Contrasting responses of seagrass transplants (Posidonia australis) to nitrogen, phosphorus and iron addition in an estuary and a coastal embayment

Our results indicated that N limitation was occurring in the coastal embayment, Princess Royal Harbour whereas in the more estuarine Oyster Harbour, P was limiting plant growth. Addition of FeEDTA produced equivocal results at both sites and we suggest these results are confounded by the addition of N and C in the EDTA. We caution the use of nutrient addition to transplants of slow growing seagrasses such as P. australis without a thorough understanding of the nutrient status of the system, estuarine or coastal embayment, in which they are to be transplanted.