Seagrass: The Significance

A brisk winter breeze glides across the surface of the Pamlico Sound and up the sandy coastline, tickling the cheek of Pat Garber, a marine scientist, author, and North Carolina native. The gust entangles itself playfully into Pat’s hair, blowing blonde strands across her face. As she brushes her hair from her eyes, she looks pensively towards the coastal waters that she has grown up with. Buffleheads swim gleefully amongst the waves and least terns dive into the dark waters to catch a fresh dinner. The scene is idyllic and tranquil, but something is missing.

Just below the water’s surface, expansive beds of seagrass used to populate North Carolina’s underwater gardens (See Figure 1)₈. These aquatic plants, whose scientific name is submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV)₄, may seem like simple swaying spectators, but in reality, they play an essential role in protecting the entire coastal ecosystem. Over one hundred and fifty diverse marine species depend on seagrasses to serve as a nursery in which they can safely mature (See Figure 2)₇. From blue crab to bay scallops to pipefish, countless juvenile marine species inhabit these comfortable seagrass beds before reaching adulthood. Several species of waterfowl also rely on seagrasses as an important food source₇.

But the role of seagrasses extends far past just serving fish populations. The grasses enhance the overall water quality by providing plentiful oxygen and capturing excess carbon. They even act as biological filters that can remove harmful pollutants and pathogens from the water₁. The massive beds also stabilize the sandy ocean floors and reduce the turbidity of waves, protecting both marine habitats and coastal communities alike. Seagrasses help decrease the destruction of torrential storms and brutal waves₆.

These tiny superheroes are in trouble though – over half of them have disappeared in the Pamlico-Albemarle Sound System since the 1970s ₄. Without seagrasses, North Carolina’s fish populations, coastal residents, and water quality are all threatened. In the following posts in this scientific blog, explore what marine scientists believe to be the main cause behind this drastic decline and discover what environmental pioneers from all across the state are doing to save our seagrasses – and what you can do to help.