Spartina alterniflora: Seed Collection, Storage, and Growth for Coastal Restoration
Abstract/Description/Artist Statement
Recently, demand for wetland plants has risen as coastal communities increase implementation of nature-based solutions to mitigate effects of climate change and provide coastal habitat. Spartina alterniflora (Loisel), the dominant coastal low marsh foundation species along the east coast of North America, is integral to the construction and maintenance of these restoration projects and is the most frequently used species in coastal resilience project plantings. While S. alterniflora has an extensive native range, population-level differences in genotype likely result in locally adapted plants. Thus, using locally-sourced plant material is idealized to maximize plant survival and growth. However, native plant supply in many coastal regions is not adequate to meet growing demand, resulting in projects often using plants from mismatched regions. With notoriously low germination rates and limited knowledge of best practices, there is a need to develop methods to source, propagate, and promote the use of local provenance for coastal resilience projects.
The Seed Keepers Project is a collaborative effort between the Elizabeth River Project, a non-profit coastal restoration agency, and Old Dominion University which aims to identify best practices for collection, storage, germination, and propagation of native seed for coastal plantings. In its first year, the Seed Keepers Project began a meta-analysis on S. alterniflora propagation techniques, explored efficacy of variable substrates on seed germination and seedling survival, and measured flowering and (viable) seed set temporal peaks. This project seeks to serve as a model case study for other regions encountering similar challenges with native coastal wetland plant supply.
Faculty Advisor/Mentor
Taylor Sloey
Faculty Advisor/Mentor Email
tsloey@odu.edu
Faculty Advisor/Mentor Department
Biological Sciences
College/School Affiliation
College of Sciences
Student Level Group
Graduate/Professional
Presentation Type
Oral Presentation
Spartina alterniflora: Seed Collection, Storage, and Growth for Coastal Restoration
Recently, demand for wetland plants has risen as coastal communities increase implementation of nature-based solutions to mitigate effects of climate change and provide coastal habitat. Spartina alterniflora (Loisel), the dominant coastal low marsh foundation species along the east coast of North America, is integral to the construction and maintenance of these restoration projects and is the most frequently used species in coastal resilience project plantings. While S. alterniflora has an extensive native range, population-level differences in genotype likely result in locally adapted plants. Thus, using locally-sourced plant material is idealized to maximize plant survival and growth. However, native plant supply in many coastal regions is not adequate to meet growing demand, resulting in projects often using plants from mismatched regions. With notoriously low germination rates and limited knowledge of best practices, there is a need to develop methods to source, propagate, and promote the use of local provenance for coastal resilience projects.
The Seed Keepers Project is a collaborative effort between the Elizabeth River Project, a non-profit coastal restoration agency, and Old Dominion University which aims to identify best practices for collection, storage, germination, and propagation of native seed for coastal plantings. In its first year, the Seed Keepers Project began a meta-analysis on S. alterniflora propagation techniques, explored efficacy of variable substrates on seed germination and seedling survival, and measured flowering and (viable) seed set temporal peaks. This project seeks to serve as a model case study for other regions encountering similar challenges with native coastal wetland plant supply.