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                     -rA
                         |XENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT RESEARCH PROGRAM

                                          INSTRUCTION REPORT EL-84-1

                        ._ ALOW-COST. ::TRANSPLANTING TECHNIQUE FOR
                            SHOALGRASS (HALODULE WRIGHTI) AND
                          MANATEE GRASS (SYRINGODIUM FILIFORME)

                                                     by
                                                M. S. Fonseca
                                     Department of Environmental Sciences
                                             University of Virginia
                                        Charlottesville, Virginia  22903

                           W. J. Kenworthy, K. M. Cheap, C. A. Currin, G. W. Thayer
           X,   ~~~~~~Beaufort Laboratory, Southeast Fisheries Center
            ~/~-~   ~~~~~~National Marine Fisheries Service
                                        Beaufort, North Carolina  28516

                        D~tT'~ �COMMERCE NOA~
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                 -  l~c-:  of typ  Li bzrarY       September 1984
                                                Final Report
                                      Approved For Public Release; Distribution Unlimited

                                   Prepared for DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY
      TA       *                             US Army Corps of Engineers
      7        *                             Washington, DC  20314-1000
      .W34                          Under Environmental Impact Research Program
      no.                                           Work Unit 31632
      EL-84-1                             Monitored by Environmental Laboratory
                               US Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station
    aIN                             PO Box 631, Vicksburg, Mississippi  39180-0631

      Destroy this report when no longer needed. Do not return
                        it to the originator.

    The findings in this report are not to be construed as an official
        Department of the Army position unless so designated
                  by other authorized documents.

        The contents of this report are not to be used for
        advertising, publication, or promotional purposes.
        Citation of trade names does not constitute an
        official endorsement or approval of the use of
                     such commercial products.

                                      PREFACE

             This report was sponsored by the Office, Chief of Engineers (OCE),

    U. S. Army, as a part of the Environmental Impact Research Program (EIRP)

    Work Unit 31632 entitled Coastal Erosion Control Techniques Using Plants,

    which was assigned to the U. S. Army Coastal Engineering Research Center

    (CERC).  The Center, originally located at Fort Belvoir, Va., moved to the

    U. S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station (WES), Vicksburg, Miss,,

    on I. July 1983. The Technical Monitors for the study were Dr. John Bushman

    and Mr. Earl Eiker of COE and Mr. David B. Mathis, Water Resources Support

    Center.

             The study and preparation of a draft final report were

    accomplished during the time period October 1, 1982 to October 1, 1983;

    preparation of the reproducible copy was done during February, 1984.

             The report was prepared by Mr. Mark S. Fonseca, Department of

    Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, and Mr. W. Judson

    Kenworthy, Ms. Kathleen M. Cheap, Ms. Carolyn A. Currin, and Dr. Gordon W.

    Thayer of the Beaufort Laboratory, Southeast Fisheries Center, National

    Marine Fisheries Service.

             The authors express appreciation to D. Robertson, M. Robertson,

    and C. Foltz for assistance in the field exercises, and to H. Gordy for

    graphics.

             Mr. Paul L. Knutson was technical monitor for this report, under

    the general supervision of Mr. E. J. Pullen, Chief. ICoastal Ecology Branch,

    and Mr. R. P. Savage, Chief, Research Division. Dr. Roger T. Saucier, WES,

    was the Program Manager of EIRP.

             Technical Director of CERC at Fort Belvoir during the study and

    preparation of the draft final report was Dr. Robert W. Whalin. Commander

    and Director of WES during preparation of the reproducible copy was COL

    Tilford C. Creel, CE; Technical Director was Mr. F. R. Brown.

             This report should be cited as follows:

            Fonseca, M. S., Kenworthy, W. J., Cheap, K. M., Currin, C. A.,
            and Thayer, G. W. 1984. "A Low-Cost Transplanting Technique
             for Shoalgrass (Hatodue   &Lghtii) and Manatee Grass (SyAingodium
             fitiioume)," Instruction Report EL-84-1, US Army Engineer
             Waterways Experiment Station, Vicksburg, Miss., prepared by
             National Marine Fisheries Service under contract to
             Environmental Laboratory.

