Seegräser

Seegras is a collective term for flowering plants that have adapted to life in marine environments. These plants are not true grasses, which are terrestrial plants, but are more closely related to terrestrial flowering plants like lilies and irises. Seegras meadows, also known as seagrass beds, are important marine ecosystems found in shallow coastal waters worldwide. They play a crucial role in maintaining the health of the ocean.

These unique plants possess ribbon-like leaves, rhizomes, and true roots, allowing them to anchor themselves to the seabed and absorb nutrients. They reproduce both sexually through flowers and seeds and asexually through their creeping rhizomes, which can spread and form dense meadows. Seegras species vary in size and form, from the narrow, grass-like leaves of eelgrass to the broader leaves of paddle-shaped seegrass.

Seagrass meadows provide essential habitats and food for a wide array of marine life. They serve as nurseries for many fish species, offer feeding grounds for sea turtles and manatees, and support diverse invertebrate communities. Their presence stabilizes sediments, reducing erosion and improving water clarity. This clarity benefits other marine organisms like corals and filter feeders. Furthermore, seagrasses are significant carbon sinks, helping to mitigate climate change by absorbing and storing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. However, these vital ecosystems are threatened by pollution, coastal development, dredging, and climate change, leading to a decline in seagrass populations globally.