*2.2. Angiosperm Transplants*

In spring 2014, transplanting occurred in 17 stations of 100 m<sup>2</sup> (10 × 10 m) and in spring 2015, in additional 18 stations (Figure 1). In the initial phase, the transplants took place using sods that were approximately 30 cm in diameter which were collected with a manual corer and arranged in groups of three for a total of nine sods per station, following the scheme in Figure 2. In order to avoid damaging the bottom, all operations were carried out by remaining on board of flat local boats or by divers. The depth of the intervention area was generally less than one meter on the average tide level and the boats were used during high tide to reach even the shallowest areas that emerge at low tide. Angiosperm sods and rhizomes were supplied by managers of closed fishing ponds (Dogà valley and Ca' da Riva valley) where ecological conditions are high and aquatic angiosperms are abundant. Hundreds of full-grown rhizomes were transplanted individually at each station using pliers with a handle of approximately 1 m length.

**Figure 2.** Scheme of sod transplants.
