Spatio-temporal dynamics of a Zostera noltii dominated community over a period of fluctuating salinity in a shallow lagoon, Southern France

A geo-referenced database was constructed to investigate the spatial variation in Zostera noltii cover in relation to depth, slope, wave exposure and sediment characteristics using logistic regressions. During the first years of re-colonization, when Z. noltii was restricted to the shallow borders of the lagoon with the highest slope values, the best explanatory variables were depth and slope. In the following years, depth and wave exposure were the most important factors determining the spatial distribution of Z. noltii.