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Intensive temporal and spatial sampling of benthic infauna have rarely been analysed to improve impact assessment or conservation planning. An impact assessment started in the late 1980s in Jervis Bay (Australia) provided a spatially, temporally and taxonomically comprehensive benthic invertebrate dataset. While the proposed development did not eventuate, the area was later declared a multi‐zone marine park.We specifically used the polychaete data which included nine sampling times (February 1989 to June 1991) in seagrass and unvegetated sediments across multiple sites to identify ecological patterns that could inform current and future conservation management and impact assessment.The polychaete assemblage was diverse with 171 species, many of them rare (40% < 10 individuals). Variation was greatest at small spatial scales (metres) for abundances and diversity, and there was substantial spatio‐temporal variation due to inconsistent site differences. Most species occurred in both unvegetated and seagrass sediments, though several were more abundant or restricted to one habitat (39% and 3% only found in unvegetated or seagrass, respectively), or showed bathymetric differences in abundances (e.g., Eunice cultrifera and Lumbrineris cf. latrelli).The current marine park zoning representatively covered polychaete biodiversity, as all sites were generally similar in terms of abundances and species richness. It also representatively covered seagrass and unvegetated sediments and the bathymetric range of the embayment. These findings reinforce the utility of using habitats as surrogates to representatively zone for biological diversity.The high levels of spatial and spatio‐temporal variation in abundances and diversity only allowed detection of environmental impacts with >70% effect sizes even if numerous sites and times were sampled (i.e., > seven sites and > eight times). This suggests that most univariate measures for polychaetes would only be useful to detect enormous effects, and effective impact assessment might require more sophisticated multivariate approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Ocean warming combined with extreme climatic events, such as marine heatwaves and flash flooding events, threaten seagrasses globally. How seagrasses cope with these challenges is uncertain, particularly for range-edge populations of species such as Posidonia australis in Shark Bay, Western Australia. Analyzing gene expression while manipulating multiple stressors provides insight into the genetic response and resilience of seagrasses to climate change. We conducted a gene expression study on a polyploid clone of P. australis during an 18-week mesocosm experiment to assess the responses to single and combined future climate change-associated stressors. Methods: Plants were exposed to (1) future ocean warming temperature (baseline +1.5°C) followed by a simulated marine heat wave (baseline +5.5°C), (2) light deprivation simulating observed marine heatwave driven turbidity (95% shade) at baseline temperatures, or (3) both stressors simultaneously. Basal leaf meristems were sampled for gene expression analysis using RNA-seq at four time points during the experiment. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis, GO term enrichment, and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were used to identify stress responses. Results: Shaded plants showed specific gene enrichment for shade avoidance (programmed cell death) after three weeks of stress, and before any heated tanks showed a specific heat response. Shaded plants were positively correlated with programmed cell death and stress-related processes at the end of the experiment. Once ocean warming temperatures (+1.5°C) were in effect, gene enrichment for heat stress (e.g., ROS scavenging and polyamine metabolism) was present. Vitamin B processes, RNA polymerase II processes. and light-related meristematic phase changes were expressed with the addition of simulated MHW. Heated plants showed meristematic growth signatures as well as trehalose and salicylic acid metabolism. Brassinosteroid-related processes were significantly enriched in all stressor treatments at all time points, except for the isolated heat-stressed plants three weeks after stressor initiation. Discussion: Gene expression responses to the interaction between heat waves and turbidity-induced light reduction support the observed geographical scale mortality in seagrasses observed for P. australis in Shark Bay, suggesting that even this giant polyploid clone will be negatively impacted by more extreme climate change projections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionOcean warming combined with extreme climatic events, such as marine heatwaves and flash flooding events, threaten seagrasses globally. How seagrasses cope with these challenges is uncertain, particularly for range-edge populations of species such as Posidonia australis in Shark Bay, Western Australia. Analyzing gene expression while manipulating multiple stressors provides insight into the genetic response and resilience of seagrasses to climate change. We conducted a gene expression study on a polyploid clone of P. australis during an 18-week mesocosm experiment to assess the responses to single and combined future climate change-associated stressors. MethodsPlants were exposed to (1) future ocean warming temperature (baseline +1.5°C) followed by a simulated marine heat wave (baseline +5.5°C), (2) light deprivation simulating observed marine heatwave driven turbidity (95% shade) at baseline temperatures, or (3) both stressors simultaneously. Basal leaf meristems were sampled for gene expression analysis using RNA-seq at four time points during the experiment. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis, GO term enrichment, and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were used to identify stress responses. ResultsShaded plants showed specific gene enrichment for shade avoidance (programmed cell death) after three weeks of stress, and before any heated tanks showed a specific heat response. Shaded plants were positively correlated with programmed cell death and stress-related processes at the end of the experiment. Once ocean warming temperatures (+1.5°C) were in effect, gene enrichment for heat stress (e.g., ROS scavenging and polyamine metabolism) was present. Vitamin B processes, RNA polymerase II processes. and light-related meristematic phase changes were expressed with the addition of simulated MHW. Heated plants showed meristematic growth signatures as well as trehalose and salicylic acid metabolism. Brassinosteroid-related processes were significantly enriched in all stressor treatments at all time points, except for the isolated heat-stressed plants three weeks after stressor initiation. DiscussionGene expression responses to the interaction between heat waves and turbidity-induced light reduction support the observed geographical scale mortality in seagrasses observed for P. australis in Shark Bay, suggesting that even this giant polyploid clone will be negatively impacted by more extreme climate change projections.

