Transplantation on a Posidonia oceanica meadow to facilitate its recovery after the Concordia shipwrecking. (June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mancini, G.; Ventura, D.; Casoli, E.; Belluscio, A.; Ardizzone, G.D.
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 179(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-06
• Subjects: Posidonia oceanica -- Meadows decline -- Seagrass transplantation -- Restoration upscaling -- Meadows recovery; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113683
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: Ecological restoration is an important tool to reverse habitat loss and recover ecosystem services. Here, for two years, we examine the dynamic of Posidonia oceanica following the restoration of a 1149 m 2 meadow damaged by the Concordia shipwreck. To evaluate the suitability of a recently employed seagrass restoration protocol, we assessed the patches' survival and development by high-spatial resolution photomosaics over the whole transplanted surface. To estimate recovery trajectories, we quantified the cuttings' survival, shoot density, and Daily Leaf Production within fixed monitoring squares. The outcomes confirmed that our protocol could be efficiently applied at larger scales, showing diminutions in cuttings' survival and shoot density over the first year (up to −20%), followed by stability in the number of living cuttings and increases of leaf bundles (up to +5%/year). Our insights demonstrate that the recovery of P. oceanica can be speeded up and underline the need for case-specific transplantation strategies. Highlights: Posidonia oceanica transplantation can speed up the meadow recovery. Cuttings deriving from boat anchoring can be successfully applied for restoration. Cuttings' survival rate approximately reached the 80% after two years. Shoot density increases constantly since the 8th month from the transplantation. Case-specific transplantation strategies are needed to reach effective outcomes.