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OBSERVATIONS ON THE REGROWTH OF SUBAQUATIC VEGETATION FOLLOWING TRANSPLANTATION: A POTENTIAL METHOD TO ASSESS ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OF COASTAL HABITATS
Citation:
Davis, W P., M. R. Davis, AND D A. Flemer. OBSERVATIONS ON THE REGROWTH OF SUBAQUATIC VEGETATION FOLLOWING TRANSPLANTATION: A POTENTIAL METHOD TO ASSESS ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OF COASTAL HABITATS. 1999, Chapter 18, Stephen A. Bortone (ed.), Seagrasses: Monitoring, Ecology, Physiology, and Management. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, FL, , 231-238.
Description:
In 1991, experimental transplantings of Vallisneria americana (tapegrass, vallisneria, or wildcelery) were initiated at selected sites which lacked grass beds along the north shore of Perdido Bay, located on the Alabama-Florida border. Abatement of organic and color-staining components had been implemented to improve the water quality of effluent discharged by a pulp mill into the headwaters of Elevenmile Creek, a stream entering this low salinity estuary. This study was designed to assess whether previous in situ habitat conditions (e.g., light exclusion, water or sediment toxicity) had prevented natural recruitment of aquatic grasses or if other factors, (e.g. propagule transport) existed which might limit or delay Vallisneria colonization or growth. Different experimental transplanting configurations were employed in order to observe success in establishment of beds and assess our ability to measure plant growth among the varying micro-habitats and substrates. The initial transplanting, in 1991, consisted of two plants each, spaced at 40 cm centers in four 6 x 1 m parallel row-plots. These plants subsequently spread rapidly by runners merging the rows into a continuously expanding grass bed. Second and third trials conducted in 1995, were planted in a cross-shaped configuration, which has emerged as our preferred design. The growth of these transplants indicated Vallisneria grass beds were recruitment limited, rather than constrained by prevailing conditions of water quality/toxicity, light reduction or unsuitable substrate during the study period. Our experience may represent a fundamental method for routine utilization of the responses of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) to assess a broad range of questions concerning habitat and water quality of potential sites for habitat restoration.