Effects of intertidal seagrass habitat fragmentation on turbulent diffusion and retention time of solutes

► We examine in situ transport conditions (turbulent diffusion and advection) within a seagrass habitat. ► Habitat fragmentation increased horizontal diffusion. ► Habitat fragmentation did not affect to retention time of solutes. ► Vertical gradients on horizontal diffusion were estimated from hydrodynamic measurements. An in-depth knowledge of solutes advection and turbulent diffusion is crucial to estimate dispersion area and retention time (tR) of pollutants within seagrass habitats. However, there is little knowledge on the influence of seagrass habitat fragmentation on such mechanisms. A set of dye tracer experiments and acoustic Doppler velocimeter measurements (ADV) were conducted. Solute transport conditions were compared in between fragmented (FM) vs homogeneous (HM) intertidal meadows, and in vertical gradients (canopy vs overlaying flow). Results showed the highest horizontal diffusion coefficient (Ky, c.a. 10−3m2s−1) on FM and at the canopy-water column interface, whereas tR (2.6–5.6min) was not affected by fragmentation. It suggests that (1) FM are more vulnerable to pollution events in terms of dispersion area and (2) at low tide, advection rather than turbulent diffusion determines tR. Furthermore, Taylor’s theorem is revealed as a powerful tool to analyze vertical gradients on Ky within seagrass canopies.