Emerging Genetic Approach

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The Seagrass Research and Restoration Initiative, sponsored by the Nature Conservancy, is a genetic approach to restoration methodology. The 2012 initiative was designed to answer key genetic questions pertaining to eelgrass; namely:
  • Is genetic diversity limited among surviving eelgrass populations, creating a genetic bottleneck that limits growth and recovery?
  • What are the effects of multiple sources of stress on eelgrass?
  • What are the best conditions for eelgrass growth?
  • Why do some restoration efforts take where others don’t? And is it possible to replicate that success?
    Of the Of 709 plants tested, 688 had unique genetic material, indicating that a genetic bottleneck is not limiting eelgrass growth. The initiative found high diversity within individual sites, and especially between populations, which may explain why some donors fail where others are successful- that is, the optimal growing conditions for the donor are specific to the physical condition of the site from which they came. More importantly, some eelgrass populations are more resilient to increased nitrogen and ocean temperature conditions.
    An immediate application of this data is the use of donors from more resilient population that are tolerant of the restoration locations conditions.