MEPS 448:173-176 (2012)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps09596

ABSTRACT: Coastal bay systems are prominent features of coastlines on nearly all continents and are vulnerable to long-term environmental changes related to climate and nutrient over-enrichment. Eelgrass Zostera marina disappeared in the 1930s from the coastal bays of the Virginia Coast Reserve, USA, primarily due to a wasting disease and the effects of a hurricane. It has been re-established recently as a result of a large-scale seeding and restoration effort. The contributions to this Theme Section provide the most comprehensive account available of large-scale recovery of an eelgrass ecosystem, the consequences of the state change from a bare-sediment system to eelgrass dominance, and projections of meadow resilience to future climate change scenarios.

KEY WORDS: Zostera marina · Coastal restoration · State change · Regime shift

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Cite this article as: Orth RJ, McGlathery KJ (2012) Eelgrass recovery in the coastal bays of the Virginia Coast Reserve, USA. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 448:173-176. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps09596 Export citation Share:    Facebook - - linkedIn