week 5- seagrass habitats
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what type of plants make up the sea grass habitats?
Monocotyledonous with strap-like leaves. They are not true grasses
what is the benefit of intertidal or sub-tidal seagrass meadows?
Intertidal or subtidal, seagrass meadows stabilize the sediment of seabed and provide a source of primary production and habitat
what is sea grass distribution like?
Estimates of seagrass cover are tricky but around 160,000 to 500,000 km2 have been suggested
how much of sea grass biomass is underground?
50-60% of seagrass biomass
what kind of ground does sea grass grow in ?
Most grow in mud and sediment but Phyllospadix can be found growing on rocky shelves
what is the benefit of sea grasses for other organisms?
• they reduce turbidity • they trap suspended sediment • their presence increases light penetration and enhances photosynthesis
seagrass lacks stomata so what do they produce instead?
lack stomata and produce a thin porous cuticle to absorb CO2 from the water but the level are low as it forms bicarbonate but the sae grass has adaptations to utilise this source of CO2
where are the chloroplasts in sea grass ?
single layer of chloroplasts in the epidermis
where is oxygen stored in sea grass
Large gas lacunae containing oxygen-enriched gas (probably from photosynthesis)
what limits the photosynthesis of the sea grass
depth
what is loss of sea grass caused by?
• Chemical pollution (eutrophication) • Coastal development • Physical damage • Reduced water quality