Understanding sexual reproduction and recruitment in seagrasses is crucial to their conservation and restoration. Flowering, seed production, seed recruitment, and seedling establishment data for the seagrass Posidonia australis was collected annually between 2013 and 2018 in meadows at six locations around Rottnest Island, Western Australia. Variable annual rates of flowering and seed production were observed among meadows between northern and southern sides of the island and among years. Meadows on the northern shore consistently flowered more intensely and produced more seeds across the years of the survey. Inter‐site variation in clonal diversity and size of clones, seed production, wind and surface currents during pollen and seed release, and the large, but variable, impact of seed predation are likely the principal drivers of successful recruitment into established meadows and in colonizing unvegetated sands. The prolific but variable annual reproductive investment increases the probability of low levels of continuous recruitment from seed in this seagrass, despite high rates of abiotic and biotic disturbance at seedling, shoot, and patch scales. This strategy also imparts a level of ecological resilience to this long‐lived and persistent species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Climate change and extreme climatic events, such as marine heatwaves (MHWs), are threatening seagrass ecosystems. Metabolomics can be used to gain insight into early stress responses in seagrasses and help to develop targeted management and conservation measures.We used metabolomics to understand the temporal and mechanistic response of leaf metabolism in seagrasses to climate change. Two species, temperate Posidonia australis and tropical Halodule uninervis, were exposed to a combination of future warming, simulated MHW with subsequent recovery period, and light deprivation in a mesocosm experiment.The leaf metabolome of P. australis was altered under MHW exposure at ambient light while H. uninervis was unaffected. Light deprivation impacted both seagrasses, with combined effects of heat and low light causing greater alterations in leaf metabolism. There was no MHW recovery in P. australis. Conversely, the heat‐resistant leaf metabolome of H. uninervis showed recovery of sugars and intermediates of the tricarboxylic acid cycle under combined heat and low light exposure, suggesting adaptive strategies to long‐term light deprivation.Overall, this research highlights how metabolomics can be used to study the metabolic pathways of seagrasses, identifies early indicators of environmental stress and analyses the effects of environmental factors on plant metabolism and health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Understanding sexual reproduction and recruitment in seagrasses is crucial to their conservation and restoration. Flowering, seed production, seed recruitment, and seedling establishment data for the seagrass Posidonia australis was collected annually between 2013 and 2018 in meadows at six locations around Rottnest Island, Western Australia. Variable annual rates of flowering and seed production were observed among meadows between northern and southern sides of the island and among years. Meadows on the northern shore consistently flowered more intensely and produced more seeds across the years of the survey. Inter‐site variation in clonal diversity and size of clones, seed production, wind and surface currents during pollen and seed release, and the large, but variable, impact of seed predation are likely the principal drivers of successful recruitment into established meadows and in colonizing unvegetated sands. The prolific but variable annual reproductive investment increases the probability of low levels of continuous recruitment from seed in this seagrass, despite high rates of abiotic and biotic disturbance at seedling, shoot, and patch scales. This strategy also imparts a level of ecological resilience to this long‐lived and persistent species.

Historical and contemporary processes drive spatial patterns of genetic diversity. These include climate‐driven range shifts and gene flow mediated by biogeographical influences on dispersal. Assessments that integrate these drivers are uncommon, but critical for testing biogeographic hypotheses. Here, we characterize intraspecific genetic diversity and spatial structure across the entire distribution of a temperate seagrass to test marine biogeographic concepts for southern Australia. Predictive modeling was used to contrast the current Posidonia australis distribution to its historical distribution during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Spatial genetic structure was estimated for 44 sampled meadows from across the geographical range of the species using nine microsatellite loci. Historical and contemporary distributions were similar, with the exception of the Bass Strait. Genetic clustering was consistent with the three currently recognized biogeographic provinces and largely consistent with the finer‐scale IMCRA bioregions. Discrepancies were found within the Flindersian province and southwest IMCRA bioregion, while two regions of admixture coincided with transitional IMCRA bioregions. Clonal diversity was highly variable but positively associated with latitude. Genetic differentiation among meadows was significantly associated with oceanographic distance. Our approach suggests how shared seascape drivers have influenced the capacity of P. australis to effectively track sea level changes associated with natural climate cycles over millennia, and in particular, the recolonization of meadows across the Continental Shelf following the LGM. Genetic structure associated with IMCRA bioregions reflects the presence of stable biogeographic barriers, such as oceanic upwellings. This study highlights the importance of biogeography to infer the role of historical drivers in shaping extant diversity and structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat complexity plays a critical role in shaping biotic assemblages and ecosystem processes. While the impacts of large differences in habitat complexity are often well understood, we know less about how subtle differences in structure affect key ecosystem functions or properties such as biodiversity and biomass. The late-successional seagrass Posidonia australis creates vital habitat for diverse fauna in temperate Australia. Long-term human impacts have led to the decline of P. australis in some estuaries of eastern Australia, where it is now classified as an endangered ecological community. We examined the influence of P. australis structural complexity at small (seagrass density) and large (meadow fragmentation) spatial scales on fish and epifauna communities, predation and sediment erosion. Fine-scale spatially balanced sampling was evenly distributed across a suite of environmental covariates within six estuaries in eastern Australia using the Generalised Random Tessellation Structures approach. We found reduced erosion in areas with higher P. australis density, greater abundance of fish in more fragmented areas and higher fish richness in vegetated areas further from patch edges. The abundance of epifauna and fish, and fish species richness were higher in areas with lower seagrass density (seagrass density did not correlate with distance to patch edge). These findings can inform seagrass restoration efforts by identifying meadow characteristics that influence ecological functions and processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Historical and contemporary processes drive spatial patterns of genetic diversity. These include climate‐driven range shifts and gene flow mediated by biogeographical influences on dispersal. Assessments that integrate these drivers are uncommon, but critical for testing biogeographic hypotheses. Here, we characterize intraspecific genetic diversity and spatial structure across the entire distribution of a temperate seagrass to test marine biogeographic concepts for southern Australia. Predictive modeling was used to contrast the current Posidonia australis distribution to its historical distribution during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Spatial genetic structure was estimated for 44 sampled meadows from across the geographical range of the species using nine microsatellite loci. Historical and contemporary distributions were similar, with the exception of the Bass Strait. Genetic clustering was consistent with the three currently recognized biogeographic provinces and largely consistent with the finer‐scale IMCRA bioregions. Discrepancies were found within the Flindersian province and southwest IMCRA bioregion, while two regions of admixture coincided with transitional IMCRA bioregions. Clonal diversity was highly variable but positively associated with latitude. Genetic differentiation among meadows was significantly associated with oceanographic distance. Our approach suggests how shared seascape drivers have influenced the capacity of P. australis to effectively track sea level changes associated with natural climate cycles over millennia, and in particular, the recolonization of meadows across the Continental Shelf following the LGM. Genetic structure associated with IMCRA bioregions reflects the presence of stable biogeographic barriers, such as oceanic upwellings. This study highlights the importance of biogeography to infer the role of historical drivers in shaping extant diversity and structure.

