Effects of copper enrichment on survival,growth and photosynthetic pigment of seedlings and young plants of the eelgrass Zostera marina

Copper (Cu²⁺) is an essential nutrient for plants but toxic at high concentrations. We subjected seedlings and young plants of eelgrass Zostera marina to different seawater Cu concentrations (3, 4, 5, 10, 30 and 50?µg?l^?1) for over 30 days under controlled laboratory conditions. Natural seawater without added Cu (3?µg?l^?1) was used as reference seawater. We measured plant response in terms of survivorship, morphology, growth, productivity and leaf pigment concentration. Survival analysis combined with morphological, dynamic and productive assessment suggested that the optimum seawater Cu concentration for the establishment of Z. marina seedlings and young plants is 4?μg?l^?1. The photosynthetic response of young plants to copper enrichment, including an increase in chlorophyll content under low Cu concentration treatment but significant decrease when treated with high concentrations of Cu, is similar to those reported for other seagrass species. NOEC (no observed effect concentration), LOEC (lowest observed effect concentration) and LC₅₀ (lethal concentration that caused an increase in mortality to 50% of that of the control) values of seedlings were significantly lower than those of young plants, implying a reduced Cu tolerance to high concentrations (>10?μg?l^?1). This study provides data that could prove helpful in the development of successful eelgrass restoration and conservation.