Document Type
Article
Department/Program
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Publication Date
2019
Journal
Scientific Reports
Volume
9
First Page
19693
Abstract
Seeds of Australian species of the seagrass genus Posidonia are covered by a membranous wing that we hypothesize plays a fundamental role in seed establishment in sandy, wave swept marine environments. Dimensions of the seed and membrane were quantified under electron microscopy and micro-CT scans, and used to model rotational, drag and lift forces. Seeds maintain contact with the seabed in the presence of strong turbulence: the larger the wing, the more stable the seed. Wing surface area increases from P. sinuosa < P. australis < P.coriacea correlating with their ability to establish in increasingly energetic environments. This unique seed trait in a marine angiosperm corresponds to adaptive pressures imposed on seagrass species along 7,500 km of Australia’s coastline, from open, high energy coasts to calmer environments in bays and estuaries.
DOI
10.1038/s41598-019-56202-7
Keywords
Seagrasses, seeding
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Kendrick, Gary A.; Pomeroy, Andrew W.; Orth, R J.; Cambridge, Marion L.; Shaw, Jeremy; and et al, A novel adaptation facilitates seed establishment under marine turbulent flows (2019). Scientific Reports, 9, 19693.
10.1038/s41598-019-56202-7
Supplemental File
Kendrick_etal_2019_movie.mpg (43286 kB)
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