Bivalve facilitation mediates seagrass recovery from physical disturbance in a temperate estuary

Rapid global degradation of coastal habitats can be attributed to anthropogenic activities associated with development, aquaculture, and recreational surface water use. Restoration degraded has proven challenging costly, there is a clear need develop novel approaches that promote resilience human-caused disturbances. Positive interactions between species mitigate environmental stress recent work suggests incorporating positive into restoration efforts may improve outcomes. We hypothesized the addition potential facultative mutualist, native hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria), could enhance seagrass bed recovery from disturbance. conducted two experiments examine independent interacting effects physical disturbance mimicking propeller scarring on mixed community Zostera marina Halodule wrightii beds in North Carolina. Adding clams exposed experimental generally enhanced summer growth rates autumn shoot densities. In contrast, non-disturbed did not result any increase or Clam enhancement percent cover relative areas without was most prominent after Hurricane Dorian, suggesting also repeated By June next growing season, disturbed additions had greater than additions. Beds were April higher previous season. Our results suggest timing occurrence disturbances modify ability facilitate resiliency productivity. Understanding when how utilize positive, interspecific key for improving success rates.