| Abstract Detail
Physiology Thorhaug, Anitra [1], Schwarz, Arthur [2], Berlyn, Graeme [3]. The resilience of seagrass services of restored Halodule wrightii Asch. in Texas estuaries, including post-Hurricane Harvey. Two planting efforts occurred during restoration of nearly 100 acres of seagrass from Texas's Laguna Madre to Galveston Bay, 1999 and 2013. Central Laguna Madre during spring 1999 in 3 locations of 14.7 (a scrape down site), 25 (former vessel scar), and 38 acres (partially filled channel and sides post-vessel scar). Planting in summer 2013 at Galveston Bay, Aransas/St. Charles Bay (near Aransus National Wildlife Refuge, refuge for Whooping Cranes) and Corpus Christi Bay. Greater than 70% of planted Units remained after 1-5 y at all sites. The chief ecosystem services demonstrated were sediment stabilization (additionally creating water clarity), ecosystem renewal and carbon sequestration. Animals recolonizing the restored seagrass sites in north Texas included 45,000 juvenile shrimp, 30,000 juvenile crabs, and 25,000 juvenile fish per acre. At the Aransas/St. Charles Bay site only, we observed whooping cranes (up to five at a time), and at all sites, small flocks of brown pelicans, up to nine great blue herons, or tricolored herons, and many lesser birds, as well as sea turtles and porpoises. For the 1999 plantings, three hurricanes occurred, leaving most acreage intact with barren areas around the perimeters scoured. The exception was Hurricane Bret which removed recently filled area of about five acres, just offshore King Ranch dock, where Bret made landfall. Carbon (first meter) showed greater carbon in restored (38.7±13.1 mg Corg ha-1), than within naturally-occurring seagrass at each site (25.7±6 mg Corg ha-1), resulting in 2167 mg Corg ha-1 more sediment carbon. Post-Hurricane Harvey results will be discussed, which showed little change in four-year-old planted sites from hurricane winds and rain (lowering salinities).
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1 - Yale University, 1359 SW 22 Terrace, Miami, FL, 33145.0, United States
2 - Southwestern Adventist University, Biological Sciences, 100 W Hillcrest, PO Box 567, Keene, TX, 76059, United States
3 - Yale University, School Of Foresty & Evironmental Studies, Marsh Hall-360 PROSPECT ST, New Haven, CT, 06511, United States
Keywords:
Hurricane effects on seagrass service
Texas Seagrass restoration
Restored seagrass renewed services
Seagrass sediment stability
Seagrass carbon sequestration
Seagrass nursery recolonization.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 44, Physiology
Location: 114/Mayo Civic Center
Date: Wednesday, July 25th, 2018
Time: 2:00 PM
Number: 44003
Abstract ID:982
Candidate for Awards:None |