Ecological restoration is a key part of the global solution to help repair damaged ecosystems and moderate climate change. However, there are enormous challenges to contemporary restoration. Solutions that integrate western science and traditional ecological knowledge offer great opportunities to overcome these challenges. Partnerships with Indigenous Ranger programs can assist with solutions to some of the age-old restoration challenges. Managing and caring for a living and dynamic Country is at the heart of wellbeing for all Indigenous Peoples. The act of participating in restoration activities On Country assists with connecting to Country, healing people and Country. We describe the development of a successful partnership between western science and Indigenous traditional knowledge via a collaborative Malgana Aboriginal Corporation Ranger program that included On Country workshop-based knowledge sharing in north-west Western Australia, with a focus on seagrass restoration. Field-based restoration workshops helped people reconnect with Country through two-way knowledge sharing. Additional benefits of the partnership included education and preservation of Malgana language, educating western scientists and general public about Malgana culture, and adapting and field trialling seagrass restoration methods for Gathaagudu. Restoration can be successfully implemented through partnerships that share western science and traditional ecological knowledge. • Ecological restoration is a key global solution to help moderate climate change and conserve biodiversity. • Partnerships between western scientists and Aboriginal Traditional Custodians can lead to improved restoration outcomes. • Field-based restoration-focused workshops helped people reconnect with Country through two-way knowledge sharing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants endure environmental stressors via adaptation and phenotypic plasticity. Studying these mechanisms in seagrasses is extremely relevant as they are important primary producers and functionally significant carbon sinks. These mechanisms are not well understood at the tissue level in seagrasses. Using RNA-seq, we generated transcriptome sequences from tissue of leaf, basal leaf meristem and root organs of Posidonia australis, establishing baseline in situ transcriptomic profiles for tissues across a salinity gradient. Samples were collected from four P. australis meadows growing in Shark Bay, Western Australia. Analysis of gene expression showed significant differences between tissue types, with more variation among leaves than meristem or roots. Gene ontology enrichment analysis showed the differences were largely due to the role of photosynthesis, plant growth and nutrient absorption in leaf, meristem and root organs, respectively. Differential gene expression of leaf and meristem showed upregulation of salinity regulation processes in higher salinity meadows. Our study highlights the importance of considering leaf meristem tissue when evaluating whole-plant responses to environmental change. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.

Polyploidy has the potential to allow organisms to outcompete their diploid progenitor(s) and occupy new environments. Shark Bay, Western Australia, is a World Heritage Area dominated by temperate seagrass meadows including Poseidon's ribbon weed, Posidonia australis. This seagrass is at the northern extent of its natural geographic range and experiences extremes in temperature and salinity. Our genomic and cytogenetic assessments of 10 meadows identified geographically restricted, diploid clones (2n = 20) in a single location, and a single widespread, high-heterozygosity, polyploid clone (2n = 40) in all other locations. The polyploid clone spanned at least 180 km, making it the largest known example of a clone in any environment on earth. Whole-genome duplication through polyploidy, combined with clonality, may have provided the mechanism for P. australis to expand into new habitats and adapt to new environments that became increasingly stressful for its diploid progenitor(s). The new polyploid clone probably formed in shallow waters after the inundation of Shark Bay less than 8500 years ago and subsequently expanded via vegetative growth into newly submerged habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat complexity plays a critical role in shaping biotic assemblages and ecosystem processes. While the impacts of large differences in habitat complexity are often well understood, we know less about how subtle differences in structure affect key ecosystem functions or properties such as biodiversity and biomass. The late-successional seagrass Posidonia australis creates vital habitat for diverse fauna in temperate Australia. Long-term human impacts have led to the decline of P. australis in some estuaries of eastern Australia, where it is now classified as an endangered ecological community. We examined the influence of P. australis structural complexity at small (seagrass density) and large (meadow fragmentation) spatial scales on fish and epifauna communities, predation and sediment erosion. Fine-scale spatially balanced sampling was evenly distributed across a suite of environmental covariates within six estuaries in eastern Australia using the Generalised Random Tessellation Structures approach. We found reduced erosion in areas with higher P. australis density, greater abundance of fish in more fragmented areas and higher fish richness in vegetated areas further from patch edges. The abundance of epifauna and fish, and fish species richness were higher in areas with lower seagrass density (seagrass density did not correlate with distance to patch edge). These findings can inform seagrass restoration efforts by identifying meadow characteristics that influence ecological functions and processes.

While thermal priming and the relative role of epigenetic modifications have been widely studied in terrestrial plants, their roles remain unexplored in seagrasses so far. Here, we experimentally compared the ability of two different functional types of seagrass species, dominant in the Southern hemisphere, climax species Posidonia australis and pioneer species Zostera muelleri, to acquire thermal-stress memory to better survive successive stressful thermal events. To this end, a two-heatwave experimental design was conducted in a mesocosm setup. Findings across levels of biological organization including the molecular (gene expression), physiological (photosynthetic performances and pigments content) and organismal (growth) levels provided the first evidence of thermal priming in seagrasses. Non-preheated plants suffered a significant reduction in photosynthetic capacity, leaf growth and chlorophyll a content, while preheated plants were able to cope better with the recurrent stressful event. Gene expression results demonstrated significant regulation of methylation-related genes in response to thermal stress, suggesting that epigenetic modifications could play a central role in seagrass thermal stress memory. In addition, we revealed some interspecific differences in thermal responses between the two different functional types of seagrass species. These results provide the first insights into thermal priming and relative epigenetic modifications in seagrasses paving the way for more comprehensive forecasting and management of thermal stress in these marine foundation species in an era of rapid environmental change.