                                          2

                                        CONTENTS

                                                                             Page

    CONJVERSION FACTORS, U. S. CUSTOMARY TO M~ETRIC (SI)...            ........4
       UNITS OF MWEASUREMWENT

    HARVESTING AND STORING PLANTS. . ... .. . .. .. .. .. ....... . . ... ... . .....  5

       Identif'ying Preferred Harvest Sites.. ............. .5

       Harvest Technique. ... .. . .. ... .. .. . . ... . .. .... .. ...........   7

    PREPARING PLANTING UNITS. .. .. . . .... .. .. . .. .. .* .. . .. .. . ..........  8

    PLANTING M~ETHOD .. . ...                  . ... .. .. . ... .. ... .... . .............  9

    PLANT MATERIAL REQUIREMVENTS. ... .. . .. .. ... .. . .. .. 0 . . .. .. . . .. . . ... .. 11

    LABOR REQ~UIREMENTS.4.      . .. .. ................. .. . ......  .13

       Harvesting and Preparation of Planting Units  ............13

       Anchor Attachment .     .     . .. . .. .. 6.. .. . .. 0  ... . ............. 13

       Planting        . ............... .............. 13

       Total Man-Hours ......... . .. ... ..........................15

    REFERENCES .....      ...... ... ...     .................  . .... . .... ~*16

                                             3

       CONVERSION FACTORS, U. S. CUSTOMARY TO METRIC (SI)
                      UNITS OF MEASUREMENT

    U. S. customary units of measurement used in this report can be
    converted to metric (SI) units as follows:

        Multiply                     By                To Obtain

    acres                        4046.873         square metres
    feet                            0.3048        metres
    feet per second                 0.3048        metres per second
    inches                         25.4           millimetres
    square feet                     0.09290304   square metres

                                4

                     A LOW-COST TRANSPLANTING TECHNIQUE FOR

                       SHOALGRASS (HaZodue  tightii) AND

                      MANATEE GRASS (StrinQodium AtiAovnx)

                                  Introduction

             1. A cooperative research program between the Beaufort Laboratory

    of the Southeast Fisheries Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, and

    the U. S. Army Coastal Engineering Research Center (CERC) has developed

    low-cost transplanting techniques for the subtropical seagrass species

    shoalgrass (Haeodu.te wtghtZ) and manatee grass (Sytingodium gliforme).

    Research is continuing into establishment of turtlegrass (Thaesiaa

    ttudinum), which does not readily develop adequate bottom cover using

    transplants of mature vegetative parts, as described here for shoalgrass

    and manatee grass.

            2. The transplanting techniques presented are effective for

    restoring areas damaged by coastal engineering activities and update a

    previous report by Phillips (1980). A similar technique was developed for

    temperate species (Fonseca, Kenworthy, and Thayer 1982) and should be used

    in concert with upcoming technical reports that describe environmental

    requirements for some seagrass species and sediment stabilization

    properties of others.

                          Harvesting and Storing Plants

    Identifying preferred harvest sites

            3. Seagrass transplants should be obtained from healthy,

    well-established meadows large enough to minimize the impact of plant

                                          5

    removal. When no reasonable alternative to loss of seagrass habitat

    exists, areas to be destroyed should also be considered as possible

    harvest sites for onsite compensation of that loss. Research has

    demonstrated that eelgrass (Zoztejz mauna) transplants collected from high-

    current areas are found at higher densities than at low-current areas and

    sometimes exhibit higher growth rates than transplants from low-current areas

    (Fonseca et al. 1979). These attributes can improve collection efficiency

    and rates of seagrass bed development (Fonseca, Kenworthy, and Thayer 1981).

