Seagrass restoration in Little Lagoon May 2 nd and 3 rd 2009
Bart Christiaen What are seagrasses? flowering plants salt water
ShoalgrassWidgeongrassTurtlegrass Why are they important? Food
& shelter Why are they important? sediment stabilization input
organic matter sediment chemistry Problem: worldwide decline
seagrass declines reported since 1970 (Short & Echeverria 1996)
Underlying cause... For example: in Florida Population increase
Decrease in seagrass cover Mechanism Direct effects: prop scarring,
construction,... Mechanism Indirect effects: shading Shading What
can we do? Government: protection of existing beds regulation of
dredging, watershed development,... Citizens: responsible boating
What can we do? If water quality is sufficient Seagrass restoration
Seagrass restoration in Little Lagoon Not as simple as it looks
Notoriously high failure rate Youve got to do it right! Site
selection Site selection based on water quality, sediment, exposure
to wave energy,... NE corner of Bon Secour Wildlife Refuge, near
the Jeff Friend Trail Method selection & test Best candidate
for restoration: shoalgrass Method selection & test Appropriate
method: transplantation % survival shoalgrass plugs weeks %
survival Method selection & test It works = bigger scale!
But... Seagrass transplantation is a lot of work We need help When?
2 nd & 3 rd May of 2009 in the morning Where? parking lot of
Jeff Friend Trail What? short demonstration planting together with
students from Dauphin Island Sea Lab knee deep waist deep water We
need help If you want to volunteer, please contact Dennis Hatfield
Bart Christiaen THANK YOU If you have any questions Please ask!
