina that have undergone repeated disturbance mitigation in a particular area (Olsen et al . ). Higher flowering rates under disturbance stress are well documented in both terrestrial plant species (Wada & Takeno and references therein) and seagrasses (Ferber et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

A meta‐analysis reveals a positive correlation between genetic diversity metrics and environmental status in the long‐lived seagrassPosidonia oceanica

2015

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The seagrass Posidonia oceanica is a key engineering species structuring coastal marine systems throughout much of the Mediterranean basin. Its decline is of concern, leading to the search for short- and long-term indicators of seagrass health. Using ArcGIS maps from a recent, high-resolution (1-4 km) modelling study of 18 disturbance factors affecting coastal marine systems across the Mediterranean (Micheli et al. 2013, http://globalmarine.nceas.ucsb.edu/mediterranean/), we tested for correlations with genetic diversity metrics (allelic diversity, genotypic/clonal diversity and heterozygosity) in a meta-analysis of 56 meadows. Contrary to initial predictions, weak but significantly positive correlations were found for commercial shipping, organic pollution (pesticides) and cumulative impact. This counterintuitive finding suggests greater resistance and resilience of individuals with higher genetic and genotypic diversity under disturbance (at least for a time) and/or increased sexual reproduction under an intermediate disturbance model. We interpret the absence of low and medium levels of genetic variation at impacted locations as probable local extinctions of individuals that already exceeded their resistance capacity. Alternatively, high diversity at high-impact sites is likely a temporal artefact, reflecting the mismatch with pre-environmental impact conditions, especially because flowering and sexual recruitment are seldom observed. While genetic diversity metrics are a valuable tool for restoration and mitigation, caution must be exercised in the interpretation of correlative patterns as found in this study, because the exceptional longevity of individuals creates a temporal mismatch that may falsely suggest good meadow health status, while gradual deterioration of allelic diversity might go unnoticed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

A meta‐analysis reveals a positive correlation between genetic diversity metrics and environmental status in the long‐lived seagrassPosidonia oceanica

2015

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“…For instance, a comprehensive policy for sea grass mitigation created by the National Marine Fisheries Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the California Department of Fish and Game requires collection of donor plants from multiple distinct sites to ensure greater genetic diversity (Olsen et al 2014). In addition, a centennial paper on terrestrial restoration from the Ecological Society of America noted genetic diversity was "increasingly incorporated in practice" to enhance ecosystem function (Perring et al 2015).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Inclusion of Biodiversity in Habitat Restoration Policy to Facilitate Ecosystem Recovery

Hughes

Grabowski

Leslie

et al. 2017

CONSERVATION LETTERS

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Maintaining biodiversity is a central tenet of conservation, in part because biodiversity influences ecosystem functions across terrestrial, freshwater, and marine systems. Biodiversity-ecosystem function relationships have clear relevance for the design of habitat restoration efforts, yet the degree to which biodiversity has been incorporated into restoration practice is unclear. We conducted a review of the published literature on habitat restoration to evaluate this potential science-practice gap. The number of published restoration studies including the term biodiversity has increased slightly from 1990 to 2015 relative to the broader restoration literature. A greater percentage of empirical restorations, and a higher percentage of those with a biodiversity component, were from terrestrial than freshwater or marine ecosystems. The majority of studies considered biodiversity as a response to restoration rather than incorporating it in the restoration design. In fact, nearly half of the studies in our database that actively transplanted species manipulated only a single target species. Little consideration was given to genetic or trophic diversity despite their documented importance for ecosystem function. Given the limited resources available for and high economic costs associated with habitat restoration projects, we recommend policies that account for biodiversity to bridge this gap and maximize ecosystem function and restoration success.

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“…Despite these disturbances, the eelgrass beds in each bay have proven resilient and represent a large proportion of eelgrass habitat in southern California (Olsen et al . ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…While it never received the industrial pollution of San Diego Bay, Mission Bay does receive urban run-off and disturbance from recreational activities and private boat storage. Despite these disturbances, the eelgrass beds in each bay have proven resilient and represent a large proportion of eelgrass habitat in southern California (Olsen et al 2014).…”

Section: Study Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

Long‐term stability of eelgrass fish assemblages in two highly developed coastal estuaries

Obaza

Hoffman

Clausing

2015

Fisheries Management Eco

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Changes in fish assemblages were tracked in representative eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) beds within two estuaries on the urbanised coast of southern California, USA, San Diego Bay and Mission Bay, from 1987 to 2010. Assemblages were sampled twice yearly (spring and summer) at day and night using beach seines. Assemblage stability was examined over time along with changes in assemblage structure across time of day and season, including the influence of temporally variable abiotic variables. Only the occasionally occurring fish, those present in <70% of samples, in Mission Bay appeared to be shifting to a new assemblage. Although season and sampling time significantly affected assemblages, correlations with abiotic factors were low. Given the long history of urban development of these estuaries, community shifts may have occurred prior to the onset of sampling, giving the appearance of stability. Alternatively, eelgrass habitat may be providing a refuge from long‐term disturbances.

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Numerous mitigation transplants of the eelgrass Zostera marina in southern California shuffle genetic diversity and may promote hybridization with Zostera pacifica

Cited by 16 publications

References 72 publications

A meta‐analysis reveals a positive correlation between genetic diversity metrics and environmental status in the long‐lived seagrassPosidonia oceanica

A meta‐analysis reveals a positive correlation between genetic diversity metrics and environmental status in the long‐lived seagrassPosidonia oceanica

Inclusion of Biodiversity in Habitat Restoration Policy to Facilitate Ecosystem Recovery

Long‐term stability of eelgrass fish assemblages in two highly developed coastal estuaries

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