    Our experience suggests that these characteristics may also be true for

    shoalgrass and manatee grass collected from moderate- and high-current areas.

    Moderate- to high-current areas are defined as those areas in which water

    surface current velocity ranges between 0.8 and 1.6 ft/sec.*
             4. Sufficient numbers of apical meristems, or growing tips, are

    necessary for successful transplants. These are illustrated in Figure 1,

    and collectors should be familiar with their appearance. Upon identifying

    a potential harvest site, random subsamples of at least 10 planting units

    (a group of shoots with anchoring device, see page 8) should be made

    from transplant stock collected from several different locations in the

    harvest site. The number of apical meristems per planting unit should be

    recorded. It is recommended that there be a mean ratio of apical meristems

    to planting units of 1.0, although successful plantings have been established

    with a mean ratio as low as 0.4. Aerial runners, which always have apical

    meristems, are sometimes available as an alternative to rhizomes which must

    be dug up in transplanting these species (techniques are described in later

    sections). "Aerial runners" is a misnomer for what are actually rhizomes

    * A table of factors for converting U. S. customary units of measurement
      to metric (SI) units is presented on page 4.

                                           6

    growing out of the sediment exhibiting a stoloniferous-like form. The

    distribution of aerial runners is not known to be controlled by current

    regime; therefore, current is not a harvesting site criterion when using this

    method.

                                 A

                      \/\1) jSyringodian thank                    Holo  Sdule wrichtil

               a.  SyVingaodAum 6iei orme             b.  Halo dule wrightil

               Figure 1. Aerial runners (A and B) and rhizomes (C and D)
               with apical meristems. Section A illustrates the anchor's
                 placement on a planting unit. The dashed lines indi-
                     cate the point of detachment when harvesting
                                     planting unit.

    Harvest technique

             5. Two techniques that may be employed in the harvest of shoalgrass

    and manatee grass are (a) the collection of aerial runners and (b) the removal

    of "sods" or mats of seagrass from the sediment.

             6. Aerial runners containing at least 6 shoots and the apical

    meristem are removed from the plant by hand. The dashed lines in Figure 1 (A

    and B) illustrate the point at which aerial runners should be detached.

                                           7

            '7.' Harvesting sods is most readily accomplished with a dive knife

    or shovel inserted 6-8 in. into the substrate. A sod of seagrass is cut

    out and -carefuflly removed from the sediment to avoid damaging the plants

    and to preserve the root-rhizome mat. Sod harvest necessitates some

    disruption of the donor meadows. Sods should be cut in small, shovel-sized

    sections from the meadow as widely dispersed as possible to facilitate

    regrowth into the shovel hole. The harvested seagrass mat should be gently

    rinsed free of sediment. Individual planting units from this material will

    resemble the rhizomes in Figure 1 (C and D).

    Storage guidelines

             8. Aerial runners and mats of seagrass should be stored in ambient

    seawater and processed into planting units within 36 hr. If possible, the

    water in closed storage containers (plastic trashcans work well) should be

    aerated; othc.Lwilc  replace the water frequently.  For outdoor storage the

    planting material can he retained in coarse mesh bags (typical nylon dive

    bags work well) and hung overboard from a boat or pier. For prolonged

    storage of 2-3 weeks, floating pens with open tops (for light) are

    suggested. Setting the mats of seagrass into shallow, flowing seawater

    tables works well and provides an ideal area for sorting and preparing

    planting units. These submerged plants do not tolerate any exposure to

    direct sun when out of the water; they should always be kept in ambient

    seawater.

                             Preparing Plantinq Units

             9.  A planting unit (PU) consists of a section of aerial runner that

    has at least 6 shoots and the apical meristem. Properly harvested aerial

    runners will need no sorting prior to transplanting. If the plant material

    was harvested by the sod method, planting units consisting of at least 3

                                          8

    healthy rhizoimes bearing a minimum of 5 intact shoots will need to be sorted

    from the mat.