Populations at the edges of their geographical range tend to have lower genetic diversity, smaller effective population sizes and limited connectivity relative to centre of range populations. Range edge populations are also likely to be better adapted to more extreme conditions for future survival and resilience in warming environments. However, they may also be most at risk of extinction from changing climate. We compare reproductive and genetic data of the temperate seagrass, Posidonia australis on the west coast of Australia. Measures of reproductive effort (flowering and fruit production and seed to ovule ratios) and estimates of genetic diversity and mating patterns (nuclear microsatellite DNA loci) were used to assess sexual reproduction in northern range edge (low latitude, elevated salinities, Shark Bay World Heritage Site) and centre of range (mid-latitude, oceanic salinity, Perth metropolitan waters) meadows in Western Australia. Flower and fruit production were highly variable among meadows and there was no significant relationship between seed to ovule ratio and clonal diversity. However, Shark Bay meadows were two orders of magnitude less fecund than those in Perth metropolitan waters. Shark Bay meadows were characterized by significantly lower levels of genetic diversity and a mixed mating system relative to meadows in Perth metropolitan waters, which had high genetic diversity and a completely outcrossed mating system. The combination of reproductive and genetic data showed overall lower sexual productivity in Shark Bay meadows relative to Perth metropolitan waters. The mixed mating system is likely driven by a combination of local environmental conditions and pollen limitation. These results indicate that seagrass restoration in Shark Bay may benefit from sourcing plant material from multiple reproductive meadows to increase outcrossed pollen availability and seed production for natural recruitment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While thermal priming and the relative role of epigenetic modifications have been widely studied in terrestrial plants, their roles remain unexplored in seagrasses so far. Here, we experimentally compared the ability of two different functional types of seagrass species, dominant in the Southern hemisphere, climax species Posidonia australis and pioneer species Zostera muelleri , to acquire thermal-stress memory to better survive successive stressful thermal events. To this end, a two-heatwave experimental design was conducted in a mesocosm setup. Findings across levels of biological organization including the molecular (gene expression), physiological (photosynthetic performances and pigments content) and organismal (growth) levels provided the first evidence of thermal priming in seagrasses. Non-preheated plants suffered a significant reduction in photosynthetic capacity, leaf growth and chlorophyll a content, while preheated plants were able to cope better with the recurrent stressful event. Gene expression results demonstrated significant regulation of methylation-related genes in response to thermal stress, suggesting that epigenetic modifications could play a central role in seagrass thermal stress memory. In addition, we revealed some interspecific differences in thermal responses between the two different functional types of seagrass species. These results provide the first insights into thermal priming and relative epigenetic modifications in seagrasses paving the way for more comprehensive forecasting and management of thermal stress in these marine foundation species in an era of rapid environmental change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acoustic telemetry has been used with great success to quantify the movements of marine fishes in open habitats, however research has begun to focus on patterns of movement and habitat usage within more structurally complex habitats. To date, there has been no detailed assessment of the performance of acoustic telemetry within seagrass, which forms a crucial nursery and foraging habitat for many fish species globally. Information on the detection range of acoustic receivers within seagrass is essential to guide receiver array design, particularly positioning systems. Here, we compare detection ranges for transmitters (Vemco V7) within and above the seagrass to determine impacts on the performance of a Vemco Positioning System (VPS). We also investigate the influence of environmental conditions (i.e. wind, time of day, background noise, atmospheric pressure and depth) on detection probability. Results: The performance of the VPS declined dramatically when the transmitters were positioned within the seagrass (positional accuracy = 2.69 m, precision = 0.9 m, system efficiency (i.e. the proportion of successful positions) = 5.9%) compared to above the canopy (positional accuracy = 2.21 m, precision = 0.45 m, system efficiency = 30.9%). The reduction in VPS efficiency when transmitters were within seagrass was caused by a decline in the detection range of receivers (range of 50% detections) from 85 to 40 m, as this limited the ability of the three receivers to simultaneously detect transmissions. Additionally, no detections were recorded for the transmitters within seagrass at a distance greater than 150 m from the receiver. Increasing wind speed from 0 to 50 km h−1 correlated with a 15% reduction in detections while detection probability decreased from 0.8 during the day to 0.55 at night, due to higher in-band noise (69 kHz). Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate that tagged fish ensconced within seagrass are unlikely to be detected by receivers or positioned by a VPS. Further, we demonstrate that wind conditions and the time of day create temporal variation in detection probability. These findings highlight the need for telemetry studies to perform in situ range testing and consider how fish use vegetated habitats such as seagrasses when positioning receivers and interpreting data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seagrass restoration might contribute to climate change mitigation efforts by restoring carbon sequestration capacity where it has been lost. However, there have been few empirical investigations into the rate and magnitude of changes in sediment organic carbon stock following seagrass restoration. This study aims to compare patterns of sediment organic carbon stock in the early stages after restoration (6 months, 2 years, 2.5 years, and 5 years) of the seagrass Posidonia australis with adjacent unvegetated sand and continuously vegetated seagrass in Shark Bay, Western Australia. Sediment carbon stock in all restored areas were not significantly different from unvegetated sand, regardless of age. Organic carbon concentrations in surface sediments were similar throughout the top 3 cm. In addition, δ 13C of organic carbon of sediment from newly restored seagrass meadows was not significantly different from δ 13C of organic carbon from unvegetated sediment. These results indicate that carbon sequestration capacity had not returned up to 5 years after restoration. There is increasing evidence that sediment carbon stocks show little recovery in the early stages of restoration and can take >5 years to return to quantities expected from seagrass meadows. • Carbon stock in restored seagrass meadows did not approach that of intact meadows up to 5 years after restoration. • The lag period between seagrass restoration and the return of carbon sequestration in the sediment can be long (years). • Seagrass sediment Corg variation needs to be accounted for in designing field surveys and measuring sequestration changes. • Designing appropriate restoration approaches and durations is important to evaluate metrics of restoration success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Desalination has the potential to provide an important source of potable water to growing coastal populations but it also produces highly saline brines with chemical additives, posing a possible threat to benthic marine communities. The effects of brine (0%, 50%, 100%) were compared to seawater treatments with the same salinity (37, 46, 54 psu) for seagrass (Posidonia australis) in mesocosms over 2 weeks. There were significant differences between brine and salinity treatments for photosynthesis, water relations and growth. Germinating seedlings of P. australis were also tested in brine treatments (0%, 25%, 50%, 100%) over 7 weeks followed by 2.5 weeks recovery in seawater. Growth was severely inhibited only in 100% brine. These experiments demonstrated that brine increased the speed and symptoms of stress in adult plants compared to treatments with the same salinity, whereas seedlings tolerated far longer brine exposure, and so could potentially contribute to seagrass recovery through recruitment. Highlights • Brine had a greater effect on adult plants of the seagrass Posidonia australis than increased salinity only. • Brine had negative impacts on photosynthesis, water relations and leaf growth of adult plants within 2 weeks. • Seedlings survived over seven weeks in concentrated brine, and showed some recovery afterwards in natural seawater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Movement is fundamental to the ecology and evolutionary dynamics within species. Understanding movement through seed dispersal in the marine environment can be difficult due to the high spatial and temporal variability of ocean currents. We employed a mutually enriching approach of population genetic assignment procedures and dispersal predictions from a hydrodynamic model to overcome this difficulty and quantify the movement of dispersing floating fruit of the temperate seagrass Posidonia australis Hook.f. across coastal waters in south‐western Australia. Dispersing fruit cohorts were collected from the water surface over two consecutive years, and seeds were genotyped using microsatellite DNA markers. Likelihood‐based genetic assignment