Moir, Tom, Huggett, Megan J., Smith, Timothy M., and Gaston, Troy F. (2024) Thermally Primed Zostera muelleri Seeds Exhibit Higher Germination Rates Than Those From Ambient Conditions. Ecology and Evolution, 14 (10). e70362.

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Abstract

Seagrasses provide critical ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, sediment stabilisation and nursery habitat for juvenile fish. Zostera muelleri is ubiquitous within Australian and New Zealand estuaries, however, as a species is relatively understudied. We sourced seeds from a thermally affected east Australian estuary and investigated whether germination rates differed between ambient and thermally affected seeds over a variety of temperatures (16°C–28°C) to determine how seagrass systems might react in a warming climate. Germination for the experiment was low and totalled 5% of all seeds; however, similar numbers are typical in seed germination studies. Germination was highest at 16°C and was enhanced through the simulation of a 48-h freshwater pulse. Thermally affected sites germinated faster and had greater mean maximum germination when compared to control sites regardless of experimental temperature. These findings indicate that Z. muelleri in this system may be exhibiting transgenerational plasticity due to the thermal stress the parent experiences. This result provides an alternate viewpoint to the current literature by suggesting that unknown transgenerational effects may provide Z. muelleri with greater germination plasticity against temperatures expected under predicted climate change scenarios than previously expected.

Item ID:	85367
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	2045-7758
Copyright Information:	This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. © 2024 The Author(s). Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Date Deposited:	06 May 2025 23:28
FoR Codes:	31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3103 Ecology > 310305 Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) @ 70% 41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4101 Climate change impacts and adaptation > 410102 Ecological impacts of climate change and ecological adaptation @ 30%
SEO Codes:	18 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > 1802 Coastal and estuarine systems and management > 180201 Assessment and management of coastal and estuarine ecosystems @ 50% 19 ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY, CLIMATE CHANGE AND NATURAL HAZARDS > 1901 Adaptation to climate change > 190102 Ecosystem adaptation to climate change @ 50%
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