Thriving of Zostera noltei under intertidal conditions: implications for the modelling of seagrass populations

摘要: The distribution of Zostera noltii seagrass in Ria de Aveiro lagoon (NW Portugal) is presently characterised by intertidal monospecific meadows. Numerical modelling approaches are useful supportive tools for environmental management, although the available numerical models seagrasses generally overlook processes, such as water loss during air exposure periods. To achieve a better comprehension dynamics and contribute to development more realistic models, this work aims quantify relative content (RWC) Z. (RWCseagrass) aforementioned mesotidal lagoon. Experimental design included sampling shoots on ebbing flooding tides, along two transects with different sediment types (medium sand vs. fine sand) distinct heights (high, medium lower intertidal), assess RWC tidal cycle under extreme spring tide conditions. Sediment descriptors (RWCsediment), organic matter grain size were also determined. results showed no regular pattern between RWCseagrass variation heights. Nevertheless, colonising medium-sized sediments higher lost (about 20–31 %), when comparing samples from finer (8–16 %). Thus, these suggest that importance effective conditioning over than height itself (i.e. times). This highlights considering type recovery.