tests were used to infer the meadow of origin for seed cohorts and individuals. A three‐dimensional hydrodynamic model was coupled with a particle transport model to simulate the movement of fruit at the water surface. Floating fruit cohorts were mainly assigned genetically to the nearest meadow, but significant genetic differentiation between cohort and most likely meadow of origin suggested a mixed origin. This was confirmed by genetic assignment of individual seeds from the same cohort to multiple meadows. The hydrodynamic model predicted 60% of fruit dispersed within 20 km, but that fruit was physically capable of dispersing beyond the study region. Concordance between these two independent measures of dispersal provides insight into the role of physical transport for long distance dispersal of fruit and the consequences for spatial genetic structuring of seagrass meadows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seagrass habitats worldwide are degrading and becoming fragmented, threatening the important ecosystem services they provide. Fauna associated with seagrasses, particularly cryptic species, are expected to respond to these changes, but are difficult to detect at ecologically meaningful scales using non-extractive techniques. We used a small, wide-angle camera (GoPro) and a small quantity of bait positioned within the canopy of Posidonia australis meadows in Jervis Bay, New South Wales to assess the response of fishes to seagrass cover. We saw a clear positive relationship with the condition of P. australis; a high cover of this seagrass had positive effects on the diversity and abundance of cryptic fauna. Our findings highlight ecosystem shifts associated with the loss and fragmentation of biogenic habitat. These changes are of particular relevance for P. australis meadows given their current status as an endangered ecological community in several locations in NSW and their slow rate of recovery from disturbance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical modeling of canopy‐flow interactions has mostly employed rigid model vegetation, whereby the canopy geometry (i.e., its height and frontal area) is invariant and easily quantified. Here, we demonstrate that embedding realism in model vegetation, in the form of buoyancy and flexibility, can profoundly impact the structure of the flow and rates of vertical mixing in wave‐dominated conditions. A laboratory investigation was undertaken with two types of model canopy: (1) rigid canopies consisting of wooden dowels, and (2) flexible, buoyant model plants designed to mimic meadows of the seagrass Posidonia australis. To isolate the impact of flexibility, the maximum heights and frontal areas of the two types of canopy were matched. These canopies were subjected to oscillatory flows with a realistic range of wave heights and periods. Drag reduction caused by the reconfiguration of flexible canopies leads to a greatly diminished velocity attenuation in the canopy (by, on average, 65%). The reduced average height of flexible canopies shifts the canopy shear layer toward the bed, resulting in significantly enhanced levels of near‐bed turbulence. Finally, a decreased vertical diffusivity (by approximately 35%) was observed in the flexible model canopies, relative to the rigid analogues. Thus, while the use of dynamically scaled vegetation adds complexity to modeling efforts, it represents a step toward a more accurate quantitative understanding of flow and mixing in these environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Molecular composition of Posidonia oceanica and P. australis seagrasses compared. • Lignin of P. oceanica has an extraordinary abundance of p -hydroxybenzoic acid. • p -hydroxybenzoates attach to the γ-OH of the lignin side-chains. • Lignin composition may explain higher carbon storage capacity of P. oceanica. Abstract There is considerable variability in the ability of seagrass ecosystems to sequester organic carbon (C org) in their sediments, which act as natural carbon sinks contributing to climate change mitigation. In this work, we studied the chemistry of two Posidonia seagrass species aiming to elucidate whether differences in chemical composition might explain differences in their C org sequestration capacity. Pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC-MS) and Thermally assisted Hydrolysis and Methylation (THM) GC-MS data showed a remarkable difference in phenolic compound patterns between P. oceanica and P. australis bulk plants and individual organs (leaves, sheaths, roots and rhizomes). The lignin of P. australis generates a series of p -hydroxyphenyl (H), guaiacyl (G) and syringyl (S) products that are typical of herbaceous plants, whereas P. oceanica is particularly rich in p -hydroxybenzoic acid (p BA) derivatives. The structural characteristics of the lignins were further investigated by two-dimensional Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (2D-NMR) spectroscopy and Derivatization Followed by Reductive Cleavage (DFRC), focusing on sheath tissues. The analyses confirmed important differences in the lignin content (19.8% in P. australis and 29.5% in P. oceanica) and composition between the two species; intriguingly, the cell-walls of P. oceanica sheaths were highly enriched in p BA, a component that was completely absent in P. australis. 2D-NMR and DFRC data further revealed that p BA was esterified to the lignin, acylating the γ-OH of the lignin side-chain. Interestingly, P. oceanica lignin presented an extremely high degree of p -hydroxybenzoylation in both guaiacyl (73%) and syringyl (61%) lignin units; the highest p -hydroxybenzoylation degree reported in plant lignins to date. It is tempting to conclude that the higher C org storage capacity of P. oceanica ecosystems might be related to the higher abundance of p BA-rich lignin and its recalcitrant nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two common goals for restoration are rapid plant establishment and long-term plant persistence. The success of transplanted populations may be jeopardized if the donor transplants are not genetically diverse, and/or poorly matched to their new environment. Here, we test the effects of local adaptation and plot-level genetic diversity on the early establishment phase of a threatened seagrass species, Posidonia australis, by performing a reciprocal transplant experiment across two genetically and geographically distinct populations in southeastern Australia. Posidonia australis is a long-lived, slow-growing species that has no seed bank, and the successful transplantation of live shoots and seedlings is the only available restoration method. Our results show a strong effect of local adaptation and genetic diversity on P. australis survivorship and performance over the first 6months following transplantation. High-genetic diversity plots displayed higher survival rates and exhibited reduced productivity and increased carbohydrate reserves within the rhizome. This suggests that high-diversity plots included shoots that were conserving energy stores by actively reducing growth rates during the early stages of transplantation. The lowest diversity plots exhibited high leaf and root productivity and corresponding low carbohydrate reserves. This may be a sign of stress in the low-diversity transplants, potentially explaining the very low survival rate. We suggest that future restoration efforts source donor transplants from multiple local sources to ensure both local adaptation and sufficient genetic diversity to increase the likelihood of early establishment success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seagrasses are in decline globally due to sustained pressure from coastal development, water quality declines and the ongoing threat from climate change. The result of this decline has been a change in coastal productivity, a reduction in critical fisheries habitat and increased erosion. Attempts to slow this decline have included legislative protection of habitat and direct restoration efforts. Monitoring the success of these approaches requires tracking changes in the abundance of seagrasses, but such monitoring is frequently conducted at either too coarse a spatial scale, or too infrequently to adequately detect changes within individual meadows. Here, we used high resolution aerial imagery to quantify the change in meadows dominated by Posidonia australis over five years at 14 sites in five estuaries in south-eastern Australia. Australia has some of the world's most diverse and extensive seagrass meadows, but the widely distributed P. australis has a slow growth rate, recovers poorly after disturbance, and suffers runaway attrition if the conditions for recovery are not met. In 2010, after declines of 12–57% between the 1940s and 1980s, P. australis was listed as a threatened ecological community in New South Wales. We quantified changes in area at fine spatial scales and, where loss was observed, describe the general patterns of temporal decline within each meadow. Our results demonstrate that seagrass meadows dominated by P. australis underwent declines of ~ 2–40% total area at 11 out of 14 study sites between 2009 and 2014. In the iconic Sydney Harbour, our analyses suggest that P. australis meadows are declining at an average rate greater than 10% yr-1, exceeding the global rate of seagrass decline. Highlighting these alarming declines across the study region should serve as means to prioritise management action and review the effectiveness of legislative listing as a method to limit impacts at an ecosystem level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The availability of the first complete genome sequence of the marine flowering plant Zostera marina (commonly known as seagrass) in early 2016, is expected to significantly raise the impact of seagrass proteomics. Seagrasses are marine ecosystem engineers that are currently declining worldwide at an alarming rate due to both natural and anthropogenic