2024/12/30 by SGHAIER, Yassine Ramzi, ZAKHAMA-SRAIEB, R., CHARFI-CHEIKHROUHA, F.
#Coastal zone #East Coast #Marine #Phenology #Plant growth #Posidonia oceanica #Rhizomes #Sea grass #Shoots #Tunisia
paper · doi:10.71754/instm.bulletin.v38.549
The structure, phenology and shoot growth of Posidonia oceanica meadows were assessed in four sites along the eastern Tunisian coast (Hergla, El Kantaoui, Monastir, Mahdia). The shoots densities, percentage of meadow cover and phenological studied parameters differed significantly between localities and depths according to human activities disturbances. P. oceanica developed the densest meadows (from 441 to 984 shoots m-²) and the highest value of Leaf Area Index (8.5 to 13 m2 m - ²) in Mahdia. There was no significant difference on the annual leaf production between the studied localities and sampling stations. Except at -2m depth, the rhizome growth was significantly greater at Mahdia and Hergla than Monastir and El Kantaoui. The rhizome growth was negatively related to the depth at El Kantaoui and Monastir. The study provides useful data on the state of health of P. oceanica in an area of the southern side of the Mediterranean Sea still for long time unknown.