Fragments of the seagrasses Halodule wrightii and Halophila johnsonii as potential recruits in Indian River Lagoon, Florida

The role of vegetative seagrass fragments as a dispersal and recruitment mechanism has received little attention. Research on the potential of vegetative fragments as a dispersal mechanism can help us better understand the ability of seagrass beds to recover from disturbance events, to recruit into new areas, and to survive over long periods. The objectives of this study were to (1) determine the viability of vegetative fragments of Halodule wrightii and Halophila johnsonii as a function of time after removal from sediment, (2) determine whether season of collection affects the fragments’ recruitment potential, (3) determine if the source of fragments of H. johnsonii affects viability, (4) determine how long fragments float, and (5) determine the frequency of fragment settlement and rooting vs. time.