Restoration Potential of the Seagrass Ruppia maritima in Transitional Zones of the Indian River Lagoon
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
In Person or Zoom Presentation
In-Person
Campus
Daytona Beach
Status
Student
Student Year and Major
1st year M.S. Student (Integrative Environmental Science) and Senior Undergraduate (Biology)
Presentation Description/Abstract
Since 2011, Florida’s Indian River Lagoon (IRL) has lost over 58% of seagrass coverage. This loss has reduced key ecosystem services such as sediment stabilization and faunal habitat, resulting in deteriorated ecosystem health. Despite global restoration efforts, information gaps remain in our understanding regarding species-specific reproductive biology, geographic variation in life history strategies, and the ecological mechanisms that determine restoration success. Ruppia maritima L. (Widgeongrass) is one of seven seagrasses found in the IRL. It is a cosmopolitan submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) species, known for its range of habitat tolerances, but remains underutilized in restoration. This study aims to provide insight into the reproductive biology and restoration potential of R. maritima in four key areas: (1) characterizing seed banks and reproductive strategies across multiple Southeastern estuarine systems, (2) testing restoration methods using natural materials through controlled experiments, (3) implementing the most effective field transplanting method, and (4) assessing R. maritima’s ecological role in supporting estuarine function. Our seed study demonstrated that seeds were viable and germination was successful after 24 months of dry storage, suggesting the potential for low-cost, scalable use of R. maritima in restoration. Complementary data from our lab shows >1,000 seeds/L of sediment in areas of the IRL, with 85% viability. This research aims to inform sustainable and efficient restoration strategies by harnessing existing habitat alterations, such as impoundments and drainage systems, along with the niche role of Ruppia maritima in transitional zones, to accelerate the recovery and resilience of the Indian River Lagoon.
Keywords
Seagrass, Restoration, Ruppia maritima, Estuary, Widegongrass, Indian River Lagoon, Seed Bank, Seagrass Seed, Indian River Lagoon, SAV
Restoration Potential of the Seagrass Ruppia maritima in Transitional Zones of the Indian River Lagoon
Since 2011, Florida’s Indian River Lagoon (IRL) has lost over 58% of seagrass coverage. This loss has reduced key ecosystem services such as sediment stabilization and faunal habitat, resulting in deteriorated ecosystem health. Despite global restoration efforts, information gaps remain in our understanding regarding species-specific reproductive biology, geographic variation in life history strategies, and the ecological mechanisms that determine restoration success. Ruppia maritima L. (Widgeongrass) is one of seven seagrasses found in the IRL. It is a cosmopolitan submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) species, known for its range of habitat tolerances, but remains underutilized in restoration. This study aims to provide insight into the reproductive biology and restoration potential of R. maritima in four key areas: (1) characterizing seed banks and reproductive strategies across multiple Southeastern estuarine systems, (2) testing restoration methods using natural materials through controlled experiments, (3) implementing the most effective field transplanting method, and (4) assessing R. maritima’s ecological role in supporting estuarine function. Our seed study demonstrated that seeds were viable and germination was successful after 24 months of dry storage, suggesting the potential for low-cost, scalable use of R. maritima in restoration. Complementary data from our lab shows >1,000 seeds/L of sediment in areas of the IRL, with 85% viability. This research aims to inform sustainable and efficient restoration strategies by harnessing existing habitat alterations, such as impoundments and drainage systems, along with the niche role of Ruppia maritima in transitional zones, to accelerate the recovery and resilience of the Indian River Lagoon.