The distribution of large floating seagrass (Zostera marina) aggregations in northern temperate zones of Bohai Bay in the Bohai Sea, China.

Xu Min,Zhang Yun-Ling,Zhou Yi,Song Xiao-Jing,Zhang Hai-Peng,Ismael Aaron Kimirei

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0201574

Abstract

Seagrass meadows (Zostera marina) are important coastal ecosystems with high levels of productivity and biodiversity. They often have high biomass turnover and are susceptible to dislodgment, leading to export of biomass from seagrass beds. In September 2016, two cruises covering a total area of 52 km x 15 km (38°57'1.14"–39° 0'41.28" N, 118°45'23.22"–118°47'6.96" E) found floating Z. marina aggregations along 13 km of the transect in the northernmost area of Bohai Bay, in the Bohai Sea, China. This floating seagrass was 6.3–13.4 km northeast (offshore) of the Caofeidian seagrass bed, which is a large (10 km2) seagrass bed discovered in 2015 in the Bohai Sea, China. The modal length of floating intact shoots (from meristem to longest leaf tip) matched samples from the Caofeidian seagrass bed. The dominant individuals lengths were 40–50 cm, with less than 5% of the total number of individuals found in larger size categories (80–90 and 90–100 cm). We concluded that they originated from the nearby Caofeidian seagrass meadows.

Highlights

Seagrass meadows are highly biodiverse and productive coastal ecosystems, covering approximately 0.15% of the global ocean area and contributing 1% of the marine net primary production [1]
The objective of the present study was to identify the spatial distribution of floating Z. marina rafts in northern temperate zones of Bohai Bay in the Bohai Sea, China
The first cruise was made on 6 September 2016 from ‘Point 1’ to ‘Point 8’, while the second cruise was made on 13 September 2016 from ‘Point 8’ to ‘Point 15’ (Fig 1)

Summary

Introduction

Seagrass meadows are highly biodiverse and productive coastal ecosystems, covering approximately 0.15% of the global ocean area and contributing 1% of the marine net primary production [1]. Seagrass meadows are important nursery habitats for many economically valuable fish and invertebrate species such as red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), queen conch (Strombus gigas), and blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) [1,2] Distribution of floating seagrass (Zostera marina) aggregations

Objectives

Methods

Results