Flow and particle distributions in a nearshore seagrass meadow before and after a storm

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 218:95-106 (2001) - doi:10.3354/meps218095 Flow and particle distributions in a nearshore seagrass meadow before and after a storm T. C. Granata1,*, T. Serra2, J. Colomer2, X. Casamitjana2, C. M. Duarte1,**, E. Gacia1 1Centre d¹Estudis Avançats de Blanes, C. Santa Bàrbara s/n, 17300 Blanes (Girona), Spain 2Environmental Physics, Department of Physics, University of Girona, Campus de Montilivi, 17071 Girona, Spain Present addresses: *Ecological Engineering Program, The Ohio State University, CEEGS 470 Hitchcock Hall 2070 Neil Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43210-1275, USA.E-mail: granata@osu.edu **Instituto Mediterraneo de Estudios Avanzados, C. Valldemossa km 7.5, 07071 Palma de Mallorca, Spain ABSTRACT: Fine-scale spatial effects of a seagrass meadow on suspended particle transport were assessed from current speeds, orbital wave velocities, turbulent Reynolds stress, in situ particle concentrations, and sedimentation rates for a horizontal grid in a coastal seagrass (Posidonia oceanica) meadow at 2 depths and during low- and high-energy periods. For the low-energy period, the vertical reduction of the total kinetic energy, from 100 cm to ~ 10 cm above the bottom, was large in the meadow (up to 95%) than over the sand (35 to 75%). Velocity maps suggest that a recirculating flow formed in the meadow with a higher Reynolds stress at the edge of the meadow. Near the bed, concentrations of small particles (<10 µm diameter) were lower inside the meadow than over barren sand, while concentrations of large particles (>10 µm) were lower over the barren sand. For the period of stronger current and wave activity following a storm, nearbed turbulence and orbital wave velocity were elevated, though still lower inside the meadow than over the sand. For this high energy period, particle concentrations increased over the whole study area, but were still lowest deep inside the meadow. Overall, the horizontal spatial distribution of plants in the study area had a profound effect on the flow field and on vertical transport, even during the high-energy period. The reduced nearbed turbulence and lower sedimentation rate below the canopy confirms it as a calm zone with lower mixing compared to unvegetated areas. Erratum KEY WORDS: Seagrass meadow · Flow fields · Particle transport Full text in pdf format PreviousNextExport citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 218. Online publication date: August 20, 2001 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2001 Inter-Research.