Abstract :
[en] Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile is a protected species, included in the Red list of marine threatened species of the Mediterranean. Because of its sensitivity to disturbance, P. oceanica is used as a bioindicator to define the health status of coastal waters. Monitoring methods generally require to sample plants, followed by measurements on picked shoots. This implies the total destruction of several tens of shoots. This study presents a method, “The Non Destructive Shoot Methodology”: NDSM, that permits the measurement of (1) the most used seagrass metrics, (2) the determination of C, N, P contents and (3) the measurement of the trace metal levels in P. oceanica leaves. Our technic has been firstly tested by comparison with the results obtained with classic method of biometry. Secondly, differences between levels of C, N, P and trace metals obtained with classic picking and our methodology were tested. Thirdly, the physiological consequences
on the shoots were investigated (% of survival, growth, essential element contents (C, N, P, Fe, Cu...). The NDSM gives similar results to classic investigations to assess the ecological status of P. oceanica meadow (i.e. PREI, BiPO...) and avoid the uprooting of the “K-strategist” protected species. This methodology is usable in cases of monitoring and impact studies.
