  Seagrass meadows, one of the worlds most important and productive coastal
habitats, are threatened by a range of anthropogenic actions. Burial of
seagrass plants due to coastal activities is one important anthropogenic
pressure leading to decline of local populations. In our study, we assessed the
response of eelgrass Zostera marina to sediment burial from physiological,
morphological, and population parameters. In a full factorial field experiment,
burial level (5-20 cm) and burial duration (4-16 weeks) were manipulated.
Negative effects were visible even at the lowest burial level (5 cm) and
shortest duration (4 weeks), with increasing effects over time and burial
level. Buried seagrasses showed higher shoot mortality, delayed growth and
flowering and lower carbohydrate storage. The observed effects will likely have
an impact on next years survival of buried plants. Our results have
implications for the management of this important coastal plant.
