Seagrass ecosystem trajectory depends on the relative timescales of resistance, recovery and disturbance

O'Brien, Katherine R., Waycott, Michelle, Maxwell, Paul, Kendrick, Gary A., Udy, James W., Ferguson, Angus J.P., Kilminster, Kieryn, Scanes, Peter, McKenzie, Len J., McMahon, Kathryn, Adams, Matthew P., Samper-Villarreal, Jimena, Collier, Catherine, Lyons, Mitchell, Mumby, Peter J., Radke, Lynda, Christianen, Marjolijn J.A., and Dennison, William C. (2018) Seagrass ecosystem trajectory depends on the relative timescales of resistance, recovery and disturbance. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 134. pp. 166-176.

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Abstract

Seagrass ecosystems are inherently dynamic, responding to environmental change across a range of scales. Habitat requirements of seagrass are well defined, but less is known about their ability to resist disturbance. Specific means of recovery after loss are particularly difficult to quantify. Here we assess the resistance and recovery capacity of 12 seagrass genera. We document four classic trajectories of degradation and recovery for seagrass ecosystems, illustrated with examples from around the world. Recovery can be rapid once conditions improve, but seagrass absence at landscape scales may persist for many decades, perpetuated by feedbacks and/or lack of seed or plant propagules to initiate recovery. It can be difficult to distinguish between slow recovery, recalcitrant degradation, and the need for a window of opportunity to trigger recovery. We propose a framework synthesizing how the spatial and temporal scales of both disturbance and seagrass response affect ecosystem trajectory and hence resilience.

Item ID: 53377
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 0025-326X
Keywords: seagrass, trajectory, resistance, recovery, resilience, colonizing, persistent, opportunistic
Copyright Information: Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Funders: University of Queensland, University of Western Australia
Date Deposited: 02 May 2018 02:33
FoR Codes: 41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4102 Ecological applications > 410299 Ecological applications not elsewhere classified @ 50%
31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3104 Evolutionary biology > 310411 Plant and fungus systematics and taxonomy @ 50%
SEO Codes: 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9605 Ecosystem Assessment and Management > 960507 Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Marine Environments @ 50%
96 ENVIRONMENT > 9608 Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity > 960808 Marine Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity @ 50%
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