We sure are lucky to have flourishing seagrass meadows at work in our ocean! As we celebrate all things green for
#StPatricksDay , we shine a special species spotlight on the plants that engineer vibrant ecosystems beneath our ocean’s surface.
Seagrass grows around the world, off the coast of every continent except for Antarctica. When you slip below the surface in shallow waters, some may confuse seagrass for seaweed. However, seagrass is structured like a traditional plant, whereas seaweed, or kelp, belongs to the classification of algae. These underwater meadows resemble more like land or terrestrial plants. They have root systems that grow beneath the sea floor to absorb nutrients, and even flower and spread seeds like terrestrial plants do. Scientists have identified over 70 species of the plant, and each helps to support the health of our ocean and planet as a whole.
Seagrass meadows overflow with diverse sea life. The dense intermingling of seagrass foliage creates plenty of shelter for smaller animals to hide in. They also catch larvae or eggs that attach to the flittering leaves while they develop. Larger creatures and marine mammals utilize seagrass as a haven and nursery for their young, too. Herbivores flock to the meadows for a leafy green meal, attracting predators to scope out the scene.
According to
@whoi.ocean , if we zoom in on one single acre of a seagrass ecosystem, resources are provided to over 40,000 fish and 50 million invertebrates! In all, over 20% of our planet’s fisheries depend on seagrass as a nursery.
Beyond the habitat itself, seagrass meadows greatly benefit life all around them, Seagrass absorbs nutrients from the surrounding ocean, helping to improve water quality. They catch and hold sediments in place before they’re dragged out to sea, minimizing coastal erosion. But maybe most importantly, they absorb and sequester massive amounts of carbon. Despite only taking up .1% of the sea floor, it’s estimated that seagrass stores 18% of all the carbon absorbed by our entire ocean.
Are you feeling lucky on this St. Patrick’s Day? Visit our story and test your knowledge of these green grass heroes!
🎥 by
@paulnicklen
#seagrass