Subtidal Eelgrass Declines in the Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire and Maine, USA

Authors

Nora T. Beem, University of New Hampshire
Frederick T. Short, University of New HampshireFollow

Abstract

Long-term monitoring of eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) beds in the central subtidal portion of the Great Bay Estuary showed declines at both transplanted sites and reference beds. Eelgrass beds transplanted as mitigation for habitat loss from port development reached comparable functions (e.g., primary production, canopy structure) to natural reference sites by the late 1990s, within 6 years of transplanting. Data from 2001 to the present show significant declines in eelgrass parameters (biomass, shoot density, canopy height, leaf area) at all sites, suggesting that these declines are the result of an estuary-wide factor.

Publication Date

10-9-2008

Journal Title

Estuaries and Coasts

Publisher

Springer

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12237-008-9110-3

Document Type

Article

Recommended Citation

Beem, N.T. and F.T. Short. 2008. Subtidal eelgrass declines in the Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire and Maine, USA. Estuaries and Coasts 32:202-205.