2002 Volume 39 Issue 2 Pages 139-143
Propagation of the seagrass, Zostera marina, was examined by using artificial seeding methods on polypropylene mats named as a sediment stabilizer mat (SS-mat) used to decreasing sediment disturbance on the sand substratum off Kushiki, Naruto, Tokushima prefecture, eastem Seto Inland Sea. SS-mats (1m x 1m, 4cm, 23 and 31kg of weights) were made of pemeable meshes. The first experiment was started in autumn, 1995 and the second experiment in autumn, 1996. Plants of Z. marina, seeded on to the mats, grew successfully for four years even under a harsh environmental condition of high wave height and fluctuations of the sand bottom level in the winter season. In both experiments, the shoot density on the SS-mats was observed to decrease after the maximum number of individual shoots (50-60 shoots/m2) in the first summer season to several shoots/m2 in the 2nd and 3rd summer seasons. Z. marina plants made reproductive flowering shoots on the SS-mats since 2nd spring maturing period. The SS-mats were useful in germination of seed and growth of seedlings for Z. marina, but not useful for the survival of adult plants due to the lack of sand accumulation on the mats. Such long term monitoring of continuous growth of Z. marina plants on the SS-mats is required for promoting the methodoIogy of establishing sea grass beds restoration.
