Brief description
Data was collected on the photosynthetic rates of Posidonia sinuosa plugs (shoots with sediment intact) and sprigs (shoots with bare roots) before, during and after transplantation from Parmelia Bank to Southern Flats, Cockburn Sound, W.A. and from Woodman Point to Woodman Point, W.A. between November 2004 to February 2005.Lineage
Maintenance and Update Frequency: notPlanned
Statement: - Sprig transplantation at Southern Flats -
This study was part of the Seagrass Research and Rehabilitation Plan, Project 3 carried out by the Marine and Freshwater Research Laboratory. Transplantation of 1.4 hectares of P. sinuosa sprigs took place on three occasions between November 2004 and February 2005. Sprigs were collected from Parmelia Bank, Western Australia (4.6 - 6.6 m depth) and were transplanted to Southern Flats (2.0 - 3.8 m) (see large thumbnail).
Suitable sprig transplant material was collected from the edge of the donor meadow by removing sections of seagrass rhizomes that had leaves and white roots attached. The transplant material was brought onto a boat and stored in seawater-filled containers, shaded by the boat's canopy. During transport to the recipient site, the sprigs were removed from the containers and the rhizomes were tied to wire staples with biodegradable twine. This process meant that the sprigs were immersed for up to fifteen minutes. The sprigs were then replaced in the water-filled containers until ready to plant. Upon arrival at the recipient site, the sprigs were moved into free-draining crates to enable transport underwater. Not all the crates could be carried at once and therefore some were left on the boat for up to one and a half hours, covered with wet calico bags until divers were ready to plant the sprigs.
Southern Flats was selected as the recipient site, based on suitable sediment and water quality characteristics. The site has been marked out with rope during preparation prior to transplantation. The rope was laid out in two adjacent 100 x 100 m grids. Each team of divers took a crate filled with sprigs and a 1 x 1 m quadrat and proceeded to plant sprigs with a spacing of 1 m. Sprigs were planted by pushing the wire staple into the sand and creating a furrow for the rhizome, approximately 10 cm deep. The rhizome and its root were covered with sand, making sure that the leaves remained exposed.
For Chlorophyll fluorescence measurement methodology see section 6.2.1.1 of thesis
Statement: - Sampling protocol -
Transplantation of 1.4 hectares of sprigs took place on three occasions between November 2004 and February 2005. Each occasion consisted of four consecutive days of transplantation (November 8-11, December 6-9 and February 14-17). On each day sprigs were collected from Parmelia Bank, transported to Southern Flats and transplanted. Fluorescence measurements were made on the following:
1) in situ P. sinuosa material before removal for transplantation, Parmelia Bank,
2) collected material, once tied onto wire staples while stored in water-filled containers, during transport to Southern Flats,
3) transplanted sprigs, Southern Flats, and
4) control P. sinuosa, naturally occuring near the recipient site at Southern Flats.
On each day measurements were made as described above. In addition, the transplants planted on previous days were re-measured, in order to determine any changes in photosynthetic rates.
Transplants were revisited during March and May 2005. On each visit fluorescence measurements were made on the following:
1) transplanted sprigs, Southern Flats, and
2) control P. sinuosa, naturally occuring near the recipient site at Southern Flats
- Sampling times -
For logistical reasons, fluorescence measurements could not all be taken at the same time. Measurements were made on each day between the following times:
1) 0930 -1040 h: donor site, Parmelia Bank,
2) 1030 - 1200 h: during transport on the boat,
3) 0850 - 1640 h: transplanted sprigs, Southern Flats, and
4) 0850 - 1510 h: control P. sinuosa meadow, Southern Flats.
Statement: - Plug and sprig transplantation at Woodman Point -
Three plug sizes (5, 10 and 15 cm diameter) and one set of sprigs were transplanted at Woodman Point, Western Australia, during February 2005 (see large thumbnail). Plugs and spigs were collected from the edge of a P. sinuosa seagrass meadow (2.0 m) and transplanted into an adjacent area of bare sand (1.9 m).
Ten replicate plugs of each size were collected from the edge of the donor meadow by hammering PVC plug sleeves into the seagrass. After the plug sleeves were in place, the surrounding sand was dug away to remove the plug from the sediment. A cap was placed on the bottom of the PVC plugs to prevent loss of material. Plugs were extracted and transplanted using the method described by van Keulen et. al. (2003) (see thesis references). Ten sprigs were collected by removing a section of rhizome from the edge of the meadow and tying the sprig onto wire staples underwater.
The plugs and sprigs were moved underwater to the recipient site. Plugs were planted in a 2 x 5 configuration, with a spacing of 15 - 35 cm between them. Sprigs were planted by pushing the wire staple into the sand and creating a furrow for the rhizome, approximately 10 cm deep. The rhizome and roots were covered with sand, making sure the leaves remained exposed. Sprigs were planted in a 2 x 5 configuration, with a spacing fo 25 cm between them.
For Chlorophyll fluorescence measurement methodology see section 6.2.2.1 of thesis
Statement: - Sampling protocol -
Transplantation of plugs and sprigs took place on three days during February 2005. On each day, ten plugs of the appropriate size (5, 10 or 15 cm diameter) were transplanted and on one of the days sprigs were also transplanted. Fluorescence measurements were made on the following:
1) in situ P. sinuosa material before removal for transplantation
2) transplant material after the PVC plug sleeve had been hammered into the meadow, but before removal from the substrate,
3) collected transplant material while still in the plug sleeve at the recipient site before transplantation
4) transplanted P. sinuosa plugs, and
5) transplanted P. sinuosa sprigs.
Plugs and sprigs were revisited once a week for four weeks and then periodically until 5 July 2005. On each revisit, fluorescence measurements were made on the following:
1) 5 cm diameter plugs
2) 10 cm diameter plugs
3) 15 cm diameter plugs
4) sprigs, and
5) control P. sinuosa meadow naturally occuring adjacent to the recipient sand patch.
- Sampling times -
For logistical reasons, fluorescence measurements could not all be taken at the same time. Measurements were made between the following times:
1) 1020 - 1110 h: 5 cm plugs,
2) 0800 - 1010 h: 10 cm plugs,
3) 0800 - 0948 h: 15 cm plugs,
4) 0800 - 1040 h: sprigs, and
5) 0840 - 1135 h: control meadow.
Notes
CreditSeagrass Research and Rehabilitation Plan, Project 3 - Marine and Freshwater Research Laboratory
Purpose
To improve transplantation of seagrass.
To improve transplantation of seagrass.
Created: 14 08 2007
Data time period: 2004-11 to 2005-07-05
text: westlimit=115.65; southlimit=-32.29; eastlimit=115.78; northlimit=-32.12
text: uplimit=7; downlimit=1
Subjects
63 617003 |
BIOSPHERE |
EARTH SCIENCE |
ECOLOGICAL DYNAMICS |
ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONS |
Oceans | Marine Biology | Marine Plants |
Photosynthesis |
Posidonia sinuosa |
fluorescence |
oceans |
seagrass |
transplantation |
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global : be3a7d90-46ed-11dc-9f4a-00188b4c0af8
Identifiers
- global : 76d150a0-4a3a-11dc-85e1-00188b4c0af8
