Effects of depth on manual transplantation of the seagrass Amphibolis griffithii (J. M. Black) den Hartog on Success Bank, Western Australia

Paling, E.I., van Keulen, M.ORCID: 0000-0001-6235-5788, Wheeler, K. and Walker, C. (1999) Effects of depth on manual transplantation of the seagrass Amphibolis griffithii (J. M. Black) den Hartog on Success Bank, Western Australia. Pacific Conservation Biology, 5 (4). pp. 314-320.

Abstract

Transplants were established in February and December 1997 to supplement and provide feedback for a mechanical seagrass transplantation programme. A total of 580, 15 cm diameter plugs of Amphibolis griffithii were transplanted to depths of 5, 6, 8 and 10 m with similar energy conditions, and their survival monitored. There was a significant decline in plug survival over the subsequent 14 months. This appears to correlate with the onset of the winter storms in May 1997; the control plugs (seagrass excavated and replanted in the same location) also declined during this period. There was a seasonal decline in stem density in all plugs, with some recovery in the following spring and summer. The decline of plug survival corresponded to large-scale fluctuations in sediment levels across Success Bank. This suggests that, provided the transplants survive hydrodynamic disturbances resulting in sediment level fluctuations, the light climate (up to 10 m depth) does not prevent the survival and growth of seagrass transplants.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Murdoch Affiliation(s):	School of Environmental Science
Publisher:	Surrey Beatty & Sons
Copyright:	© Surrey Beatty & Sons
URI:	http://researchrepository.murdoch.edu.au/id/eprint/10776

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