Table 1 Four seagrass management scenarios are modeled, which include restoration from seed (S), transplant (T), from transplant follow placement of a sediment layer (I), and conservation (C), in which in the absence of protections, we assume the meadow and underlying sediments are lost entirely
From: Management approach matters: meeting seagrass recovery and carbon mitigation goals
Management Scenarios | Description and Assumptions |
|---|---|
1: Seed (S) | Management: Seeding occurs within a small area of the project site in year 0, and the population expands according to a logistic growth curve to a maximum area of 6 ha. We assume seed project area expansion occurs more slowly than transplant project area (Supplementary Fig. 1). BAU: No seeding occurs—the site remains unvegetated and unchanged throughout the 10 year monitoring period, accumulating sediment at naturally occurring rates. |
2: Transplant (T) | Management: Transplanting occurs within a small area of the project site in year 0 and expands according to a logistic growth curve to a maximum area of 6 ha. We assume transplant project area expansion occurs more quickly than transplant project area (Supplementary Fig. 1). BAU: No transplant occurs—the site remains unvegetated and unchanged throughout the 10 year monitoring period, accumulating sediment at naturally occurring rates. |
3: Infill (I) | Management: A layer of sediment (“infill”) is placed evenly across an unvegetated site (to varying depths, see Table 5), across the entire project area (6 ha) in year 0, to make conditions more suitable for seagrass restoration. This infilled area is transplanted according to the same method above 1 year later (year 1) - transplanting a smaller area that expands according to logistic growth to the maximum project area by year 10 (Supplementary Fig. 1). BAU: No infill or transplant occurs—the site remains unvegetated and unchanged throughout the 10 year monitoring period, accumulating sediment at naturally occurring rates. |
4: Conservation (C) | Management: Conservation measures are implemented in year 0 such that a healthy, existing (6 ha) seagrass meadow remains unchanged throughout the 10 year monitoring period (when it otherwise would have been dredged). BAU: A seagrass meadow and underlying sediments are lost (e.g., from dredging) across the entire meadow area (6 ha) in year 0, to varying sediment depths (see Table 5). In addition to loss in year 0, this site behaves as an unvegetated site would (as described in the BAU sites in all other scenarios). |
