Frontiers in Marine Science (Aug 2020)
Seagrass Restoration Is Possible: Insights and Lessons From Australia and New Zealand
- Yi Mei Tan,
- Oliver Dalby,
- Gary A. Kendrick,
- John Statton,
- Elizabeth A. Sinclair,
- Elizabeth A. Sinclair,
- Matthew W. Fraser,
- Peter I. Macreadie,
- Chris L. Gillies,
- Chris L. Gillies,
- Rhys A. Coleman,
- Michelle Waycott,
- Michelle Waycott,
- Kor-jent van Dijk,
- Kor-jent van Dijk,
- Adriana Vergés,
- Adriana Vergés,
- Jeff D. Ross,
- Marnie L. Campbell,
- Marnie L. Campbell,
- Fleur E. Matheson,
- Emma L. Jackson,
- Andrew D. Irving,
- Laura L. Govers,
- Laura L. Govers,
- Rod M. Connolly,
- Ian M. McLeod,
- Michael A. Rasheed,
- Hugh Kirkman,
- Mogens R. Flindt,
- Troels Lange,
- Adam D. Miller,
- Adam D. Miller,
- Craig D. H. Sherman,
- Craig D. H. Sherman
Affiliations
- Yi Mei Tan
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
- Oliver Dalby
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
- Gary A. Kendrick
- School of Biological Sciences and Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
- John Statton
- School of Biological Sciences and Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
- Elizabeth A. Sinclair
- School of Biological Sciences and Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
- Elizabeth A. Sinclair
- Kings Park Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, West Perth, WA, Australia
- Matthew W. Fraser
- School of Biological Sciences and Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
- Peter I. Macreadie
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia
- Chris L. Gillies
- The Nature Conservancy, Carlton, VIC, Australia
- Chris L. Gillies
- Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWater), James Cook University, Douglas, QLD, Australia
- Rhys A. Coleman
- Applied Research, Melbourne Water Corporation, Docklands, VIC, Australia
- Michelle Waycott
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Michelle Waycott
- Department for Environment and Water, State Herbarium of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Kor-jent van Dijk
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Kor-jent van Dijk
- Department for Environment and Water, State Herbarium of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Adriana Vergés
- 0Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, Centre for Marine Science and Innovation, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Adriana Vergés
- 1Sydney Institute of Marine Science, Mosman, NSW, Australia
- Jeff D. Ross
- 2Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
- Marnie L. Campbell
- 3Environmental Research Institute, The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
- Marnie L. Campbell
- 4College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia
- Fleur E. Matheson
- 5National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Hamilton, New Zealand
- Emma L. Jackson
- 6Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre, Central Queensland University, Gladstone, QLD, Australia
- Andrew D. Irving
- 6Coastal Marine Ecosystems Research Centre, Central Queensland University, Gladstone, QLD, Australia
- Laura L. Govers
- 7Conservation Ecology Group, Groningen Institute for Evolutionary Life Sciences, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
- Laura L. Govers
- 8Department of Coastal Systems, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Texel, Netherlands
- Rod M. Connolly
- 9Australian Rivers Institute – Coasts and Estuaries, School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
- Ian M. McLeod
- Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWater), James Cook University, Douglas, QLD, Australia
- Michael A. Rasheed
- Centre for Tropical Water and Aquatic Ecosystem Research (TropWater), James Cook University, Douglas, QLD, Australia
- Hugh Kirkman
- 0Western Port Seagrass Partnership, Mount Waverley, VIC, Australia
- Mogens R. Flindt
- 1Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Troels Lange
- 1Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Adam D. Miller
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
- Adam D. Miller
- 2Deakin Genomics Centre, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
- Craig D. H. Sherman
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
- Craig D. H. Sherman
- 2Deakin Genomics Centre, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2020.00617
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 7
Abstract
Seagrasses are important marine ecosystems situated throughout the world’s coastlines. They are facing declines around the world due to global and local threats such as rising ocean temperatures, coastal development and pollution from sewage outfalls and agriculture. Efforts have been made to reduce seagrass loss through reducing local and regional stressors, and through active restoration. Seagrass restoration is a rapidly maturing discipline, but improved restoration practices are needed to enhance the success of future programs. Major gaps in knowledge remain, however, prior research efforts have provided valuable insights into factors influencing the outcomes of restoration and there are now several examples of successful large-scale restoration programs. A variety of tools and techniques have recently been developed that will improve the efficiency, cost effectiveness, and scalability of restoration programs. This review describes several restoration successes in Australia and New Zealand, with a focus on emerging techniques for restoration, key considerations for future programs, and highlights the benefits of increased collaboration, Traditional Owner (First Nation) and stakeholder engagement. Combined, these lessons and emerging approaches show that seagrass restoration is possible, and efforts should be directed at upscaling seagrass restoration into the future. This is critical for the future conservation of this important ecosystem and the ecological and coastal communities they support.
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