disturbances. Seagrasses (especially species of the genus Zostera) are compromised for proteomic studies primarily due to the lack of efficient protein extraction methods because of their recalcitrant cell wall which is rich in complex polysaccharides and a high abundance of secondary metabolites in their cells. In the present study, three protein extraction methods that are commonly used in plant proteomics i.e., phenol (P); trichloroacetic acid/acetone/SDS/phenol (TASP); and borax/polyvinyl-polypyrrolidone/phenol (BPP) extraction, were evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively based on two dimensional isoelectric focusing (2D-IEF) maps and LC-MS/MS analysis using the two most abundant Australian seagrass species, namely Zostera muelleri and Posidonia australis. All three tested methods produced high quality protein extracts with excellent 2D-IEF maps in P. australis. However, the BPP method produces better results in Z. muelleri compared to TASP and P. Therefore, we further modified the BPP method (M-BPP) by homogenizing the tissue in a modified protein extraction buffer containing both ionic and non-ionic detergents (0.5% SDS; 1.5% Triton X-100), 2% PVPP and protease inhibitors. Further, the extracted proteins were solubilized in 0.5% of zwitterionic detergent (C7BzO) instead of 4% CHAPS. This slight modification to the BPP method resulted in a higher protein yield, and good quality 2-DE maps with a higher number of protein spots in both the tested seagrasses. Further, the M-BPP method was successfully utilized in western-blot analysis of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC—a key enzyme for carbon metabolism). This optimized protein extraction method will be a significant stride toward seagrass proteome mining and identifying the protein biomarkers to stress response of seagrasses under the scenario of global climate change and anthropogenic perturbations.

Highly saline brines from desalination plants expose seagrass communities to salt stress. We examined effects of raised salinity (46 and 54 psu) compared with seawater controls (37 psu) over 6 weeks on the seagrass, Posidonia australis , growing in tanks with the aim of separating effects of salinity from other potentially deleterious components of brine and determining appropriate bioindicators. Plants survived exposures of 2–4 weeks at 54 psu, the maximum salinity of brine released from a nearby desalination plant. Salinity significantly reduced maximum quantum yield of PSII (chlorophyll a fluorescence emissions). Leaf water potential (Ψ w ) and osmotic potential (Ψ π ) were more negative at increased salinity, while turgor pressure (Ψ p ) was unaffected. Leaf concentrations of K + and Ca 2 + decreased, whereas concentrations of sugars (mainly sucrose) and amino acids increased. We recommend leaf osmolarity, ion, sugar and amino acid concentrations as bioindicators for salinity effects, associated with brine released in desalination plant outfalls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change induced sea level rise will affect shallow estuarine habitats, which are already under threat from multiple anthropogenic stressors. Here, we present the results of modelling to predict potential impacts of climate change associated processes on seagrass distributions. We use a novel application of relative environmental suitability (RES) modelling to examine relationships between variables of physiological importance to seagrasses (light availability, wave exposure, and current flow) and seagrass distributions within 5 estuarine embayments. Models were constructed separately for Posidonia australis and Zostera muelleri subsp. capricorni using seagrass data from Port Stephens estuary, New South Wales, Australia. Subsequent testing of models used independent datasets from four other estuarine embayments (Wallis Lake, Lake Illawarra, Merimbula Lake, and Pambula Lake) distributed along 570 km of the east Australian coast. Relative environmental suitability models provided adequate predictions for seagrass distributions within Port Stephens and the other estuarine embayments, indicating that they may have broad regional application. Under the predictions of RES models, both sea level rise and increased turbidity are predicted to cause substantial seagrass losses in deeper estuarine areas, resulting in a net shoreward movement of seagrass beds. Seagrass species distribution models developed in this study provide a valuable tool to predict future shifts in estuarine seagrass distributions, allowing identification of areas for protection, monitoring and rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osmoregulation is essential for the survival of seagrasses in marine and hypersaline environments. The aim of this study was to examine ion concentrations of four seagrass species ( Posidonia australis, P. sinuosa, Amphibolis antarctica and A. griffithii ) after exposure to salinity changes. Plant fragments were placed in a series of aquaria at marine salinity (35) and, after one week of acclimation, exposed for 7 days to salinities between 20 and 70. Cl − , Na + and total ion concentration increased with salinity in leaf tissue of the four seagrasses species. These results were compared with those of P. australis and A. antarctica samples collected at three locations at Shark Bay, Western Australia where higher salinities occurred, ranging from 46 to 51. Concentrations of K + and Ca +2 were higher in seagrass tissues from Shark Bay than in those in aquarium trials. Cl − , Na + and total ions in P. australis and A. antarctica from Shark Bay were lowest at the highest salinity location. The K + /Na + ratio in the aquarium trials (under ambient conditions) was in the following order: A. antarctica = A. griffithii > P. australis > P. sinuosa and Ca +2 /Na + ratio was: A. antarctica = A. griffithii > P. sinuosa > P. australis. This species order indicates a physiological capacity to tolerate variation in salinity. Furthermore, these ratios were higher in the locality with highest salinity in Shark Bay, indicating acclimation and adaptation of ion concentrations to the salinity regime in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To examine the population genetic structure in Posidonia australis meadows , a marine foundation species capable of long distance dispersal ( LDD), and the role of historical versus contemporary processes in shaping post Last Glacial Maximum ( LGM) re-colonization. Location Southeastern Australia including the Bass Strait Islands. Methods We generated multilocus genotypes and assessed spatial patterns of genetic diversity. Relationships among meadows were assessed in terms of historical sea level changes, oceanic boundary currents and contemporary seed dispersal based on a hydrodynamic model. Results There was strong regional spatial genetic structuring among P. australis meadows in south-eastern Australia, which was congruent with three recognized marine biogeographical provinces [Peronian (eastern), Flindersian (western and southern), and Maugean (south-eastern)]. The genetic data suggest Maugean meadows persisted in isolation during the LGM, with evidence for admixture and contemporary gene flow. Simulated dispersal events identified high rates of local and regional demographic connectivity, with evidence for occasional LDD events. Main conclusions The strong regional differentiation is consistent with long-term barriers to dispersal persisting in the marine environment through many sea level fluctuations. Bass Strait Island meadows all have strong signals of genetic admixture. A weak but significant isolation by distance relationship is consistent with a historical signal and contemporary seed dispersal mostly within the Bass Strait. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Declines in genetic diversity within a species can affect the stability and functioning of populations. The conservation of genetic diversity is thus a priority, especially for threatened or endangered species. The importance of genetic variation, however, is dependent on the degree to which it translates into phenotypic variation for traits that affect individual performance and ecological processes. This is especially important for predominantly clonal species, as no single clone is likely to maximise all aspects of performance. Here we show that intraspecific genotypic diversity as measured using microsatellites is a strong predictor of phenotypic variation in morphological traits and shoot productivity of the threatened, predominantly clonal seagrass Posidonia australis, on the east coast of Australia. Biomass and surface area variation was most strongly predicted by genotypic richness, while variation in leaf chemistry (phenolics and nitrogen) was unrelated to genotypic richness. Genotypic richness did not predict tissue loss to herbivores or epiphyte load, however we did find that increased herbivore damage was positively correlated with allelic richness. Although there was no clear relationship between higher primary productivity and genotypic richness, variation in shoot productivity within a meadow was significantly greater in more genotypically diverse meadows. The proportion of phenotypic variation explained by environmental conditions varied among different genotypes, and there was generally no variation in phenotypic traits among genotypes present in the same meadows. Our results show that genotypic richness as measured through the use of presumably neutral DNA markers does covary with phenotypic variation in functionally relevant traits such as leaf morphology and shoot productivity. The remarkably long lifespan of individual Posidonia plants suggests that plasticity within genotypes has played an important role in the longevity of the species. However, the strong link between genotypic and phenotypic variation suggests that a range of genotypes is still the best case scenario for adaptation to and recovery from predicted environmental change.

