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Global analysis of seagrass restoration: the importance of large-scale planting

2016-04Journal article Restricted access
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dc.contributor.authorvan Katwijk, Marieke M.
dc.contributor.authorThorhaug, Anitra
dc.contributor.authorMarba, Nuria
dc.contributor.authorOrth, Robert J.
dc.contributor.authorDuarte, Carlos M.
dc.contributor.authorKendrick, Gary A.
dc.contributor.authorAlthuizen, Inge H. J.
dc.contributor.authorBalestri, Elena
dc.contributor.authorBernard, Guillaume
dc.contributor.authorCambridge, Marion L.
dc.contributor.authorCunha, Alexandra
dc.contributor.authorDurance, Cynthia
dc.contributor.authorGiesen, Wim
dc.contributor.authorHan, Qiuying
dc.contributor.authorHosokawa, Shinya
dc.contributor.authorKiswara, Wawan
dc.contributor.authorKomatsu, Teruhisa
dc.contributor.authorLardicci, Claudio
dc.contributor.authorLee, Kun-Seop
dc.contributor.authorMeinesz, Alexandre
dc.contributor.authorNakaoka, Masahiro
dc.contributor.authorO'Brien, Katherine R.
dc.contributor.authorPaling, Erik I.
dc.contributor.authorPickerell, Chris
dc.contributor.authorRansijn, Aryan M. A.
dc.contributor.authorVerduin, Jennifer J.
dc.date.accessioned2017-04-07T15:56:56Z
dc.date.available2017-04-07T15:56:56Z
dc.date.issued2016-04
dc.description.abstractIn coastal and estuarine systems, foundation species like seagrasses, mangroves, saltmarshes or corals provide important ecosystem services. Seagrasses are globally declining and their reintroduction has been shown to restore ecosystem functions. However, seagrass restoration is often challenging, given the dynamic and stressful environment that seagrasses often grow in. From our world-wide meta-analysis of seagrass restoration trials (1786 trials), we describe general features and best practice for seagrass restoration. We confirm that removal of threats is important prior to replanting. Reduced water quality (mainly eutrophication), and construction activities led to poorer restoration success than, for instance, dredging, local direct impact and natural causes. Proximity to and recovery of donor beds were positively correlated with trial performance. Planting techniques can influence restoration success. The meta-analysis shows that both trial survival and seagrass population growth rate in trials that survived are positively affected by the number of plants or seeds initially transplanted. This relationship between restoration scale and restoration success was not related to trial characteristics of the initial restoration. The majority of the seagrass restoration trials have been very small, which may explain the low overall trial survival rate (i.e. estimated 37%). Successful regrowth of the foundation seagrass species appears to require crossing a minimum threshold of reintroduced individuals. Our study provides the first global field evidence for the requirement of a critical mass for recovery, which may also hold for other foundation species showing strong positive feedback to a dynamic environment.Synthesis and applications. For effective restoration of seagrass foundation species in its typically dynamic, stressful environment, introduction of large numbers is seen to be beneficial and probably serves two purposes. First, a large-scale planting increases trial survival - large numbers ensure the spread of risks, which is needed to overcome high natural variability. Secondly, a large-scale trial increases population growth rate by enhancing self-sustaining feedback, which is generally found in foundation species in stressful environments such as seagrass beds. Thus, by careful site selection and applying appropriate techniques, spreading of risks and enhancing self-sustaining feedback in concert increase success of seagrass restoration.For effective restoration of seagrass foundation species in its typically dynamic, stressful environment, introduction of large numbers is seen to be beneficial and probably serves two purposes. First, a large-scale planting increases trial survival - large numbers ensure the spread of risks, which is needed to overcome high natural variability. Secondly, a large-scale trial increases population growth rate by enhancing self-sustaining feedback, which is generally found in foundation species in stressful environments such as seagrass beds. Thus, by careful site selection and applying appropriate techniques, spreading of risks and enhancing self-sustaining feedback in concert increase success of seagrass restoration.
dc.identifier.doi10.1111/1365-2664.12562
dc.identifier.issn0021-8901
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/9562
dc.language.isoeng
dc.peerreviewedyes
dc.relationOperational Potential of Ecosystem Research Applications
dc.relation.isbasedonWOS:000370959100029
dc.titleGlobal analysis of seagrass restoration: the importance of large-scale planting
dc.typejournal article
dspace.entity.typePublication
oaire.awardTitleOperational Potential of Ecosystem Research Applications
oaire.awardURIinfo:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/FP7/308393/EU
oaire.citation.endPage578
oaire.citation.issue2
oaire.citation.startPage567
oaire.citation.titleJournal of Applied Ecology
oaire.citation.volume53
oaire.fundingStreamFP7
project.funder.identifierhttp://doi.org/10.13039/501100008530
project.funder.nameEuropean Commission
rcaap.rightsopenAccess
rcaap.typearticle
relation.isProjectOfPublication5e3c5130-9154-4a89-ad0b-a36c3ca77a60
relation.isProjectOfPublication.latestForDiscovery5e3c5130-9154-4a89-ad0b-a36c3ca77a60

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