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Extending the life history of a clonal aquatic plant: Dispersal potential of sexual and asexual propagules of Zostera noltii
Berkovic, B.; Cabaço, S.; Barrio, J.M.; Santos, R.; Serrão, E.A.; Alberto, F. (2014). Extending the life history of a clonal aquatic plant: Dispersal potential of sexual and asexual propagules of Zostera noltii. Aquat. Bot. 113: 123-129. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aquabot.2013.10.007
In: Aquatic Botany. Elsevier Science: Tokyo; Oxford; New York; London; Amsterdam. ISSN 0304-3770; e-ISSN 1879-1522, more
Peer reviewed article  

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Keywords
    Exploitable Scientific Result
    Marine Sciences
    Marine Sciences > Marine Sciences General
    Scientific Community
    Scientific Publication
    Software/Modelling Tool
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    Dispersal; Propagules; Seagrass connectivity; Zostera noltii; Seeds;Fragments

Project Top | Authors 
  • Association of European marine biological laboratories, more

Authors  Top 
  • Berkovic, B.
  • Cabaço, S.
  • Barrio, J.M.
  • Santos, R.
  • Serrão, E.A.
  • Alberto, F.

Abstract
    The dispersal potential of sexual and asexual propagules of Zostera noltii was experimentally quantified in still water and under different currents in microcosm and mesocosm facilities. We estimated sinking rates of seeds and changes over time in shoot buoyancy, shoot viability, fragment breakage, shoot growth rate and spathe release rate of floating fragments. The fast sinking rates of detached Z. noltii seeds suggest a small spatial scale of dispersal insufficient to connect fragmented populations, whereas the traits of floating fragments, particularly shoot buoyancy and shoot survival (>55 d), suggest a potential for long distance dispersal (>2300 km) that could connect distant patches and allow colonization of new areas. We showed that the Z. noltii vegetative and reproductive fragments have the potential to extend the dispersal achieved by detached seeds alone.

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