Biodegradable Grids: An Effective Method for Eelgrass (Zostera marina) Restoration in Maine

Kidder, G.W.; White, S.; Miller, M.F.; Norden, W.S.; Taylor, T., and Disney, J.E., 2015. Biodegradable grids: An effective method for eelgrass (Zostera marina) restoration in Maine. Restoration of eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) beds is often done by tying vegetative plants to wire grids and transferri...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of coastal research 2015-07, Vol.31 (4), p.900-906
Main Authors: Kidder, George W., White, Shannon, Miller, Molly F., Norden, Wendy S., Taylor, Theodore, Disney, Jane E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bamboo
Berries
Biodegradability
Biodegradation
Community-based restoration
Construction
Funding
Inlets
Marinas
Methods
Plants
Plants (organisms)
RESEARCH PAPERS
Restoration
Rhizomes
Secondary schools
Sediments
sisal twine
Site selection
Success
T tests
transplant efficiency
Transplantation
Transplants
Twine
volunteers
Wire
wire grid
wood
Zostera marina
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Summary:Kidder, G.W.; White, S.; Miller, M.F.; Norden, W.S.; Taylor, T., and Disney, J.E., 2015. Biodegradable grids: An effective method for eelgrass (Zostera marina) restoration in Maine. Restoration of eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) beds is often done by tying vegetative plants to wire grids and transferring them to the ocean bottom. In our experience, rhizomes can grow over the grids, resulting in a significant loss of transplants when the grids are removed. We have tested two other methods that circumvent this problem that have proved successful in Maine. First, we “stapled” eelgrass plants into subtidal areas using bent bamboo skewers. This method is effective and avoids grid-removal losses but is slow, is laborious, and requires workers with equipment. More recently, we constructed a novel biodegradable grid (BDG) with spruce side rails, laced with sisal twine and weighted with small sandbags. We find that BDGs are even more successful than wire grids at establishing transplants and that the losses from grid removal are eliminated. BDGs are an effective way of involving citizens in eelgrass restoration projects while increasing the success rate of transplants and saving labor.
ISSN:0749-0208
1551-5036
DOI:10.2112/JCOASTRES-D-13-00062.1