The prevalence of seagrass throughout human civilisation has fostered spiritual and cultural relations with these underwater gardens.
Without appropriate management, seaweed farming programmes could be dangerous for marine biodiversity and the benefits that humans get from the ocean.
Manatees along Florida’s coast are eating less seagrass and more algae than they did a few decades ago. This dietary shift could pose a new threat to the survival of the beloved species.
Measuring the ‘ecosystem services’ that the ocean provides is difficult, but an essential step to understand how best to protect marine ecosystems.
A broad review of shark research shows that sharks play critical roles in keeping ocean ecosystems such as coral reefs and seagrass beds healthy.
Recording soundscapes in seagrass is useful because it allows researchers to detect creatures that can’t be seen, because they’re camouflaged, hiding or nocturnal.
While humanity often has a negative impact, people may inadvertently play a pivotal role in this Maldivian seagrass success story.
Blue carbon is stored in mangroves, seagrass and sediments. Discussions at the UN Ocean Decade conference reiterate the importance of preserving existing sea floor habitats, before it’s too late.
Seagrasses need light to remain resilient to marine heatwaves – water pollution disrupts that balance.
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