Seagrasses continue to decline at an alarming rate throughout the planet's temperate regions.
After a decline recolonization or restoration starts from small patches of single shoots which then propagate vegetatively. In contrast, increased plant density had clear positive effects on shoot growth, areal expansion of patches and increase in shoot density. These results suggest that nutrient availability is not a major factor in eelgrass patch colonization or survival in the Baltic. Positive interactions among eelgrass shoots appear to be more important than competitive processes, during the early stages of recolonization.