            10. Anchors must be used to secure the plant to the sediment.

    Anchors can be made from pieces of sturdy wire approximately 8 in. in length

    and bent into U-shaped pins. Bent sections of coat hangers or commercially

    available erosion control fabric pins work well. Figure lA illustrates

    placement of the anchors over the transplant stock.

            11. Additional preparation may be necessary, depending upon the

    current velocity at the transplant site. In moderate-to high-current

    areas, planting units are attached to anchors by twist ties. The anchor

    should be attached to a sturdy portion of the runner(s) or rhizome(s). in

    low-current areas it is not necessary to attach planting units to anchors;

    the appropriate number of anchors and transplant stock need only be brought

    to the transplant site.

                                 Planting Method

            12. Proper handling and spacing of planting units is essential for

    a successful transplant. Planting units should be kept covered with

    seawater at all times and handled carefully to reduce breakage and

    transplant shock.

            13. Transplanting can be done in shallow water areas (up to about

    2 ft deep) by wading workers or by SCUBA divers in deeper areas. Planting

    grids with the proper spacing should be established using a weighted line

    marked in the calculated spacing units or by other measuring devices.

            14. Planting units need to be secured to the sediment surface but

    not buried. The U-shaped anchors are placed over the rhizome or runner of

                                           9

    the planting unit and then pushed into the sediments until the planting

    unit is held firmly against the bottom and will not be removed by current

    or wave action (Figure 2), Greatest efficiency is obtained when personnel

    work in teams, with one worker holding the planting unit in position while

    the other worker places the anchor to secure it.  When planting units are

    already attached to anchors, one worker plants while another individual

    provides a continuous supply of planting units.

            Figure 2. Planting method described in text showing plant-
               ing unit, anchor, and weighted line marked in spacing
                 units. Planting unit is inserted next to the
                                   marked line

                            Plant Material Requirements

            15.  To determine the required rntmber of planting units and spacing

    between them for a transplant area, first determine which species will be

    used, the desired number of days for transplant stock to cover the area,

    and the size of the transplant area in square feet.  Based on the species

    used and the desired number of days to coverage, determine the  Y   value

    from the table below.  For example, if shoalarass Is to be used and the value

    for days tn coverage is 125, then Y - 7-5/rg6

         Days to                    Y_           Valu.e (ft2)
         Coverage
                              Shoalgrass (H-l .          Manatee grass (S.f.)

           50                       0.7543                       0.2765
           75                       1.6248                       0.4250
          100                       3.5002                       0.6521
          125                       7.5406                      0.9996
          150                      16.2444                       1.5333
          175                      34.9969                       2.3381
          200                      75.3975                       3.5852

            16.  rhp  Y  values given above were dprivpd from the formula:

                                   y _ srt                                       (1)

                      a   Time 0 nrea (ft?)
                           (H.w. = 0.1625; SI, - 0,!173)

                      e = base of the system of ,satiral logarithms

                         - (l+t)l/t as t goes to 0 = 2.7182818

                       r = Instantaneous growth coefficient
                           (H.w. - 0.0307, Stf. = 001'71)

                       t = Days to coverge.

           17. To calculate the number of planting units needed for a

    transplant site use the following formula:

               Number of PUs = Area of transplant in square feet
                                                    y C~~~~~~~~~2)
                                            Y

    To calculate the spacing between PUs in the planting grid, use the

    following formula:

       Distance between PUs in feet =Area of transplant in square feet
                                                  Number of PUs               (3)

            18.  As another example, assume a transplant area of 3 acres is to

    be planted with manatee grass.  The transplants should cover the area in 150

    days. Convert acres to square feet as follows:

                    3 acres x 43,500 ft2/acre = 130,500 ft2

    The Y value for manatee grass at 150 days is 1.5333; hence:

                      Number of PUs = 1305500 = 85,111
                                       1.5333

                 Distance between PUS =    130-950    = 1.24 ft

            19. The authors would like to point out that of the two species,

    shoalgrass had a higher growth rate when transplanted. If stock availability

    and site environmental conditions do not suggest a particular species, the

    choice of a faster-growing species will reduce total man-hours required for

    the transplant. Planting both species together would, however, allow for a

    natural selection of the best species for the site. The selection of a

    longer time period to coverage will also result in fewer total man-hours

    required.

