What Is Seagrass?

Seagrasses are a type of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) have evolved from
terrestrial plants and have become specialized to live in the marine environment. Like
terrestrial plants, seagrasses have leaves, roots, conducting tissues, flowers and
seeds, and manufacture their own food via photosynthesis. Unlike terrestrial plants,
however, seagrasses do not possess the strong, supportive stems and trunks required
to overcome the force of gravity on land. Rather, seagrass blades are supported by
the natural buoyancy of water, remaining flexible when exposed to waves and
currents.
Due to their morphology and growth habit, seagrasses are also sometimes confused
with marine macroalgae; however closer examination reveals significant differences.
Structurally, seagrasses are more closely related to terrestrial plants and, like
terrestrial plants, possess specialized tissues that perform specific tasks within each
plant. Conversely, algae are relatively simple and unspecialized in structure. While
algae possess only a tough holdfast that assists in anchoring the plant to a hard
substratum, seagrasses possess true roots that not only hold plants in place, but also
are specialized for extracting minerals and other nutrients from the sediment. All algal
cells possess photosynthetic structures capable of utilizing sunlight to produce
chemical energy.
In seagrasses, however, chloroplasts occur only in leaves, thus confining
photosynthesis to leaves. Further, algae are able to take up minerals and other
nutrients directly from the water column via diffusion. Seagrasses however, transport
minerals and nutrients in xylem and phloem. Finally, while most algae lack specialized
reproductive structures, most seagrasses have separate sexes and produce flowers
and seeds, with embryos developing inside ovaries.
The Value of Seagrasses
Within seagrass communities, a single acre of seagrass can produce over 10 tons of
leaves per year. This vast biomass provides food, habitat, and nursery areas for a
myriad of adult and juvenile vertebrates and invertebrates. Further, a single acre of
seagrass may support as many as 40,00 fish, and 50 million small invertebrates.
Because seagrasses support such high biodiversity, and because of their sensitivity to
changes in water quality, they have become recognized as important indicator species
that reflect the overall health of coastal ecosystems.
Seagrasses perform a variety of functions within ecosystems, and have both economic
and ecological value. The high level of productivity, structural complexity, and
biodiversity in seagrass beds has led some researchers to describe seagrass
communities as the marine equivalent of tropical rainforests. While nutrient cycling
and primary production in seagrasses tends to be seasonal, annual production in
seagrass communities rivals or exceeds that of terrestrially cultivated areas. In
Florida, Halodule beaudettei, has an estimated annual production (as measured in
grams of carbon per square meter) of 182 730 g/C/m-2; Syringodium filiforme has an
estimated annual production of 292 - 1095 g/C/m-2; and Thalassia testudinum has an
estimated annual production 329 - 5840 g/C/m-2. Blade elongation in seagrasses
averages 2-5 mm per day in Thalassia testudinum, 8.5 mm inSyringodium filiforme,

and as much as 3.1 mm in Halodule beaudettei. In the Indian River Lagoon, Halodule
beaudettei has been shown to produce one new leaf every 9 days during spring the
season of highest productivity (Virnstein 1982).
As habitat, seagrasses offer food, shelter, and essential nursery areas to commercial
and recreational fishery species, and to the countless invertebrates that are produced
within, or migrate to seagrasses. The complexity of seagrass habitat is increased
when several species of seagrasses grow together, their leaves concealing juvenile
fish, smaller finfish, and benthic invertebrates such as crustaceans, bivalves,
echinoderms, and other groups. Juvenile stages of many fish species spend their early
days in the relative safety and protection of seagrasses. Additionally, seagrasses
provide both habitat and protection to the infaunal organisms living within the
substratum as seagrass rhizomes intermingle to form dense networks of underground
runners that deter predators from digging infaunal prey from the substratum.
Seagrass meadows also help dampen the effects of strong currents, providing
protection to fish and invertebrates, while also preventing the scouring of bottom
areas. Finally, seagrasses provide attachment sites to small macroalgae
and epiphytic organisms such as sponges, bryozoans, forams, and other taxa that use
seagrasses as habitat. A number of studies have found epiphytes to be highly
productive components of seagrass habitats (Penhale 1977, Heijs 1984, Tomasko &
Lapointe 1991), with epiphytes in some systems accounting for up to 30% of
ecosystem productivity, and more than 30% of the total above ground biomass
(Penhale 1977, Morgan & Kitting 1984, Heijs 1984). Seagrass epiphytes also
contribute to food webs, either directly via organisms grazing on seagrasses, or
indirectly following the deaths of epiphytes, which then enter the food web as a
detrital carbon source (Fry & Parker 1979, Kitting et al. 1984).
Economically, Floridas 2.7 million acres of seagrass supports both commercial and
recreational fisheries that provide a wealth of benefits to the states economy.
Floridas Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) reported that in 2000,
Floridas seagrass communities supported commercial harvests of fish and shellfish
valued at over 124 billion dollars. Adding the economic value of the nutrient cycling
function of seagrasses, and the value of recreational fisheries to this number, FDEP
has estimated that each acre of seagrass in Florida has an economic value of
approximately $20,500 per year, which translates into a statewide economic benefit
of 55.4 billion dollars annually. In Fort Pierce, Florida alone, the 40 acres of seagrass in
the vicinity of Fort Pierce Inlet are valued at over $800,000 annually. When projected
across St. Lucie Countys estimated 80,000 acres of seagrass, this figure increases to
1.6 billion dollars per year.
They are called 'seagrass' because most have ribbon-like, grassy leaves, but none is a
true grass. There are many different kinds of seagrasses and some do not look like
grass at all. For example, they may have oval leaves( see drawing to the right).
Seagrasses have roots, stems and leaves. They also form tiny flowers, fruits and seeds.
Most seagrasses reproduce by pollination - the pollen is transported to other plants by
water.

