title: The roles of flowering, overwinter survival and sea surface temperature in the long-term population dynamics of Zostera marina around the Isles of Scilly, UK.
abstract: Interaction between biotic and abiotic drivers of dynamics is an important topic in ecology. Despite numerous short-term studies, there is a paucity of evidence about how environmental structure modifies dynamics in marine systems. We quantified Zostera marina flowering and non-flowering shoot density annually from 1996 to 2012 around the Isles of Scilly, UK, parameterizing a population dynamic model. Flowering is structured in time and space, with temperature and flowering positively associated at some locations only. We found no evidence that flower production contributes to seagrass density but 'patchiness' was positively associated with flowering in the previous year. With evidence of substantial overwinter survival, findings support the hypothesis that local populations are maintained largely through vegetative reproduction but sexual reproduction may contribute to colonisation of vacant habitat. This long-term study (1) tests validity of shorter-term investigations, (2) quantifies interaction between biotic and abiotic factors and (3) promotes seagrass as a model ecosystem.
authors.affiliation: School of Life, Sport and Social Sciences, Edinburgh Napier University, Sighthill Campus, Edinburgh EH11 4BN, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Potouroglou
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, John Maynard Smith Building, University of Sussex, Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QG, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Emma J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Kenyon
authors.affiliation: Natural England, Pydar House, Pydar Street, Truro TR1 1XU, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Angie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gall
authors.affiliation: Natural England, Pydar House, Pydar Street, Truro TR1 1XU, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Kevan J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences, Wallace Building, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, United Kingdom. Electronic address: j.c.bull@swansea.ac.uk.
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Bull
mesh_terms: D017753:Ecosystem; D035264:Flowers / Q000378:metabolism; D062312:Islands; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012621:Seasons; D013696:Temperature; D006113:United Kingdom; D035962:Zosteraceae / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Flowering; Long-term; Seagrass; Spatial scale; Survival; Zostera marina