Seagrass (or sea-grass in British English) is a term that refers to flowering plants from two plant families (Potamogetonaceae and Hydrocharitacea) that grow in the marine environment. They are called seagrasses only because most species superficially resemble terrestrial grasses of the Family Poaceae. Because these plants must photosynthesize, they are limited to growing in the photic zone, and most occur in shallow, tropical, coastal waters characterized by sand or mud bottom.
Herbivores that consume seagrass include dugong, some juvenile fish, and crabs. Some fishes lay eggs on the blades.
Seagrass is dependent on sunlight and therefore, cannot tolerate cloudy water for extended periods of time.
Seagrasses control erosion by holding down loose sandy soils with their mat of roots, thus protecting our beautiful beaches.
Seagrasses control turbidity by trapping sediments washed down from land during rains and ultimately incorporating them into a seabed soil that is held securely by the seagrass roots.
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