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- doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2011.02.020 conservation and management actions to be adopted by EU Member States. As sexual reproduction is infrequent in this species (Balestri and Vallerini, 2003; Balestri, 2004; Diaz-Almela et al., 2006), the use of fragments detached naturally from plants found close to meadows as a possible non-destructive alternative to the use of vegetative stocks manually excised from healthy meadows Meinesz et al., 1992 Meinesz et al., , 1993 Meinesz, 1992, 1995; Molenaar et al., 1993; Piazzi et al., 1998; Balestri and Lardicci, 2006) has been recently proposed (Augier et al., 1996; Christensen et al., 2004 ). A large number of fragments of varying sizes are generated by seagrasses as a consequence of storms (Ewanchuk and Williams, 1996).
[Show abstract] [Hide abstract] ABSTRACT: The use of fragments detached naturally from Posidonia oceanica, a threatened seagrass protected by European legislation, as non-destructive alternative to removing cuttings from donor meadows for restoration efforts has been recently proposed. A 4-year study was performed to investigate whether storm-generated fragments deposited on beaches can be salvaged and used as transplant source. Specifically, we examined in outdoor tanks (i) how long fragments survive after detachment from parents, (ii) whether fragment survival and regeneration ability are influenced by morphological characteristics, i.e., initial fragment growth form and size, and (iii) whether a single fragment can be divided artificially to obtain more transplants. Finally, we monitored the first year survival of fragments lodged between rubbles of a submersed artificial reef 3years after storage in tanks to test for their capacity to re-establish in the field. Four months after collection, fragment survival was high (80–96%). Half of the fragments regenerated and survived as long as 3years in tanks. Initial growth form and size were not predictors of fragment survival or regeneration probability. Division of fragments allowed doubling transplant number. One year after transplanting, 50% of the fragments on the artificial reef were still present and ca. half of them produced new shoots. This indicates that fragments retain the capacity to re-establish once reintroduced into the field and thus could represent a potentially important transplant source. The use of this material could have major advantages over traditional restoration techniques, including large availability with zero impact on existing populations and low collection efforts.- [Show abstract] [Hide abstract] ABSTRACT: Posidonia oceanica is an endemic Mediterranean seagrass, which represents the most productive coastal ecosystem. P. oceanica meadows are extremely sensitive to the moderate to high levels of disturbances often associated with highly human impacted coasts. Common descriptor for monitoring programme (e.g. shoot density, leaf production and rhizome elongation) responds slowly to environmental change. Once decline is apparent, it may be too late to implement a coastal management and recovery. This review addresses the latest advances in P. oceanica population genetics and proteomics, evaluating the importance of these studies to increase general knowledge of the system and to support coastal management and/or restoration programs. The majority of data and results presented show that genetic investigation offers the best opportunity to quantitatively track populations in both spatial and temporal timeframes and to comprehend evolutionary potential as well as resilience and resistance capacity under various forms of stress. Moreover, proteomics is a promising powerful tool to compare quantitative/qualitative differences in thousands of proteins in Posidonia living in different environments (e.g. in polluted or pristine areas). Identifying changing proteins expressed under various pollutants, could validate these proteins as early biomarkers for ecotoxicological assessment.
- [Show abstract] [Hide abstract] ABSTRACT: Posidonia oceanica is an endemic Mediterranean seagrass, which represents the most productive coastal ecosystem. P. oceanica meadows are extremely sensitive to the moderate to high levels of disturbances often associated with highly human impacted coasts. Common descriptor for monitoring programme (e.g. shoot density, leaf production and rhizome elongation) responds slowly to environmental change. Once decline is apparent, it may be too late to implement a coastal management and recovery. This review addresses the latest advances in P. oceanica population genetics and proteomics, evaluating the importance of these studies to increase general knowledge of the system and to support coastal management and/or restoration programs. The majority of data and results presented show that genetic investigation offers the best opportunity to quantitatively track populations in both spatial and temporal timeframes and to comprehend evolutionary potential as well as resilience and resistance capacity under various forms of stress. Moreover, proteomics is a promising powerful tool to compare quantitative/qualitative differences in thousands of proteins in Posidonia living in different environments (e.g. in polluted or pristine areas). Identifying changing proteins expressed under various pollutants, could validate these proteins as early biomarkers for ecotoxicological assessment.
- [Show abstract] [Hide abstract] ABSTRACT: Posidonia oceanica is an endemic Mediterranean seagrass, which represents the most productive coastal ecosystem. P. oceanica meadows are extremely sensitive to the moderate to high levels of disturbances often associated with highly human impacted coasts. Common descriptor for monitoring programme (e.g. shoot density, leaf production and rhizome elongation) responds slowly to environmental change. Once decline is apparent, it may be too late to implement a coastal management and recovery. This review addresses the latest advances in P. oceanica population genetics and proteomics, evaluating the importance of these studies to increase general knowledge of the system and to support coastal management and/or restoration programs. The majority of data and results presented show that genetic investigation offers the best opportunity to quantitatively track populations in both spatial and temporal timeframes and to comprehend evolutionary potential as well as resilience and resistance capacity under various forms of stress. Moreover, proteomics is a promising powerful tool to compare quantitative/qualitative differences in thousands of proteins in Posidonia living in different environments (e.g. in polluted or pristine areas). Identifying changing proteins expressed under various pollutants, could validate these proteins as early biomarkers for ecotoxicological assessment.
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