Seagrasses are so-named because most species have long green, grass-like leaves. They are often confused with seaweeds, but are actually more closely related to the flowering plants that you see on land. Seagrasses have roots, stems and leaves, and produce flowers and seeds. They evolved around 100 million years ago, and today there are approximately 72 different seagrass species that belong to four major groups. Seagrasses can form dense underwater meadows, some of which are large enough to be seen from space. Although they often receive little attention, they are one of the most productive ecosystems in the world. Continue reading from Smithsonian
Seagrasses are not true grasses but are flowering plants that carry out their entire lifecycles underwater. Like all plants, seagrasses rely on sunlight to convert carbon dioxide into food/energy (via a process called photosynthesis). Therefore, they only succeed in clear, shallow waters. When the conditions are just right, seagrasses can densely cover the sea floor, creating an ecosystem known as the seagrass bed or seagrass meadow.
Several different species of plants, representing at least four distinct families, are collectively known as the seagrasses, so the term does not accurately describe an individual group of plants. The diversity of species involved in forming seagrass beds leads to the wide geographic distribution of this ecosystem; seagrass beds can be found from the tropics nearly all the way to the north and south poles. Continue reading from Oceana
Seagrass meadows play an important role in keeping our oceans healthy and providing a home for all kinds of marine life. This marine life includes fishes that people eat, such as cod and plaice but also endangered species such as seahorses, turtles, and sea cows. Seagrasses absorb large amounts of carbon dioxide from the surrounding seawater, and so help to reduce the speed of climate change. Seagrasses help protect our coastlines from storms and rising tides because their leaves take energy out of the waves hitting the coast, and their roots act as an anchor in the underwater sand. Seagrasses also soak up nutrients and bacteria, helping to keep our seawater clean. Continue reading from Frontier for Young Minds
An Overlooked Ecosystem: Seagrass Meadows (Synchronicity Earth)
Seagrass guide: what is it and why is it so important? (Discover Wildlife)
Seagrass Meadows (Coastal Wiki)
Seagrass Meadow - an overview (ScienceDirect)
Seagrass Meadows (National Park Service)
Seagrass Meadows Are Declining Globally at Alarming Rate (Earth.Org)
Why We Must Protect Our Seagrass Meadows (Climate Champions)
