Using Propagules to Restore Coastal Marine Ecosystems

Reversing the decline of coastal marine ecosystems will rely extensively on ecological restoration. This will in turn rely on ensuring adequate supply and survival of propagules — for the main habitat-forming taxa of coastal marine ecosystems these are mainly fruits, seeds, viviparous seedlings, zoo...

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Main Authors: Mathew A. Vanderklift, Christopher Doropoulos, Daniel Gorman, Inês Leal, Antoine J. P. Minne, John Statton, Andrew D. L. Steven, Thomas Wernberg
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2020-09-01
Series:Frontiers in Marine Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2020.00724/full
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author Mathew A. Vanderklift
Christopher Doropoulos
Daniel Gorman
Inês Leal
Inês Leal
Antoine J. P. Minne
John Statton
Andrew D. L. Steven
Thomas Wernberg
Thomas Wernberg
Thomas Wernberg
author_facet Mathew A. Vanderklift
Christopher Doropoulos
Daniel Gorman
Inês Leal
Inês Leal
Antoine J. P. Minne
John Statton
Andrew D. L. Steven
Thomas Wernberg
Thomas Wernberg
Thomas Wernberg
author_sort Mathew A. Vanderklift
collection DOAJ
description Reversing the decline of coastal marine ecosystems will rely extensively on ecological restoration. This will in turn rely on ensuring adequate supply and survival of propagules — for the main habitat-forming taxa of coastal marine ecosystems these are mainly fruits, seeds, viviparous seedlings, zoospores or larvae. The likelihood of propagule survival — and so restoration success — depends on species- and context-specific knowledge to guide choices about appropriate methods to use. Here, we briefly review life-histories of the main habitat-forming taxa of six coastal marine ecosystems: mangrove forests, tidal marshes, seagrass meadows, kelp forests, coral reefs and bivalve reefs. Restoration of several of these ecosystems has long harnessed the unique properties of propagules, sometimes because they are simple to use (for example, planting propagules of some mangroves), and sometimes because we can draw on knowledge gained from other applications (for example using knowledge of oyster culture to restore bivalve reefs). For other ecosystems, like seagrass meadows, kelp forests and coral reefs, propagules have not yet been widely used, but there is compelling evidence that they can be. Most restoration efforts have used relatively simple techniques, such as manual collection and direct planting or seeding. Some approaches use more complex techniques which include a stage in which propagules are reared in nurseries or aquaria to a size or age at which they are viable, when they are then planted or released at the site to be restored. Other approaches use minimal intervention, and focus instead on providing the conditions that will promote growth from naturally dispersed propagules (such as restoring hydrological conditions to facilitate mangrove recruitment). Future approaches could incorporate knowledge applied from other fields, such as genetics and agriculture, and harness the possibilities provided by technology. Understanding the importance of propagule quality will likely also yield insights, as will effective use of models to help refine restoration methods for testing. Deeper partnerships between practitioners and researchers will help test and develop better methods so that we can learn from each other and strive to improve. Propagules offer multiple promising avenues to expand coastal marine restoration efforts and help achieve global ambitions.
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spelling doaj.art-62ceadfa9d4b4bb4891605f11e54112c2022-12-22T01:07:50ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452020-09-01710.3389/fmars.2020.00724565403Using Propagules to Restore Coastal Marine EcosystemsMathew A. Vanderklift0Christopher Doropoulos1Daniel Gorman2Inês Leal3Inês Leal4Antoine J. P. Minne5John Statton6Andrew D. L. Steven7Thomas Wernberg8Thomas Wernberg9Thomas Wernberg10CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Crawley, WA, AustraliaCSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Queensland Biosciences Precinct, St Lucia, QLD, AustraliaCSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Crawley, WA, AustraliaCSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Indian Ocean Marine Research Centre, Crawley, WA, AustraliaInstitut des Sciences de la Mer, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, QC, CanadaUWA Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, AustraliaUWA Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, AustraliaCSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere, Queensland Biosciences Precinct, St Lucia, QLD, AustraliaUWA Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, AustraliaDepartment of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Roskilde, DenmarkInstitute of Marine Research, His, NorwayReversing the decline of coastal marine ecosystems will rely extensively on ecological restoration. This will in turn rely on ensuring adequate supply and survival of propagules — for the main habitat-forming taxa of coastal marine ecosystems these are mainly fruits, seeds, viviparous seedlings, zoospores or larvae. The likelihood of propagule survival — and so restoration success — depends on species- and context-specific knowledge to guide choices about appropriate methods to use. Here, we briefly review life-histories of the main habitat-forming taxa of six coastal marine ecosystems: mangrove forests, tidal marshes, seagrass meadows, kelp forests, coral reefs and bivalve reefs. Restoration of several of these ecosystems has long harnessed the unique properties of propagules, sometimes because they are simple to use (for example, planting propagules of some mangroves), and sometimes because we can draw on knowledge gained from other applications (for example using knowledge of oyster culture to restore bivalve reefs). For other ecosystems, like seagrass meadows, kelp forests and coral reefs, propagules have not yet been widely used, but there is compelling evidence that they can be. Most restoration efforts have used relatively simple techniques, such as manual collection and direct planting or seeding. Some approaches use more complex techniques which include a stage in which propagules are reared in nurseries or aquaria to a size or age at which they are viable, when they are then planted or released at the site to be restored. Other approaches use minimal intervention, and focus instead on providing the conditions that will promote growth from naturally dispersed propagules (such as restoring hydrological conditions to facilitate mangrove recruitment). Future approaches could incorporate knowledge applied from other fields, such as genetics and agriculture, and harness the possibilities provided by technology. Understanding the importance of propagule quality will likely also yield insights, as will effective use of models to help refine restoration methods for testing. Deeper partnerships between practitioners and researchers will help test and develop better methods so that we can learn from each other and strive to improve. Propagules offer multiple promising avenues to expand coastal marine restoration efforts and help achieve global ambitions.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2020.00724/fullbivalve reefcoral reefkelp forestlarvaemangroveseagrass
spellingShingle Mathew A. Vanderklift
Christopher Doropoulos
Daniel Gorman
Inês Leal
Inês Leal
Antoine J. P. Minne
John Statton
Andrew D. L. Steven
Thomas Wernberg
Thomas Wernberg
Thomas Wernberg
Using Propagules to Restore Coastal Marine Ecosystems
Frontiers in Marine Science
bivalve reef
coral reef
kelp forest
larvae
mangrove
seagrass
title Using Propagules to Restore Coastal Marine Ecosystems
title_full Using Propagules to Restore Coastal Marine Ecosystems
title_fullStr Using Propagules to Restore Coastal Marine Ecosystems
title_full_unstemmed Using Propagules to Restore Coastal Marine Ecosystems
title_short Using Propagules to Restore Coastal Marine Ecosystems
title_sort using propagules to restore coastal marine ecosystems
topic bivalve reef
coral reef
kelp forest
larvae
mangrove
seagrass
url https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmars.2020.00724/full
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