What is Seagrass?

Seagrass Latest News

According to recent study, seagrass has been declining at a rate of 1-2 per cent per year for the past century and nearly 5 percent of species are now endangered.

About Seagrass

• It is a flowering plant that grows submerged in shallow marine waters like bays and lagoons.
• They are so-named because most species have long green, grass-like leaves.
• Characteristics of Seagrass
  • Seagrasses have roots, stems, and leaves and produce flowers and seeds.
  • Like terrestrial plants, seagrass also photosynthesizes and manufactures their own food and releases oxygen.
  • They evolved around 100 million years ago, and there are approximately 72 different seagrass species that belong to four major groups.

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Distribution of Seagrass

• They are found on all continents except Antarctica.
• The tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific hold the highest diversity of seagrasses in the world.
• India too has vast seagrass meadows, home to 16 species of seagrass with major concentrations in the Gulf of Mannar, Palk Bay, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep Islands and the Gulf of Kutch.

Advantages of Seagrass

• They are better than trees for capturing carbon and providing food for millions of people. Beyond supporting marine life, seagrass also acts as a natural barrier, protecting coastal communities from storms and erosion. 
• These underwater plants can store carbon up to 35 times faster than tropical rainforests, locking it away for thousands of years. 
• Threats: Pollution from cities, industries, and agriculture continues to degrade these meadows, while coastal development and tourism put additional pressure on fragile habitats of Seagrass.

Seagrass FAQs

Q1: What is sea grass used for?

Ans: Seagrasses support commercial fisheries and biodiversity, clean the surrounding water and help take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere

Q2: What is the significance of sea grass?

Ans: Seagrasses provide shelter and food to an incredibly diverse community of animals, from tiny invertebrates to large fish, crabs, turtles, marine mammals and birds.

Source: DTH