title: Strategy for assessing impacts in ephemeral tropical seagrasses.
abstract: We investigated the phenology and spatial patterns in Halophila decipiens by assessing biomass, reproduction and seed density in ~400 grab samples collected across nine sites (8 to 14 m water depth) between June 2011 and December 2012. Phenology correlated with light climate which is governed by the summer monsoon (wet period). During the wet period, sedimentary seed banks prevailed, varying spatially at both broad and fine scales, presenting a source of propagules for re-colonisation following the unfavourable growing conditions of the monsoon. Spatial patterns in H. decipiens biomass following monsoon conditions were highly variable within a landscape that largely comprised potential seagrass habitat. Management strategies for H. decipiens and similar transient species must recognise the high temporal and spatial variability of these populations and be underpinned by a framework that emphasises vulnerability assessments of different life stages instead of relying solely on thresholds for standing stock at fixed reference sites.
authors.affiliation: Ocean's Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia; School Plant Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia. Electronic address: renae.hovey@uwa.edu.au.
authors.forename: Renae K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Hovey
authors.affiliation: Ocean's Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia; School Plant Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Statton
authors.affiliation: Ocean's Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia; School Plant Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Matthew W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.affiliation: Ocean's Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia; School Plant Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Montoya
authors.affiliation: Ocean's Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia; School Plant Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zavala-Perez
authors.affiliation: MScience Pty Ltd., Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rees
authors.affiliation: Ocean's Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia; MScience Pty Ltd., Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stoddart
authors.affiliation: Ocean's Institute, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia; School Plant Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Gary A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Kendrick
mesh_terms: D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000502:physiology; D018533:Biomass; D017753:Ecosystem; D031321:Hydrocharitaceae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D054712:Salinity; D012639:Seeds / Q000502:physiology; D062211:Spatio-Temporal Analysis; D014329:Tropical Climate; D014904:Western Australia
keywords: Disturbance; Halophila decipiens; Life-history; Management; Phenology; Resilience