What are they?
Seagrasses are a unique group of flowering plants that have adapted to exist fully-submersed in the sea. Where are they located? Across the world, there are about 12 major divisions, consisting of around 57 species of seagrass. They are mainly found in bays, rivers and coastal waters from the shallow region down to the depths of 50 or 60 metres. Over 30 species can be found in Australian waters. The most diverse seagrass communities are in the waters of North Eastern Queensland and are an important part of the flora in the Great Barrier Reef region. Threats Like coral reefs and mangrove forests, seagrass meadows are key marine habitat that has come under threat from human development. For example, when boats go over the coral reefs, they release oil into the ocean causing damage to the reef. When tourists go diving, they tend to touch or remove the plants which causes contamination to the reef. Recent studies found that seagrass declines over the past century show that seagrass declines are similar to those reported for mangroves and corals, brought on by degraded water quality, climate change and coastal development. It's estimated that 29% of seagrass meadows have disappeared over te past hundred years placing them amongst the most threatened ecosystems on earth. Seagrasses are the primary food source for the already endangered dugongs, manatees and green turtles. |
How can they be saved?
In order to save our marine plants we need to: * Remove subsidies on fertiliser use, which would limit their use and reduce the problem of marine dead zones. * Rapid legislative protection of ecosystems, like coral reefs and mangrove forests, in the form of marine protected areas, biosphere reserves, and marine parks. * Reducing the conversion of important and valuable coastal ecosystems to aqua culture facilities and real estate |