Photosynthetic recovery of transplanted Posidonia sinuosa, Western Australia

Changes in photosynthetic activity during transplantation of Posidonia sinuosa Cambridge et Kuo, from Cockburn Sound, Western Australia, were assessed using a Diving-PAM fluorometer. Two transplantation methods, sprigs and plugs (5, 10 and 15 cm diameter) were examined and photosynthetic activity was compared before, during and after transplantation. Maximum electron transport rate (ETR(max)) Of transplanted sprigs took 1-2 months to increase to the same level recorded at a control meadow, primarily due to desiccation stress suffered during transport. Effective quantum yield (Delta F/F(m)') of sprigs decreased below 0.2 after transplantation, but fully recovered after 3 months and the ETR(max) of transplanted plugs took up to 1 week to recover to control meadow values. Once transplanted, the survival of sprigs was reduced due to strong currents and heavy epiphytic fouling, while that of plugs declined due to winter storms and swells. Since the leading human-controlled cause of transplant stress was desiccation, future rehabilitation efforts may be improved by keeping seagrasses submerged at all times during the transplanting process. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.