The Influence of Wave Energy and Sediment Transport on Seagrass Distribution

• Published in: Estuaries and coasts Vol. 35; no. 1; pp. 92 - 108
• Main Authors: Stevens, Andrew W., Lacy, Jessica R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Spring Science + Business Media 01.01.2012; Springer-Verlag; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Aquatic plants; Bathymetry; Biological and medical sciences; Brackish water ecosystems; Coastal Sciences; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Environment; Environmental Management; Freshwater & Marine Ecology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Hydrodynamics; Marine; Modeling; Sea level; Sea level rise; Sediment transport; Sediments; Straits; Synecology; Terraces; Vegetation; Water and Health; Water currents; Water levels; Wave energy; Wave power; Wave velocity; Waves; Zostera marina; Puget Sound; INE, USA, Washington, Puget Sound; USA; Numerical modeling; Hydrodynamics; Puget Sound; Aquatic vegetation; Sea-level rise; Estuaries; Brackish water environment; Sea grass; Sediments; Transport
• ISSN: 1559-2723; 1559-2731
• DOI: 10.1007/s12237-011-9435-1

A coupled hydrodynamic and sediment transport model (Delft3D) was used to simulate the water levels, waves, and currents associated with a seagrass (Zostera marina) landscape along a 4-km stretch of coast in Puget Sound, WA, USA. A hydroacoustic survey of seagrass percent cover and nearshore bathymetry was conducted, and sediment grain size was sampled at 53 locations. Wave energy is a primary factor controlling seagrass distribution at the site, accounting for 73% of the variability in seagrass minimum depth and 86% of the variability in percent cover along the shallow, sandy portions of the coast. A combination of numerical simulations and a conceptual model of the effect of sea-level rise on the cross-shore distribution of seagrass indicates that the area of seagrass habitat may initially increase and that wave dynamics are an important factor to consider in predicting the effect of sea-level rise on seagrass distributions in wave-exposed areas.