摘要：SummaryGlobal warming can shift the range edges of numerous species poleward. Here, eelgrass distribution was reinvestigated at its southern limits on the eastern coast of China, which indicated that there has been a northward shift in the southern limit ofZ. marina. To determine if regional warming resulted in a northward shift in suitable eelgrass habitats, sixteen transplantations of adult eelgrass shoots and seeds at the historical southern distribution limit of eelgrass were conducted between 2016 and 2021. The results showed that high water temperatures in summer had negative effects on eelgrass growth, and directly triggered shoot mortality during 2016–2018. Under heat stress, antioxidant enzyme activity was initially increased, but then decreased under more stressful heat conditions; and the HSP70 protein and its molecular chaperone protein were highly expressed under heat stress. These results demonstrated that suitable eelgrass habitat was now located further north along the eastern coast of China.Graphical abstractDisplay OmittedHighlights•High temperatures trigger seagrass (Zostera marinaL.) restoration failure•None seedlings and adult shoots survived the first or second summer•Over-summering shoots with lower density, height, and rhizome diameter•Warming northward shifting eelgrass habitat range along the eastern coast of ChinaEnvironmental science; Ecology; Aquaculture
