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Ragworms (Hediste diversicolor) limit eelgrass (Zostera marina) seedling settlement: Implications for seed-based restoration
Kwakernaak, C.; Hoeijmakers, D.J.J.; Zwarts, M.P.A.; Bijleveld, A.I.; Holthuijsen, S.; de Jong, D.J.; Govers, L.L. (2023). Ragworms (Hediste diversicolor) limit eelgrass (Zostera marina) seedling settlement: Implications for seed-based restoration. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 560: 151853. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jembe.2022.151853
In: Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. Elsevier: New York. ISSN 0022-0981; e-ISSN 1879-1697, more
Peer reviewed article  

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Keywords
    Hediste diversicolor (O.F. Müller, 1776) [WoRMS]; Zostera subg. Zostera marina Linnaeus, 1753 [WoRMS]
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    Hediste diversicolor; Predation; Restoration bottlenecks; SIBES; Seed-based restoration; Zostera marina

Authors  Top 
  • Kwakernaak, C.
  • Hoeijmakers, D.J.J.
  • Zwarts, M.P.A.
  • Bijleveld, A.I., more
  • Holthuijsen, S., more
  • de Jong, D.J.
  • Govers, L.L., more

Abstract

    Seagrasses are globally declining and multiple restoration efforts are undertaken to reverse these losses. However, these efforts have proven to be challenging, facing a variety of bottlenecks. We studied how predation by macroinvertebrates may form a potential bottleneck for seed-based seagrass restoration. Specifically, we questioned if the omnivorous commonragworm (Hediste diversicolor) may act as a predator on eelgrass ( Zostera marina) seeds and whether that could affect seed-based eelgrass restoration trials. In a controlled lab experiment, we studied (1)how seedling establishment was affected by ragworm biomass (0, 2, 8 g DW m −2), (2) if the absence or presence of an additional or alternative high-protein food source (Sanikoi ® Gold Protein Plus, 52% protein) prevented potential seed predation by ragworms and (3) how ragworm size (small: 0.0029 g and 3.3× bigger: 0.0095 g DW ragworm−1) affected eelgrass seedling establishment. Additionally, we questioned (4) if ragworms may provide a bottleneck for annual eelgrass restoration experiments in the Dutch Wadden Sea by combining data from a large-scale benthic survey (SIBES, Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Texel) with an existing eelgrass habitat suitability map. We found that >2 g DW m−2 ragworms completely hampered eelgrass seedling establishment, even when fed an additional, protein-rich, food source. Ragworms only seemed to target sprouted seeds rather than intact seeds. Additionally, sprouted seed consumption by ragworms was size-dependent: sprouted seeds escaped predation by smaller ragworms even when present in high biomass (2 g DW m−2). By extrapolating our findings to the field, we showed that 52.8% of the potential eelgrass growth sites in theDutch Wadden Sea overlap with impeding ragworm biomass (≥2 g DW m −2). By consuming sprouted eelgrass seeds, ragworms may consequently strongly impede seed-based eelgrass restoration efforts, especially since both species have highly overlapping distributions. We thus provided novel insights into an unknown bottleneck for seed-based eelgrass establishment, which may have restoration implications. Especially for annual eelgrass that fully depends on successful seedling establishment for their persistence and survival.


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