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Restoration Ecology
Article . 2025 . Peer-reviewed
License: CC BY NC ND
Data sources: Crossref
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Restoring Halodule uninervis: evaluating planting methods and biodiversity

Authors: Damboia Cossa; Minda Cossa; Jeremias Nhaca; Ilário Timba; Yudmila Chunguane; Alvaro Vetina; Adriano Macia; +2 Authors

Restoring Halodule uninervis: evaluating planting methods and biodiversity

Abstract

Seagrass provides a crucial habitat for numerous marine species and serves as a vital food source for endangered species, like dugongs. While extensive research on restoration has been conducted on certain temperate and slow‐growing climax seagrass species, limited attention has been given to tropical pioneer species. This study aimed to assess and compare two restoration methods for the pioneer seagrass Halodule uninervis and evaluate their potential for biodiversity recovery after planting. We conducted a field experiment at subtropical Inhaca Island, southern Mozambique, testing the efficiency of two planting methods (plugs and single shoots) and two planting densities (~100 and ~300 shoots/m2). We monitored seagrass shoot density in two sites for 16 months, and benthic macrofauna density for 12 months. Results demonstrated that seagrass could grow in all combinations of planting methods and densities in both sites. Specifically, the single shoot method at the high‐density treatment proved the most effective, resulting in approximately 1000 shoots/m2 within a year. Faunal densities, primarily dominated by polychaetes followed by malacostraca, bivalves, and gastropods, indicated rapid colonization of the planted areas, especially in the high‐density treatments. Our findings suggest that restoring H. uninervis is feasible using the two tested planting methods. This is particularly significant because H. uninervis is a preferred dugong food source, and its decline due to anthropogenic activities could be reversed through restoration efforts. Nonetheless, conserving existing seagrass should be the primary focus, and restoration approaches should be employed as a valuable tool for managing coastal areas.

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
1
Average
Average
Average
hybrid
Related to Research communities
Italian National Biodiversity Future Center