Sedimentation that leads to periodic, and often prolonged, burial events is becoming more common on the world’s coastlines as human populations expand and create urbanised marine environments. Different seagrass species react differently to sediment burial but many species in the southern hemisphere are yet to be examined. How seagrasses react to burial has restoration implications. There is a need to critically assess seagrass transplant propagule responses to periodic (pulse) and prolonged (press) burial events before selecting the most appropriate species, transplant propagule, and transplant site. In my study, mesocosm experiments, coupled with field measurements were used to assess how sexual (seedlings) and vegetative (sprigs) propagules of Posidonia australis responded to pulse and press burial events. Seedlings were highly susceptible to burial (both pulse and press), with no survival at the end of the experimental period. In contrast, rhizome growth in vegetative propagules was stimulated by pulse burial, although press burial events resulted in mortality. The implication for Posidonia australis restoration efforts in areas where burial is periodic, was that vegetative propagules are optimal transplant units, in comparison to seedlings. Press burial however, renders a transplant site sub-optimal for both seedling and sprig transplants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oyster Harbour, on the south coast of Western Australia, supports 3.6–3.9 km 2 of seagrass meadows, following the loss of approximately 2.8–3.1 km 2 in the 1980s. This small area of prevailing meadows hold significant carbon stores accumulated over the past 3000 years. In this study, we sampled three sediment cores from a Posidonia australis meadow and analysed organic matter (OM), organic carbon (OC) and inorganic carbon (IC) contents in bulk sediments, and δ 13 C signatures of OM. The OM and OC contents (mean ± SE) in the cores were 9.07 ± 0.36% and 2.24 ± 0.05%, respectively. The mean IC content was 3.16 ± 0.17%. δ 13 C signatures of the sedimentary OM ranged from −10.01‰ to −13.28‰. Using a Bayesian isotopic mixing model, it is estimated that 57–67% of the OM in the seagrass sediments was derived from P . australis detrital matter. The total carbon (TC) stores in 150 cm-thick seagrass sediments averaged 27.92 kg TC m −2 (10.79 kg OC m −2 and 17.13 kg IC m −2 ). Based on radiocarbon dating, the mean sediment accumulation rate was 0.0494 cm yr −1 , which led to a long-term TC accumulation rate of 8.92 g TC m −2 yr −1 (3.45 g OC m −2 yr −1 and 5.47 g IC m −2 yr −1 ). Based on historical seagrass cover (3.6–6.7 km 2 during the 1960s to 1980s), the estimated TC stores in 150 cm-thick seagrass sediments at Oyster Harbour would have been 101–187 Gg TC. The eutrophication-driven loss of seagrasses during the 1980s resulted in the absence of OC accumulation capacity amounting to 280–310 Mg OC (over 29 years). The loss of seagrass area could also have resulted in the release of 37–41 Gg CO 2 , assuming that all of the OC in shallow sediment is remineralised after meadow disturbance. These results exemplify the importance of seagrasses meadows as important carbon sinks and the potential for losses of carbon stores due to ecosystem degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Seedling establishment is a crucial life history stage in seagrasses, yet factors that affect seedling health are poorly characterized. We investigated if organic matter (OM) additions to sediments provided nutritional benefits for seagrass seedlings through microbial degradation. Methods: We tested the effects of sedimentary OM additions on Posidonia australis seedlings growing in tank cultures. We focussed on sediment biogeochemical processes and microbial communities that may impact seedling growth and physiology. Results: Enrichment of sediments with OM changed microbial community composition (DNA-ARISA) and a significant increase in hydrolytic enzyme expression. Total seedling biomass did not differ between OM treatments, but above:belowground biomass increased with OM enrichment. Nitrogen and phosphorus concentration of seagrass leaves was lower with increasing OM. Conclusions: Seagrass derived OM has been considered a refractory store of carbon, yet here we show its deposition into sediments significantly alters belowground conditions. Remineralization of the OM changes both physical and chemical nature of sediments that leads to greater biochemical activity, change in microbial communities and greater investment into above ground photosynthetic biomass. The presence of OM may assist seagrass seedling survival during early development by enhancing root branching and stability in sediments, but is unlikely to provide nutritional benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the current global decline in seagrass, sessile epifaunal invertebrates inhabiting seagrass ecosystems, particularly sponges and ascidians, have been poorly studied due to their taxonomic complexity. Understanding patterns of distribution of sessile epifaunal communities in seagrass meadows is an important precursor to determining the processes driving their distribution and species interactions. This study (1) identified the sponge and ascidian assemblage associated with Posidonia australis meadows and (2) determined distributional patterns of these invertebrates at a hierarchy of spatial scales in Jervis Bay, Australia. We used a fully nested design with transects distributed in the seagrass (10s m apart), two sites (100s m apart), and six locations (km apart). Within these transects, we recorded the abundance, volume, diversity and substratum used for attachment by sponges and ascidians. We encountered 20 sponge species and eight ascidian species; they were sporadically distributed in the seagrass meadows with high variability among the transects, sites and locations. A few sponge and ascidian species dominated the assemblage and were widespread across the largest spatial scale sampled. The remaining species were mostly rare and sparsely distributed. Sponges attached to a variety of substrata but most notably shells, P. australis and polychaete tubes. No obligate seagrass species were recorded although three species predominantly used P. australis as a substratum. These sponge species relying heavily on seagrass for their attachment are likely prone to disturbances impacting their host habitat. Examining the response of sessile epifauna to the degradation of their seagrass habitat remains a key challenge for the future. