Marine Plants

Anthophyta: flowering plants, sea grasses Phaeophyta: Brown Algae Rhodophyta: Red Algae

Chlorophyta: Green Algae

Marine Plants

Seagrasses

Found along sea shores and only exposed to air at very low tides.

Anthophyta of the flowering plants are characterized by leaves, stems and roots.

There are about 60 species world wide. Common along the East Coast of the US is Zostera or

Eelgrass The reproduce with pollen like land plants.

Seagrasses are specially adapted to withstand abrasion from sand and having sediment placed on them.

Seagrass beds are essential to many herbivorous organisms such as parrotfish, surgeonfish and green sea turtles.

Manatees and dugongs are the only herbivorous marine mammals and feed only on marine grasses and algae.

Seagrass Anatomy

Blade=broad flattened leaflike structure

Root=anchors plant and provides nutrients

Sheath= protects young leaves

Rhizome=horizontal stem

Seagrass reproduction

Seagrasses reproduce like land plants. They produce flowers and pollen. The pollen is broadcasted into the water where it will find another seagrass plant to

fertilize.

They can also reproduce asexually.

Stabilize the sea bottom Providing food and habitat for other marine organisms

Maintaining water quality Supporting local economies

Seagrasses Why are they important?

They’re known as the “lungs of the sea” because one square meter of seagrass can generate 10 liters of oxygen every day

Seagrasses in trouble

Boats Invasives Fertilizers Moorings Turbidity Erosion/sedimentation Dredging Overfishing Coastal development Fragmentation of beds

Neptune Grass

pastures of the sea

seagrasses and mangroves pt1

seagrasses and mangroves pt2

seagrass and light