Abarenicola pacifica Burrowing Behavior and Its Implications for Zostera marina Seed Burial, Restoration, and Expansion

Seed dispersal and burial are important processes in the expansion and restoration of Zostera marina (eelgrass) meadows. The depth at which seeds are buried is a significant factor contributing to the success of seedling survival. If seeds are buried below 6 cm, it is unlikely that viable seedlings will develop, while shallow burials protect seeds from predation on the sediment surface. Burrowing behavior of infaunal organisms is one factor that contributes to seed burial with a potentially positive or negative influence on seedling survival. In this study, we designed a laboratory experiment to determine the relationship between lugworm (Abarenicola pacifica) density and eelgrass seed burial. Three treatments (no worms, low-density, and high-density of worms) with three replicates each were used to quantify seed burial. Each replicate was seeded with a blend of seed mimics and real seeds. After 25 days, three cores were extracted from each replicate and the depths of the seeds recorded. In the high-density worm treatments, most of the seeds and mimics were buried below the 6 cm critical depth, while in the low-density treatments most seeds were found shallower than 3 cm. These results agree with previous work on the burying capacity of infaunal organisms, and strongly suggest that the presence and activity of infauna can determine the success of Z. marina meadow expansion and restoration.