Spatiotemporal variations in seagrass flowering: Can models of seagrass flowering benefit seagrass restoration?

This study investigated the environmental drivers of flowering in a common seagrass species (Zostera muelleri) across Australasia. It involved field surveys conducted in seagrass meadows on Australia’s East coast, mesocosm, and climate-controlled experiments, as well as large-scale modeling of seagrass flowering along the latitudinal gradient in Australasia. The results support finding optimal flower collection times for seed-based restoration, predicting climate-induced changes in flowering times, and guiding the design of seagrass seed nurseries.