Document Type
Article
Department/Program
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Publication Date
2012
Journal
MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES
Volume
448
First Page
173
Last Page
176
Abstract
Coastal bay systems are prominent features of coastlines on nearly all continents and are vulnerable to long-term environmental changes related to climate and nutrient over-enrichment. Eelgrass Zostera marina disappeared in the 1930s from the coastal bays of the Virginia Coast Reserve, USA, primarily due to a wasting disease and the effects of a hurricane. It has been re-established recently as a result of a large-scale seeding and restoration effort. The contributions to this Theme Section provide the most comprehensive account available of large-scale recovery of an eelgrass ecosystem, the consequences of the state change from a bare-sediment system to eelgrass dominance, and projections of meadow resilience to future climate change scenarios.
DOI
10.3354/meps09596
Keywords
Zostera marina; Coastal restoration; State change; Regime shift
Recommended Citation
Orth, R J. and McGlathery, Karen J., Eelgrass recovery in the coastal bays of the Virginia Coast Reserve, USA (2012). MARINE ECOLOGY PROGRESS SERIES, 448, 173-176.
10.3354/meps09596
