The Importance Of Seagrass

Introduction

1.1 background information

Seagrass is on the decline around the world and it is a key vital marine ecosystem found in shallow water mainly distributed throughout tropical seas, from a temperature of 4oC to 24oC. They are the only angiosperm to be able to survive in aquatic conditions providing support and shelter for vast amounts of species. Are marine aquatic plant and is a key species in coastal areas found all over the world, although there is not a huge variety of species, there is roughly only around 60 species and over 14% of them are endangered.

Seagrass is not just a food source for macro species such as manatees, turtles, dolphins which graze directly and dugongs which primarily only eat seagrasses as their diet. but seagrass also indirectly provides nutrients storage. Seagrass restrict excess nutrients from phytoplankton by sequestering it from the surrounding environment, which in turn helps prevent the formation of algal blooms.-------- longer

Vertebrates and invertebrates, micro and macro species are all supported directly and indirectly by seagrass, an array of 340 different species of marine life are supported by seagrass and some entirely dependent on it, making it a keystone community.

This study will examine the various importances of seagrass and to what extent it is vital for the survival of species within its ecosystem. In addition to this, the role of seagrass in important ecosystem processes will be examined.

Seagrass meadows are highly productive and are ideal for nurseries habitats for small fish, providing a relatively safe habitat for them to escape bigger predators and to be raised in. Clams and other molluscs are also found in the seagrass meadows. The abundance of coastal regio...

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...of increased anthropogenic factors and climate change. The true extent of their global decline is not widely known and there is at present a lack of understanding of the relationships between seagrass and it’s associated species. Conservation efforts regarding marine life are more heavily based around a specific species and not primarily based on their environment and habitat. The decline of seagrass is heavily due to human activity and the fate also rests in the our hands, depending on the action taken, there may be varying degrees of outcome. The conservation of seagrass will depend on social and scientific action taken to prevent any further decline and to conserve and restore current and affected areas of seagrass habitat.

Greater efforts of conservation placed on seagrasses will not only greatly benefit seagrass but will also intern benefit associated species.