Submerged Aquatic Vegetation W HAT I S I T AND W HY I S I T I MPORTANT? Image provided by Ronald C....
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Transcript of Submerged Aquatic Vegetation W HAT I S I T AND W HY I S I T I MPORTANT? Image provided by Ronald C....
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Submerged Aquatic Submerged Aquatic VegetationVegetation
WWHAT HAT IIS S IIT AND T AND WWHY HY IIS S IIT T IIMPORTANT?MPORTANT?
Image provided by Ronald C. Phillips
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What Is Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV)?
• SAV consists of plants that spend their life cycle completely submerged– Includes algae, but usually
refers to complex plants such as seagrasses
• SAV does not include marsh grasses
Image provided by NOAA Department of Commerce
Image provided by Ronald C. Phillips
Seagrasses
Image provided by Alexandre Meinesz, University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis
Algae
Marsh grasses
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What Are Seagrasses?
• Type of SAV
• Exhibit seasonal growth
• Contribute to a rich, productive ecosystem
• Provide oxygen, food and habitat for many animals
Paige Gill - Florida Keys NMS
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Where Do Seagrasses Grow?
• They require habitats where sunlight can reach the bottom
• They typically prefer shallow clear water
• They grow close to the shore in many coastal regions
• They occur from the Tropics to the Arctic Image provided by Ronald C. Phillips
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• They release oxygen into the water
• They provide habitat and shelter
• They are a food resource
• They help stabilize the shoreline
• They help maintain water quality
Why Should We Care about Seagrasses?
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Seagrasses Release Oxygen into the Water
• Seagrasses use sunlight to produce oxygen
• Many economically important fish and shellfish require oxygen
Image provided by Fred Short
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Seagrasses Provide Habitat and Shelter• Leaves provide habitat for tiny
plants• These tiny plants are the food
resource of many economically important finfish, shellfish, and crustaceans.
• Leaves provide hiding spots for juvenile finfish and other animals
• Roots and stems prevent efficient foraging by predators who dig for prey
Image provided by SFWMD
Image provided by Heather Dine
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Seagrasses Are a Food Resource
• Seagrasses are a primary food source for manatees and sea turtles
• Many migratory waterfowl such as the Canada Goose and Black Brant consume seagrass
Image provided by Ronald C. Phillips
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Seagrasses Help Stabilize the Shoreline
• Roots trap sediments• Seagrasses buffer the shore from storm
effects• They help prevent erosion
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Seagrasses Help Maintain Water Quality
• Roots trap sediments and promote water clarity
• They reduce sediment stirring caused by currents
• Stems and roots hold dead materials in place for
decomposition
Images provided by Ronald C. Phillips
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Why Are Seagrasses Threatened?
• Seagrasses grow close to the shore and coastal areas are naturally dynamic
• Seagrases grow in areas that typically have increased development and recreational pressures
• There are laws that protect seagrasses, but it is hard to protect what you can’t see
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Natural Threats to Seagrasses
Image provided by SFWMD
• Overgrazing can decimate seagrass beds
• Storms can uproot or bury seagrasses
• Drought can change water levels, which can expose seagrasses
• Changes in rainfall can alter salinity, which can stress or kill seagrasses
• Outbreaks of diseases can cause diebacks
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Human Threats to Seagrasses
• Fertilizer and other chemical runoff reduce water quality
• Reckless boating can contribute to prop scars
• Docks shade seagrass beds• Dredging destroys habitat • Sediment runoff buries
seagrasses and clouds water• Certain shellfish harvesting
methods destroy seagrass beds
Harold Hudson - NMS Florida Keys
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Can SAV Be Harmful?
• Some SAV can cause problems • These plants can grow quickly and
crowd out seagrasses• They often thrive in polluted waters• Their quick growth may lead to
large population sizes • They may contribute to fish and
shellfish die-offs• Plants clog waterways and choke
boat engines
Image provided by Kawartha Fisheries Association
Image provided by SFWMD
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Why Should We Protect Seagrasses?
• Seagrasses supports a healthy coastal environment
• They are important in maintaining recreational and commercial fisheries
• They are legally protected• Seagrasses help reduce
erosion
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How Do We Know Where Seagrasses Live?
• Field monitoring– Underwater surveys– Underwater
photographs and videography
• Remote sensing technology– Aerial imagery– Underwater sensors
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How Can You Help?
• Always use pump-out stations to dispose of boat waste • Avoid vegetated shallows when planning dredging or
pier construction • Participate in water quality monitoring programs• Practice responsible boating and navigation
• Help environmental organizations plant seagrasses• Use environmentally friendly landscaping techniques