Date: May 20, 2016

Location: Florida

Blog Post By: Ericca Rosenholtz 

 Pollution is taking over the seagrass

Florida has over 2.5 million acres of seagrass meadows and sevral different species exist. There three seagrass species that we learned in class were the Manatee grass, Should grass, and Turtle grass. Although all seagrass requires sunlight, all seagrass resides under the most shallow of waters, while being one of the most productive plant communities on earth. The variety of seagrass provides a habitat and food supply for 70% of all sea life! That is INCREDIBLE! Here are a few species that chow down on this nutrient packed seagrass: Manatees, sea turtles, and dolphins, sea trout, snapper, pink shrimp, and blue crabs, etc.The seagrasses act as a nursery for these species. They remain there until they are strong enough to leave the protected seagrass and become part of life on the coral reefs.

The seagrass helps stabilize the sediments and improve the water quality, which alters the pollutants from water bodies. Unfortunately seagrass are disappearing at an alarming rate from human impact. Boat Anchors are the most important threats to seagrasses, pollution and dredging. Seagrass roots stabilize the sea bottom just like land grass can reduce soil erosion. This function is important when tropical storms approach Florida's coastlines and threaten beaches, businesses and homes. Unfortunately anchoring destroys the seagrass beds by uprooting them which causes them to die off. 

There are visible and invisible pollutions that can affect seagrasses. The invisible chemicals can kill the plants from the inside out after absorbing the harmful substances. The picture above shows the detrimental effects that the visible and invisible chemicals pollution has done to the seagrass ecosystem.
NO SO FUN FACT: A seagrass meadow the size of a soccer field is lost every thirty minutes! This brings a seriously harsh decline for the aquatic species that depend on seagrasses for food, shelter, and habitat.If you would like to read more about the Seagrass that resides in the Florida Keys, CLICK: Florida Keys Seagrass!

Florida Department of Environmental Protection has come up with four ways to save the seagrass! 

Mapping, monitoring,outreach, and restoration are the four main ways to help restore the Florida seagrass. I strongly suggest that you clink these links and EXPLORE the wonderful world of seagrass!
Multiple seagrass Projects have been done that were listed under another URL for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.