Reason, Carissa L., York, Paul H., Smith, Timothy, and Rasheed, Michael A. (2025) Flowering and seed dynamics of a tropical seagrass meadow: a reproductive bottleneck threatens meadow resilience and restoration potential. In: AMSA 2025: Delegate Handbook. 204. p. 108. From: AMSA 2025: Harmony in Marine Science, 13-17 July 2025, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.

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Abstract

Seagrass meadows are high value ecosystems that are under increasing threats from changing climate and anthropogenic development. Understanding how seagrasses naturally recover through sexual reproduction, recruitment and growth is pivotal to conservation and restoration efforts. The dramatic decline and slow recovery of a tropical seagrass meadow dominated by Zostera muelleri in Cairns has been documented for over 15 years. Spatial analysis of seed bank dynamics following seagrass loss found low seed densities indicating a reduced capacity for recovery from sexual reproduction. It is likely the slow recovery was due to a combination of asexual expansion through rhizome extension and low levels of recruitment from the Zostera muelleri seed bank. Despite the meadow having largely recovered in area and biomass the seedbank had not recovered, with viable seeds almost non-existent. In 2024 we commenced a phenological study of Z. muelleri reproductive stages and observed high abundances of flowering shoots, however, few reached maturity or produced fruits or seeds. To enhance our understanding of ecosystem resilience and improve restoration strategies, future research will focus on continued reproductive surveys, molecular studies of genetic diversity and mating systems, and experimental manipulation of key environmental factors to assess their impact on seed production.

Item ID:	86553
Item Type:	Conference Item (Abstract / Summary)
Related URLs:	https://www.amsa2025.amsa.asn.au/
Date Deposited:	07 Aug 2025 01:36
FoR Codes:	31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3108 Plant biology > 310804 Plant developmental and reproductive biology @ 33% 31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3103 Ecology > 310305 Marine and estuarine ecology (incl. marine ichthyology) @ 33% 41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4102 Ecological applications > 410203 Ecosystem function @ 34%
SEO Codes:	18 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > 1802 Coastal and estuarine systems and management > 180201 Assessment and management of coastal and estuarine ecosystems @ 100%
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