Marshed Potato

Coastal ecologists face significant challenges in regreening large coastal areas. Transplanting seagrass and salt marsh plants, which are vital to a healthy coast, is a surprisingly frustrating endeavor. A new study in Nature Communications highlights an innovative structure made in part from potatoes, that gives plants the foundation they need.    

Stronger Together

3D design and biodegradable mimic structural support found in nature.

Studies have shown that coastal plants like seagrasses and cordgrasses perform better in dense meadows and marshes. Individual shoots and stems are no match for the significant forces of nature including harsh winds, waves and moving sediment. It turns out these plants benefit from something like “the strength of the herd” when growing from young shoots into strong, stable plants.

This presents a challenge for ecologists working to restore open areas with seeds or seedlings. The new growth misses out on the structure and foundation of established beds. As a result, restoration efforts can fail or take decades to take hold.

The study looked to see if manmade supports that mimic the conditions of an established bed could reduce physical stressors and help newly planted shoots survive.

The scientists used innovative biodegradable matrixes (BESE elements https://www.bese-elements.com) formed in part from potato waste. These modular, 3D matrices replicate the dense matting that roots would find when emerging in mature beds and mimic the above ground supports that salt marsh grass stems would offer.

They tested these engineered supports over a period of 12-22 months in Florida, Bonaire, Sweden and the Netherlands. Local samples of plants were laced into 3D engineered mats that degrade over time. The result: “greatly enhanced yields” of surviving transplants when using the bioengineered supports compared to a control group with no added support structure. Those groups had an almost zero survival rate.

Innovations That Mimic Nature

It turned out that the man-made mats helped stabilize sediment, giving young shoots a better chance at clear water and sunlight. Above ground, the webbing helped reduce stem movement and shifting. The authors said this study shows that innovations that replicate nature help boost coastal wetlands restoration efforts.

“Specifically, our results highlight that by mimicking dense cordgrass patches that attenuate hydrodynamic energy or extensive seagrass root mats that improve sediment stability, restoration success can be greatly enhanced and, in many cases, may turn failures into successes,” they said.