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Seagrass: An Introduction

“Seagrasses are the canaries of the estuaries.” -Mark Fonseca, NOAA Marine Scientist Abstract: This scientific blog aims to inform North Carolinians about the declining seagrass populations in the Pamlico-Albemarle Sound System. The blog is split into three posts concerning seagrasses: the significance, the decline, and the solution. In the first post, the blog discusses theContinue reading “Seagrass: An Introduction”

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 looksContinue reading “Seagrass: The Significance”

Seagrass: The Decline

Over the past fifty years, North Carolina has lost over fifty percent of its seagrass populations4. This alarming rate of decline is believed to be caused by a multitude of factors, including eutrophication, turbidity, erosion, extreme climatic events, dredging and boating, and invasive species (See Figure 3)7. Marine scientist Pat Garber argues that the primary causeContinue reading “Seagrass: The Decline”

Seagrass: The Solution

Several North Carolinians have already begun dedicating themselves to reversing the seagrass decline. In response to the loss of large quantities of North Carolina’s essential seagrasses, twenty-five state agencies, universities, and conservation groups have come together to create the Albemarle-Pamlico Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV) Partnership in order to promote the restoration of seagrass3. Meanwhile, a teamContinue reading “Seagrass: The Solution”

References

1. Cannon Byington C. 2017 Feb 17. New Science Shows Seagrass Meadows Suppress Pathogens. Cool Green Science Blog. [accessed 2020 Feb 11]. https://blog.nature.org/science/2017/02/17/new-science-shows-seagrass-meadows-have-disease-fighting-superpowers/ 2. CSA Ocean Sciences. 2019 Aug 28. Seagrass Enhancement Project in North Carolina Underway. CSA Ocean Sciences Incorporation. [accessed 2020 Feb 11]. https://www.csaocean.com/press-releases/seagrass-enhancement-project-in-north-carolina-underway 3. Ellis K. 2019 May 22. Partners Work Together to ProtectContinue reading “References”