The movement ecology of seagrasses.

Kathryn Mcmahon,Gary A Kendrick,Leonardo Ruiz-Montoya,Jennifer Verduin,Michelle Waycott,Eloise Brown,John Statton,Carlos Duarte,Siegfried L Krauss,Ryan Lowe,Kor-Jent Van Dijk

doi:10.1098/rspb.2014.0878

Abstract

A movement ecology framework is applied to enhance our understanding of the causes, mechanisms and consequences of movement in seagrasses: marine, clonal, flowering plants. Four life-history stages of seagrasses can move: pollen, sexual propagules, vegetative fragments and the spread of individuals through clonal growth. Movement occurs on the water surface, in the water column, on or in the sediment, via animal vectors and through spreading clones. A capacity for long-distance dispersal and demographic connectivity over multiple timeframes is the novel feature of the movement ecology of seagrasses with significant evolutionary and ecological consequences. The space–time movement footprint of different life-history stages varies. For example, the distance moved by reproductive propagules and vegetative expansion via clonal growth is similar, but the timescales range exponentially, from hours to months or centuries to millennia, respectively. Consequently, environmental factors and key traits that interact to influence movement also operate on vastly different spatial and temporal scales. Six key future research areas have been identified.

Highlights

A movement ecology framework is applied to enhance our understanding of the causes, mechanisms and consequences of movement in seagrasses: marine, clonal, flowering plants
Unlike most animals, movement is limited to particular life-history stages, i.e. the dispersal of pollen or seed, long-living clonal plants can grow and move slowly over large distances
It has been applied to plants by addressing the obvious dichotomy between evolutionary and ecological elements that occur in plants [2]. This model defines the movement path of an individual as a function of how (V—motion capacity), where (F—navigation capacity) and why it moves (W—internal state), and how these interact with external factors (R) [1]

Summary

Movement ecology paradigm

The movement of organisms has profound influence on population, community and ecosystem dynamics over contemporary and evolutionary timescales. It has been applied to plants by addressing the obvious dichotomy between evolutionary and ecological elements that occur in plants [2] This model defines the movement path of an individual as a function of how (V—motion capacity), where (F—navigation capacity) and why it moves (W—internal state), and how these interact with external factors (R) [1]. The primary challenge in applying the movement ecology framework to a particular system is identifying the key external factors (R), internal states (W ), motion (V) and navigation capacities (F) [1,2]. We identify key external factors (biotic and abiotic dispersal vectors, environment) as well as internal states and navigation capacity, which influence the movement path. The role and consequences of movement in seagrasses over ecological and evolutionary timeframes will be improved and knowledge gaps identified

Seagrasses

Movement path case studies

Conclusion about movement and its consequences in seagrass

Moving forward with seagrass movement ecology

Findings

Waycott M et al 2009 Accelerating loss of