Zostera sensu lato restoration: A Comprehensive Quick Scoping Review of Current Knowledge.

Abstract

Seagrass meadows are suffering a global decline as a result of local and worldwide anthropogenic pressures. Ecological restoration activities are considered crucial to boost the recovery of ecosystem functioning and services. In the case of Zostera spp. spp. considerable progress has been made since the 70s, being Zostera marina the most studied species of all marine macrophytes including seaweeds and macroalgae. However, the knowledge, methodologies, and techniques to develop large-scale restoration actions are limited in comparison with other terrestrial macrophytes. Overall, the great variety of practices and methodologies used in Zostera spp. restoration provides a wide range of available information on the subject. A rigorous assessment is required to fill the identified knowledge gaps. Here, previous experimental efforts and human-mediated active restoration actions of the genus Zostera have been collated through a literature systematic review. Different factors have been analysed to determine those that allow success in transplantation experiments, and the main constraints limiting the development of seagrass restoration have been identified. From our world-wide systematic review, we describe general features and best practices for Zostera spp. restoration, to develop a unified protocol according to the type of transplant, location, and specific scenario.