Temporal variation in growth and reproduction of Enhalus acoroides (L.f.) Royle in a monospecific meadow in Haad Chao Mai National Park, Trang Province, Thailand

摘要

Enhalus acoroides is the largest tropical seagrass species. It is common and highly productive in coastal ecosystems. The objective of this study was to investigate temporal growth and reproduction of E. acoroides in Haad Chao Mai National Park, Thailand, which is located on the eastern shore of the Indian Ocean. Growth of E. acoroides was significantly different among months. Average leaf elongation rate was 2.07 +/- 0.04 cm day(-1) and the average leaf plastrochrone interval was 26.1 +/- 0.6 days. New leaf production, leaf elongation rate and leaf surface area tracked definite patterns of seasonal change. There were two peaks of growth during the transitional season. All growth variables correlated with water temperature. Recruitment rate of new shoots was low from January to March (0.009-0.007 shoots shoot(-1) day(-1)). Flower production was low, with male and female flowers occurring at densities of 0.10 +/- 0.05 m(-2) and 0.13 +/- 0.10 m(-2), respectively. No fruits were found in experimental plots throughout the study.