Investigation on a Regulatory Framework for Seed Transportation of Spartina alterniflora in the Presence of Tidal Currents: A Case Study of Zhanhua District, Binzhou, China

Seed movement is a key hub for the management of Spartina alterniflora. Seed transport patterns under varying dominant wind directions and initiation rates were evaluated by tidal model combined with ecological model. Before the simulation, S. alterniflora distribution in the research area was determined and seed deposition rate was measured experimentally. Research findings indicated that: 1) Wind direction affected the primary direction of seed dispersal for S. alterniflora. 2) A positive correlation was discovered between wind speed and the distance traveled by S. alterniflora seeds, such that seeds showed the longest displacement under prevailing summer winds, with maximum displacement of up to 25 m. 3) Starting velocity played a key role in the determination of the extent of S. alterniflora seed dispersal. Specifically, when initiation flow velocity reached 0.1 m s⁻¹, seed transport range was maximized. Furthermore, as time progressed, seed transport range continued to expand.