Seagrass EcologySeagrassesMajor polyhaline seagrass speciesMajor oligohaline aquatic macrophytesSeagrass productivityHabitat ComplexityTypes of animals in seagrassSeagrass EcologyEstuarine seagrass ecosystems in North Carolina and FloridaSeagrasses•Angiosperms (flowering plants) that live life entirely underwater•Primary productivity is among the highest measured (500 - 4000 g C/m2/year)•Important feeding and refuge habitat for fishery species (shrimp, scallops, fishes)•Seagrasses act as sediment stablizers help to filter waterMajor polyhaline seagrass speciesScientific name CommonnameSalinity range(ppt)Zostera marina eelgrass 7 - 35Halodule wrightii shoal grass12-35Thalassia testudinum turtle grassTolerance: 3.5 - 60Optimum: 24-35Syringodium filiforme manatee grass 24-35Halophila spp. “Halophila” 35Ruppia maritima widgeon grass 2 - 70Major oligohaline aquatic macrophytesScientific name Common Name Salinity range (ppt)Vallisneria americanum wildcelery or freshwatereelgrass0 - 9Potamogeton pectinatus Sago pondweed 0 - 9Potamogeton perfoliatus redhead grass 0 - 9Zanichellia palustris horned pondweed 0 -25Myriophyllum spicatum Eurasian watermilfoil 0 -10Najas guadalupensis bushy pondweed 1- 15Seagrass productivitySpecies Location Productivity(gC/m2/day)Thalassia testudinum FloridaPuerto Rico0.9 -162.5 - 4.5Syringodium filiforme FloridaTexas0.8 - 3.00.6 - 9.0Halodule wrightii North Carolina 0.5-2.0Zostera marina North CarolinaRhode Island0.2-1.70.4-2.9Habitat Complexity•Habitat complexity is high in seagrass/SAV•Predators are inhibited by complexity because the prey have many places to hide•Densities of many invertebrates (infaunal and epifaunal) and small fishes are greater in SAV than in nearby unvegetated areas•Seagrass provides a refuge from predationTypes of animals in seagrass•Infauna: bury in sediment. –Polychaete worms, amphipods, clams, benefit from root and rhizome mat which protects from predators –deeper-living animals survive better than shallow-living (Mercenaria > Chione)•Epifauna: Live on surface of blades and sediment–Meiofauna (harpacticoid copepods), macrofauna (amphipods. isopods), tube-dwelling sessile polychaetes, gastropods, decapods–Shoot and leaf complexity provides refuge•Mobile fauna: Live in water over canopy–fishes swim above canopy, dive into it when