Warming northward shifting southern limits of the iconic temperate seagrass (Zostera marina).

ABSTRACT: Global warming can shift the range edges of numerous species poleward. Here, eelgrass distribution was reinvestigated at its southern limits on the eastern coast of China, which indicated that there has been a northward shift in the southern limit of Z. marina. To determine if regional warming resulted in a northward shift in suitable eelgrass habitats, sixteen transplantations of adult eelgrass shoots and seeds at the historical southern distribution limit of eelgrass were conducted between 2016 and 2021. The results showed that high water temperatures in summer had negative effects on eelgrass growth, and directly triggered shoot mortality during 2016-2018. Under heat stress, antioxidant enzyme activity was initially increased, but then decreased under more stressful heat conditio

SUBMITTER: Xu S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9357840 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature