In this study, a protective seed core method for planting seeds of the common eelgrass Zostera marina was developed and evaluated through laboratory and field experiments. We studied the suitable desiccation period of the protective seed cores, and their effect on seed germination and seedling establishment in a laboratory experiment. New patches established by seeds planted with the protective seed cores were evaluated through an 11-month-seed-sowing field experiment. Observations of the stability of the protective seed cores and the change in viability of Z. marina seeds placed in the protective seed cores demonstrated that the optimum desiccation period was 2 days. Seed germination and seedling establishment of Z. marina were promoted by the protective seed cores during the 90-day laboratory experiment. The field experiment showed that the seedling establishment of Z. marina seeds was significantly enhanced by the protective cores, ranging from 12% to 64%, with an average of 30%, 6 months after seeding. New patches were successfully established by protective seed cores with a maximum shoot density of 367 shoots m−2 11 months after planting. The average planting cost per Z. marina seed was $0.03; thus, $14,820 would be incurred for planting 1 ha of Z. marina beds using this method. These results indicate that the protective seed core method is an efficient and cost-effective restoration technique with a potential in facilitating large-scale restoration projects.

中文翻译：

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一种使用保护芯修复带状蠹藻栖息地的低成本、有效的播种技术

在这项研究中，通过实验室和田间试验开发和评估了一种用于种植普通鳗草 Zostera marina 种子的保护性种子核心方法。我们在实验室实验中研究了保护性种芯的适宜干燥期，及其对种子萌发和幼苗建立的影响。通过为期 11 个月的播种田间试验，评估了由种植有保护性种核的种子形成的新斑块。对保护性种核的稳定性和置于保护性种核中的 Z. marina 种子活力变化的观察表明，最佳干燥期为 2 天。在为期 90 天的实验室实验中，保护性种核促进了 Z. marina 的种子萌发和幼苗建立。田间试验表明，保护核显着增强了海藻种子的成苗率，在播种后6个月内提高了12%～64%，平均为30%。种植后 11 个月，通过保护性种子核成功建立新斑块，最大枝条密度为 367 枝m-2。每颗 Z. marina 种子的平均种植成本为 0.03 美元；因此，使用这种方法种植 1 公顷的 Z. marina 河床将产生 14,820 美元。这些结果表明保护性种子核心方法是一种高效且具有成本效益的修复技术，具有促进大规模修复项目的潜力。种植后 11 个月，通过保护性种子核成功建立新斑块，最大枝条密度为 367 枝m-2。每颗 Z. marina 种子的平均种植成本为 0.03 美元；因此，使用这种方法种植 1 公顷的 Z. marina 河床将产生 14,820 美元。这些结果表明保护性种子核心方法是一种高效且具有成本效益的修复技术，具有促进大规模修复项目的潜力。种植后 11 个月，通过保护性种子核成功建立新斑块，最大枝条密度为 367 枝m-2。每颗 Z. marina 种子的平均种植成本为 0.03 美元；因此，使用这种方法种植 1 公顷的 Z. marina 河床将产生 14,820 美元。这些结果表明保护性种子核心方法是一种高效且具有成本效益的修复技术，具有促进大规模修复项目的潜力。