Abstract
 Restoration Site Selection for Estuarine Seagrass Track: Ecology and Conservation Author(s): Hyun Jung Cho, Christopher May, Melissa Larmer, Jonathan Jones, John Young Proper site selection for seagrass habitat restoration requires landscape level research and planning. The seagrass distribution at Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (GBNERR), Mississippi, mapped in ArcGIS 9.1, indicates that wind-driven waves and underwater light availability are the main limiting factors. Surface and underwater light was monitored biweekly at selected beds and used to calculate the mean light absorption coefficients through the water column. Then the coefficients were used to determine the depth limit that would permit seagrass growth. Water depth data were downloaded from the National Geophysical Data Center Web site and interpolated using Kriging method within the Spatial Analyst. Currently, the area within the depth limit is approximately 1700 ha. A 20 percent water clarity improvement through watershed management would increase the maximum seagrass depth by 0.3 m. The areas with gradual shoreface slopes and protected from waves are the most feasible restoration sites. Hyun Jung Cho Jackson State University 1400 Lynch St. Jackson , MS 39217 US Phone: 601-979-3912 E-mail: hyun.j.cho@jsums.edu Christopher May Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve 6005 Bayou Heron Rd. Moss Point , MS 39562 US Phone: 228-475-7047 E-mail: chris.may@dmr.ms.gov Melissa Larmer Jackson State University Biology 1400 Lynch St. Jackson 39217 US Phone: 601-979-3912 E-mail: larmer02@gmail.com Jonathan Jones Jackson State University Biology 1400 Lynch St. Jackson , MS 39217 US Phone: 601-979-3912 E-mail: jrjones832@aol.com John Young Jackson State University 1400 Lynch St. Jackson , MS 39217 US Phone: 601-979-8249 E-mail: john.h.young@jsums.edu |
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