The roots and horizontal stems (rhizomes), often buried in sand or mud, anchor the
grasses and absorb nutrients. Leaves, usually green, are produced on vertical branches
and also absorb nutrients. The stems and leaves of seagrasses contain veins and air
channels so they can carry fluid and absorb gases. Seagrasses rely on light to convert
carbon dioxide into oxygen (photosynthesis). The oxygen is then available for use by
other living organisms.
Where are seagrasses found?
Worldwide, there are about 12 major divisions, consisting of approximately 57 species
of seagrass. They are mainly found in bays, estuaries and coastal waters from the midintertidal (shallow) region down to depths of 50 or 60 metres. Most species are found in
shallow inshore areas.
Seagrasses inhabit all types of ground (substrates), from mud to rock. The most
extensive seagrass beds occur on soft substrates like sand and mud. Seagrasses cover
areas in coastal waters from tropical (hot) to temperate (cool) regions. The number of
species is greater in the tropics than in the temperate zones. Only two
species, Halophila ovalis and Syringodium isoetifolium , occur in both regions.
Over 30 species can be found within Australian waters. The most diverse seagrass
communities are in the waters of north-eastern Queensland and are an important p

art of the flora in the Great Barrier Reef region.

How are seagrasses important to the marine ecosystem?
Seagrass communities are one of the most productive and dynamic ecosystems. They
provide habitats and nursery grounds for many marine animals, and act as substrate
stabilisers.
In northern Australia, seagrass meadows are important as they provide sheltered
refuges and feeding areas for prawns and juvenile fish. In some coastal areas, entire
fisheries may depend on the productivity of these seagrass beds.
The rhizomes and roots of the grasses bind sediments on the bottom, where nutrients
are recycled by microorganisms back into the marine ecosystem. The leaves of the
grasses slow water flow, allowing suspended material to settle on the bottom. This
increases the amount of light reaching the seagrass bed and creates a calm habitat for
many species.
Seagrass meadows are a major food source for a number of grazing animals in the
Great Barrier Reef region. The dugong ( Dugongdugon ) and the green turtle
( Cheloniamydas ) mainly feed on seagrass. An adult green turtle eats about two
kilograms of seagrass a day while an adult dugong eats about 28 kilograms a day.

What threatens seagrass?

A number of problems face the long-term survival and health of seagrass populations in
our coastal zone.
Human pollution has contributed most to seagrass declines around the world. The
greatest pollution threat to seagrass populations is from high levels of plant nutrients.
High nutrient levels, often due to agricultural and urban run off, cause algae blooms
that shade the seagrass. Reduction in light decreases seagrass growth and can kill
whole populations.
Suspended sediments also reduce light. This sediment can come from land
development run off and through drains. Boating activity may also stir up sediment,
reducing light levels.
Other threats to seagrass include damage to the leaves, stems and roots by boat
propellers, trawlers' nets, and dredging.
Loss of seagrass habitats will mean losses in marine ecosystem productivity as well as
extinction of species that depend on seagrass for survival.

BIBLIOGRAPHY (November 9, 2015)

http://www.aims.gov.au/docs/projectnet/seagrasses.html
http://www.sms.si.edu/irlspec/Seagrass_Habitat.htm