Seasonal and year-to-year variations in the growth of Zostera marina L. (eelgrass) in the lower Chesapeake Bay

Abstract

Seasonal and year-to-year variations in the growth of Zostera marina L. were measured at three sites in two locations in the lower Chesapeake Bay between 1978 and 1980. The maximum values for the 1979 above- and belowground standing crop ranged from 161–336 g dry wt m −2 and 61–155 g dry wt m −2, respectively, leaf length was 19.6–59.7 cm and shoot density 1418–2576 shoot m −2. Values for 1980 tended to be greater and may be related to climatical differences between the two years. Maximum values were usually recorded in the months of June and July when water temperatures were between 20 and 25°C. Significant loss of leaves occurred in July and August, when water temperatures ranged between 25 and 30°C, while new shoots began to appear more rapidly in late September as water temperatures dropped below 20°C. The greatest increase in all growth parameters occurred from April to June during which time reproductive shoots were present, and accounted for up to 25% of the total number of shoots.