engleski

Effects of marina development on distribution and abundance of shallow subtidal seagrasses Zostera marina, Z. noltii, and Cymodocea nodosa

Evidence for competition between two co-occurring seagrass species, Zostera noltii and Z. marina, was found along an isobath transect in Novigrad Sea, Central Croatian Adriatic. The transect included developed (marina) and undeveloped regions of shoreline. Each species’ coverage and presence was evaluated using DGPS-tracked underwater videography. Seagrass shoot density was estimated from SCUBA samples. The two Zostera species exhibited opposite significant changes correlated with the environmental gradient: Z. marina cover and shoot density decreased while Z. noltii cover and shoot density increased with distance from marina. Significantly more of the spatial variation was explained by species interaction than by environmental variables. We conclude that competition is a major process structuring the distribution of Zostera species in the Novigrad Sea.

Zostera ; Seagrass competition ; DGPS-videography ; Croatian Adriatic

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