Keywords

Halodule wrightii; Restoration; Submerged Aquatic Vegetation; Clonal Reproduction

Abstract

Seagrass restoration of Halodule wrightii, has become crucial as seagrass coverage in the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) declined by 58% between 2011 and 2019. To understand the abundance of seagrass fragments available for natural recruitment and restoration, we tracked the abundance of viable fragments found in the wrack in Mosquito Lagoon. Wrack is plant material, including seagrass fragments, mangrove propagules, and detritus. Seagrass fragments were considered viable if the fragment had an apical meristem present. Replicate samples were collected from 5 locations every two weeks, starting in September 2022 and ending in September 2023, and the samples were processed in the laboratory. To date, H. wrightii is the most common species and is most abundant during the fall season. Among the total H. wrightii fragments collected, 54.1% had apical meristems, the growth tips needed to produce leaf-bearing shoots. Annually, on average, 7 fragments with apical meristems per square meter a month were recorded. Among only fragments with an apical meristem found during this study, 92.8% had less than five shoots. The average fragment that was washing ashore had only two shoots. This study will assist restoration practitioners in understanding the availability of viable H. wrightii fragments for natural and active restoration efforts.

Thesis Completion Year

2024

Thesis Completion Semester

Spring

Thesis Chair

Walters, Linda

College

College of Sciences

Department

Department of Biology

Thesis Discipline

Biology

Language

English

Access Status

Open Access

Length of Campus Access

None

Campus Location

Orlando (Main) Campus

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