LITERATURE REVIEW
1. Literature review
1.1. Biological characteristics of Posidonia oceanica
Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile stands out as the predominant endemic seagrass species
within the Mediterranean Sea (Telesca et al., 2015),it is classified within the Najadales order
and the Posidoniaceae family (Duarte, 1991) .These plants are distinguished by their capability
to thrive and propagate entirely submerged in saltwater, firmly attaching themselves to the
substrate (Hartog, 1970).
Posidonia oceanica exhibits a unique structure, featuring leaves, rhizomes, and a root
system (Figure 1a) (Boudouresque et al., 2016).They expand both vertically (through
orthotropic rhizomes competing for light access), and horizontally (with plagiotropic rhizomes
vying for space) (Boudouresque and Meinesz, 1982). The rhizomes have the capacity to
transit between orthotropic and plagiotropic forms, depending on the availability of space and
light (Caye, 1989). The living and dead rhizomes and roots, with the interstices filled with
sediment form a thick belowground formation commonly referred to as a " matte " (Figure 2b)
(Boudouresque and De Grissac, 1983) .
The leaves of Posidonia oceanica exhibit a ribbon-shaped structure, spanning from 40 to
140 cm in length and 7 to 12 mm in width (Pergent-Martini and Le Ravallec, 2007; Semroud,
1993). They cluster in “shoots” of approximately 4 to 8 leaves. As Posidonia oceanica leaves
desiccate, the leaf blade disconnects and drops, leaving the base, termed the petiole, affixed to
the rhizome; this segment is referred to as the "scale." These "scales" can endure for centuries
within the matte, as they are resistant to decay (Boudouresque et al., 2006).
Posidonia oceanica is a clonal plant for which sexual reproduction is believed to play a
modest role, compared to clonal reproduction ( Marbà et al., 1996; Hemminga and Duarte,
2000;). Flowering is an irregular phenomenon both spatially and temporally and depends on
environmental parameters (Boudouresque et al., 2006).
1. Literature review
1.1. Biological characteristics of Posidonia oceanica
Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile stands out as the predominant endemic seagrass species
within the Mediterranean Sea (Telesca et al., 2015),it is classified within the Najadales order
and the Posidoniaceae family (Duarte, 1991) .These plants are distinguished by their capability
to thrive and propagate entirely submerged in saltwater, firmly attaching themselves to the
substrate (Hartog, 1970).
Posidonia oceanica exhibits a unique structure, featuring leaves, rhizomes, and a root
system (Figure 1a) (Boudouresque et al., 2016).They expand both vertically (through
orthotropic rhizomes competing for light access), and horizontally (with plagiotropic rhizomes
vying for space) (Boudouresque and Meinesz, 1982). The rhizomes have the capacity to
transit between orthotropic and plagiotropic forms, depending on the availability of space and
light (Caye, 1989). The living and dead rhizomes and roots, with the interstices filled with
sediment form a thick belowground formation commonly referred to as a " matte " (Figure 2b)
(Boudouresque and De Grissac, 1983) .
The leaves of Posidonia oceanica exhibit a ribbon-shaped structure, spanning from 40 to
140 cm in length and 7 to 12 mm in width (Pergent-Martini and Le Ravallec, 2007; Semroud,
1993). They cluster in “shoots” of approximately 4 to 8 leaves. As Posidonia oceanica leaves
desiccate, the leaf blade disconnects and drops, leaving the base, termed the petiole, affixed to
the rhizome; this segment is referred to as the "scale." These "scales" can endure for centuries
within the matte, as they are resistant to decay (Boudouresque et al., 2006).
Posidonia oceanica is a clonal plant for which sexual reproduction is believed to play a
modest role, compared to clonal reproduction ( Marbà et al., 1996; Hemminga and Duarte,
2000;). Flowering is an irregular phenomenon both spatially and temporally and depends on
environmental parameters (Boudouresque et al., 2006).