Age populations and biometrics in eelgrass, Zostera marina L.

Abstract

Differences in turion and leaf size of eelgrass, Zostera marina L., were examined in 26 populations in the Limfjord, Denmark. The number of flowering turions reached a peak in late June with 24.4 % of turions being reproductive. The sheath constituted about 25 % of the total turion length. The sheath/turion ratio was independent of rurion size. Turion length and leaf width inside individual beds were highly correlated (r = 0.94). Within individual plants whose rhizomes carry 2 or more turions, turion size varies and turion length is correlated with leaf width (r = 0.96). Grouping the turions into size groups indicated the existence of age classes, and it was possible to separate 5 distinct age groups.