                                         12

            20. Figure 3 and 4 illustrate the development of a shoalgrass

    planting unit from transplant to 160 days' growth.

                                Labor Requirements

           21. Labor rates for the three phases of planting are discussed

    below.

            22. Harvesting and preparation of planting units.

                 a. Aerial runners.

                     (1) Shoalgrass - 500 aerial runners or planting units

                         per man-hour.

                     (2) Manatee grass - 325 aerial runners or planting units

                         per man-hour.

                 b. Sods.

                     For either species, 18,000 shoots or 3,000 planting units

                     per man-hour.

            23.  Anchor Attachment.  If planting units are to be attached to

    anchors, labor rate is 100 PUs per man-hour.

            24. Planting.

                 a. Planting rate for wading, non-SCUBA assisted workers is

                    about 150 PUs per man-hour in most habitats.

                 b. Planting rate for SCUBA-assisted workers is about 175 PUs

                    per man-hour. (Note: although SCUBA-assisted workers are

                    at least 15 percent faster than non-SCUBA assisted

                    workers, wage difference has always resulted in non-SCUBA

                    workers being most economical when conditions permit.)

                                          13

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                                                     V,:,            ,   ~

                                            Bell~~~~~~~~~~~~~

                                                                            24,
                         Ci   i~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-x~~~~~~~~~~~~~        i;1 "

     ~%~               ~~~~~~~~242
                                        i�~~~~~ 1

                  Figr,- ~.Newly planted shoalgrass stock
                                   p- �

    Figure 4.  Shcal,!rs          taslant after 160 days of growth
                                         14 $
             r   ~     ~      ~     ~      i. * ~~~~~~~52~~~4"

                  Fiy~~~i;-.-~ 4� t. N -�w24                    224%te  ,4agas    t

                    :9:~~~~~~22'

                  F;:r ~ ~ ~ r24

                       :          I :: .::~~24t2242S~

                                             14~~~~~~24

           25. Total Man-Hours. As an example, determine total man-hours

    required to harvest, prepare, and plant 25,000 PUs of shoalgrass from sod

    samples. Planting units were attached to anchors and wading workers were

    used.

                                                                  Man-hours
            Harvest (25,000 PUs + 3,000 PUs/man-hour)                   8.3
             Attaching anchors (25,000 PUs + 100 PUs/man-hour)         250.0
             Plantinq (25,000 PUs + 150 PUs/man-hour)                  166.7
                                                         TOTAL      425.0

            26. This estimate includes only onsite work; it does not include

    travel, gear preparation, or additional requirements for safety of workers

    and equipment.

                                      Summary

            27. The planting techniques recommended in this report make use of

    mature vegetative plant material that can be acquired with (sod) or without

    (aerial runners) impact to the donor site. Based on the estimated man-hour

    requirements for each collection technique reported herein, a cost-benefit

    analysis with regard for the impact to the donor site could be completed.

            28. Cost estimates must account for the attachment of anchors in

    moderate- to high-current areas, as well as consideration of shallow water

    versus SCUBA-assisted planting.

            29. Material requirements are estimated by accounting for the

    species selected, the species growth rate, and the area to be covered.

    Formulas are provided for simplified computation of spacing of planting

    units to achieve coverage within the desired time period.

           30. The table for computation of Y values was developed from the

    results of several experimental pilot plantings in which the transplants

    were carefully monitored for 160 days and the growth rates and area covered

    were recorded.