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background and Aims Organisms occupying the edges of natural geographical ranges usually survive at the extreme limits of their innate physiological tolerances. Extreme and prolonged fluctuations in environmental conditions, often associated with climate change and exacerbated at species' geographical range edges, are known to trigger alternative responses in reproduction. This study reports the first observations of adventitious inflorescence- derived plantlet formation in the marine angiosperm Posidonia australis, growing at the northern range edge (upper thermal and salinity tolerance) in Shark Bay, Western Australia. These novel plantlets are described and a combination of microsatellite DNA markers and flow cytometry is used to determine their origin. Methods Polymorphic microsatellite DNA markers were used to generate multilocus genotypes to determine the origin of the adventitious inflorescence-derived plantlets. Ploidy and genome size were estimated using flow cytometry. Key Results All adventitious plantlets were genetically identical to the maternal plant and were therefore the product of a novel pseudoviviparous reproductive event. It was found that 87% of the multilocus genotypes contained three alleles in at least one locus. Ploidy was identical in all sampled plants. The genome size (2C value) for samples from Shark Bay and from a separate site much further south was not significantly different, implying they are the same ploidy level and ruling out a complete genome duplication (polyploidy). Conclusions Survival at range edges often sees the development of novel responses in the struggle for survival and reproduction. This study documents a physiological response at the trailing edge, whereby reproductive strategy can adapt to fluctuating conditions and suggests that the lower-than-usual water temperature triggered unfertilized inflorescences to 'switch' to growing plantlets that were adventitious clones of their maternal parent. This may have important long-term implications as both genetic and ecological constraints may limit the ability to adapt or rangeshift; this seagrass meadow in Shark Bay already has low genetic diversity, no sexual reproduction and no seedling recruitment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of a Posidonia australis sedimentary archive has provided a record of changes in element concentrations (Al, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn, Cr, Cd, Co, As, Cu, Ni and S) over the last 3000 years in the Australian marine environment. Human-derived contamination in Oyster Harbor (SW Australia) started ~ 100 years ago (AD ~ 1900) and exponentially increased until present. This appears to be related to European colonization of Australia and the subsequent impact of human activities, namely mining, coal and metal production, and extensive agriculture. Two contamination periods of different magnitude have been identified: Expansion period (EXP, AD ~ 1900–1970) and Establishment period (EST, AD ~ 1970 to present). Enrichments of chemical elements with respect to baseline concentrations (in samples older than ~ 115 cal years BP) were found for all elements studied in both periods, except for Ni, As and S. The highest enrichment factors were obtained for the EST period (ranging from 1.3-fold increase in Cu to 7.2-fold in Zn concentrations) compared to the EXP period (1.1-fold increase for Cu and Cr to 2.4-fold increase for Pb). Zinc, Pb, Mn and Co concentrations during both periods were 2- to 7-fold higher than baseline levels. This study demonstrates the value of Posidonia mats as long-term archives of element concentrations and trends in coastal ecosystems. We also provide preliminary evidence on the potential for Posidonia meadows to act as significant long-term biogeochemical sinks of chemical elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A key issue in habitat restoration are the changes in ecological processes that occur when fragments of habitat are lost, resulting in the persistence of habitat-degraded margins. Margins often create or enhance opportunities for negative plant-herbivore interactions, preventing natural or assisted re-establishment of native vegetation into the degraded area. However, at some distance from the habitat margin these negative interactions may relax. Here, we posit that the intensity of species interactions in a fragmented Posidonia australis seagrass meadow may be spatially dependent on proximity to the seagrass habitat edge, whereby the risk of grazing is high and the probability of survival of seagrass transplants is low. To test this, transplants were planted 2 m within the meadow, on the meadow edge at 0m, and at 2m, 10m, 30m, 50m and 100m distance from the edge of the seagrass meadow into the unvegetated sand sheet. There was an enhanced grazing risk 0-10m from the edge, but decreased sharply with increasing distances (>30m). Yet, the risk of grazing was minimal inside the seagrass meadow, indicating that grazers may use the seagrass meadow for refuge but are not actively grazing within it. The relationship between short-term herbivory risk and long-term survival was not straightforward, suggesting that other environmental filters are also affecting survival of P. australis transplants within the study area. We found that daily probability of herbivory was predictable and operating over a small spatial scale at the edge of a large, intact seagrass meadow. These findings highlight the risk from herbivory can be high, and a potential contributing factor to seagrass establishment in restoration programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seagrass meadows are sites of high rates of carbon sequestration and they potentially support 'blue carbon' strategies to mitigate anthropogenic CO2 emissions. Current uncertainties on the fate of carbon stocks following the loss or revegetation of seagrass meadows prevent the deployment of 'blue carbon' strategies., Here, we reconstruct the trajectories of carbon stocks associated with one of the longest monitored seagrass restoration projects globally. We demonstrate that sediment carbon stocks erode following seagrass loss and that revegetation projects effectively restore seagrass carbon sequestration capacity. We combine carbon chronosequences with 210Pb dating of seagrass sediments in a meadow that experienced losses until the end of 1980s and subsequent serial revegetation efforts., Inventories of excess 210Pb in seagrass sediments revealed that its accumulation, and thus sediments, coincided with the presence of seagrass vegetation. They also showed that the upper sediments eroded in areas that remained devoid of vegetation after seagrass loss. Seagrass revegetation enhanced autochthonous and allochthonous carbon deposition and burial. Carbon burial rates increased with the age of the restored sites, and 18 years after planting, they were similar to that in continuously vegetated meadows (26.4 ± 0.8 gCorg m−2 year−1)., Synthesis. The results presented here demonstrate that loss of seagrass triggers the erosion of historic carbon deposits and that revegetation effectively restores seagrass carbon sequestration capacity. Thus, conservation and restoration of seagrass meadows are effective strategies for climate change mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]