Comparing shoot population dynamics methods on Posidonia oceanica meadows |
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Authors: | José Miguel González-Correa Yolanda Fernández-Torquemada |
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Institution: | a Centro de Investigación Marina de Santa Pola, CIMAR, Ayto. de Santa Pola y Universidad de Alicante. Torre d'Enmig s/n, Cabo de Santa Pola, Alicante, Spain b Departamento de Ciencias del Mar y Biología Aplicada, Universidad de Alicante. POB 99, E-03080-Alicante, Spain |
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Abstract: | Prediction capacity of three main shoot population dynamics methods (age structure, net shoot recruitment per plagiotropic rhizome and shoot census) have been tested for a period of four years (2002-2006) on a Posidonia oceanica meadow. Accuracy of each method was checked by comparing measured and predicted densities at the end of the study period. Predicted densities came from the evolution of initial densities (measured in 2002) by a basic exponential model of population growth. The exponential model used the different net shoot recruitment rate estimates by each population dynamics method on three depths (upper, medium and lower limit) and three localities at each depth. Predictions performed by shoot census and net shoot recruitment per plagiotropic rhizome methods matched with measured densities at the end of the study period. Conversely, age structure method underestimated shoot densities at each depth, indicating an unreal decrease of shoot population in the meadow. |
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Keywords: | Mortality rate Net shoot recruitment rate Population demography Posidonia oceanica Shoot census Shoot population dynamics |
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