title: Patterns and mechanisms of dispersal in a keystone seagrass species.
abstract: Mechanisms and vectors of long-distance dispersal remain unknown for many coastal benthic species, including plants. Indications for the possibility for long-distance dispersal come from dispersal modelling and from genetic assessments, but have rarely been assessed with both methods. To this end, we assessed dispersal of the seagrass Zostera noltei, an important foundation species of the coastal zone. We investigate whether small scale seed dispersal and long-distance propagule dispersal do play a role for meta-population dynamics, using both genetic assessments based on eight microsatellite markers and physical modelling of ocean currents. Such assessments enhance our understanding of the biology and population dynamics of an important coastal foundation species. They are relevant for large scale conservation strategies as they give insights in the maintenance of genetic diversity and connectivity that may enhance resilience and resistance to stresses associated with seagrass loss.
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Marlene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jahnke
authors.affiliation: Technical University of Denmark, National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Jægersborg Allé 1, 2920 Charlottenlund, Denmark.
authors.forename: Asbjørn
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Marine Research and Development "Grigore Antipa", 900581 Constanţa, Romania.
authors.forename: Dragos
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Micu
authors.affiliation: The A.O. Kovalevsky Institute of Marine Biological Researches, 299011 Sevastopol, Russia.
authors.forename: Nataliya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Milchakova
authors.affiliation: Sinop University, Faculty of Fisheries, Department of Marine Biology and Ecology, TR57000 Sinop, Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sezgin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Oceanology, P.O. Box 152 9000, Varna, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Todorova
authors.affiliation: Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Faculty of Biology, Department of Biology, Bd. Carol I 11, 700506 Iaşi, Romania.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Strungaru
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Napoli, Italy. Electronic address: gpro@szn.it.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Procaccini
mesh_terms: D017753:Ecosystem; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005828:Genetics, Population; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D011157:Population Dynamics; D035962:Zosteraceae / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Black Sea; Clonal plant; Genetic connectivity; Langrangian; Propagules; Seagrass; Seascape; Zostera noltei