                                    References

    Fonseca, M. S., Kenworthy, W. J., and Thayer G. W. 1981. "Transplanting of
        the Seagrasses Zostera marina and Halodule wrightii for the Stabili-
        zation of Subtidal Dredged Material", Annual Report, Beaufort Labora-
        tory, Beaufort, N. C.

    Fonseca, M. S., Kenworthy, W. J., and Thayer, G. W. 1982. "A Low-Cost
        Planting Technique for Eelgrass (Zostera marina L.)," Coastal En-
        gineering Technical Aid 82-6, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Coastal
        Engineering Research Center, Ft. Belvoir, Va.

    Fonseca, M. S., Kenworthy, W. 3., Homziak, J., and Thayer, G. W. 1979.
        "Transplanting of Eelgrass and Shoalgrass as a Potential Means of
        Mitigating A Recent Loss of Habitat", Proceedings of the Sixth
        Annual Conference on Wetlands Restoration and Creation, D. P. Cole, ed.

    Phillips, R. C. 1980. "Planting Guidelines for Seagrasses," Coastal
        Engineering Technical Aid 80-2, U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Coastal
        Engineering Research Center, Ft. Belvoir, Va.

                                           16

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    1. REPORT NUMBER                    2. GOVT ACCESSION NO. 3. RECIPIENT'S CATALOG NUMBER

    Instruction Report EL-84-1
    4. TITLE (and S.ubtlre)                               5. TYPE OF REPORT & PERIOD COVERED
    A LOW-COST TRANSPLANTING TECHNIQUE FOR SHOALGRASS   Final report
    (HALODULE WRIGHTII) AND MANATEE GRASS (SYRINGODIUM  Fina  repor
    FILIFORAIE)                                           6. PERFORMING ORG. REPORT NUMBER

    7. AUTHOR(s)                                          8. CONTRACT OR GRANT NUMBER(a)
    M. S. Fonseca, W. J. Kenworthy, K. M. Cheap,
    C. A. Currin, and G. W. Thayer

    9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS           10. PROGRAM ELEMENT. PROJECT, TASK
    University of Virginia, Department of Environmental    AREA& iWORK UNIT NUMBERS
    Sciences, Charlottesville, Va.  22903; National       Environmental Impact Re-
    Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries         search Program, Work Unit
    Center, Beaufort Laboratory, Beaufort, N. C. 28516  31632
                                                              12. REPORT DATE
    II. CONTROLLING OFFICE NAME AND ADDRESS               September 1984
    DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY                                13- NUMBER OF PAGES
    US Army Corps of Enqineers                            16
    Washington, DC  20314-1000                           15. SECURITY CLASS. (of thli report)
    14. MONITORING AGENCY NAME & ADORESS(lf different from Controlling Office)
    US Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station         Unclassified
     Envi ronmental Laboratory                            [i,. DECLASSIIICATiON/DOWNGRADING
     PO Box 631, Vicksburg, Mississippi  39180-0631           SCHEDULE
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    8b. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES
    Available fromn National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road,
    Springfield, Va.  22161.

    19. KEY WORDS (Corirlnue an revee side if necoa.ery and Identlf) bIy block number)
    Cost evaluation               Sediment stabilization
    Currents                      Shoalgrass
    Manatee grass                 Transplanting techniques
    Seagrass

    20. ATS1:AC' fCoftriem - r.regr. Offf Ir ncer  aId Iderily by block nurber)
          A simplified, low-cost Transpianting technique has been developed for
     seagrasses, Halo.dulZe  rio.ht-i and Syringodium filiforme, for use in high- and
     low-current recimes.  The method makes use of mature, vegetative shoots, free
    of sedin!nt and anchored to the substrate.  The technique accounts for selection
    of planting stock, species growth rate, and depth of planting site for estimat-
     ing thu desi,!n, labor, and material requirements of a transplant.  Examples are
    provided to illustrate use of the tables and formulas for computing the neces-
     sary requirements.
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