Seagrass Habitat
Meadows of seagrass and other submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV) are an important foundation habitat in coastal marine ecosystems. SAV provides refuge for juvenile fish and crabs, forage for marine herbivores and waterfowl, anchors sediment, improves water clarity, reduces shoreline erosion, and sequesters carbon.
Seagrass species found in habitats of MarineGEO Texas are diverse and include Turtlegrass (Thallassia testudinum), Shoal Grass (Halodule wrightii), Manatee Grass (Syringodium filiforme), Star Grass (Halophila engelmannii), and Widgeon Grass (Ruppia maritima). These SAV meadows are home to an abundance of small fish and invertebrates and are favorite haunts of important game species including red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) and spotted sea trout (Cynoscion nebulosus). As you move down the coast from MarineGEO Texas research sites in Aransas Bay to the Upper Laguna Madre, mixed seagrass meadows give way to meadows dominated by Shoal Grass that can handle the higher salinity characteristic of the lower Texas coast estuaries.
Annual MarineGEO Texas sampling of seagrass habitat includes surveys of seagrass coverage, species composition, biomass, shoot morphometrics, and epiphyte load. Seagrass surveys are accompanied by concurrent surveys of nekton, epifauna, infauna, hydrography, and predation intensity. For more information about Texas Seagrass and statewide surveys check out the fantastic site maintained by the Dunton Lab at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute.
Seagrass standard protocols are publicly available on the parent MarineGEO website (webpage currently in beta-testing).
Seagrass species found in habitats of MarineGEO Texas are diverse and include Turtlegrass (Thallassia testudinum), Shoal Grass (Halodule wrightii), Manatee Grass (Syringodium filiforme), Star Grass (Halophila engelmannii), and Widgeon Grass (Ruppia maritima). These SAV meadows are home to an abundance of small fish and invertebrates and are favorite haunts of important game species including red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) and spotted sea trout (Cynoscion nebulosus). As you move down the coast from MarineGEO Texas research sites in Aransas Bay to the Upper Laguna Madre, mixed seagrass meadows give way to meadows dominated by Shoal Grass that can handle the higher salinity characteristic of the lower Texas coast estuaries.
Annual MarineGEO Texas sampling of seagrass habitat includes surveys of seagrass coverage, species composition, biomass, shoot morphometrics, and epiphyte load. Seagrass surveys are accompanied by concurrent surveys of nekton, epifauna, infauna, hydrography, and predation intensity. For more information about Texas Seagrass and statewide surveys check out the fantastic site maintained by the Dunton Lab at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute.
Seagrass standard protocols are publicly available on the parent MarineGEO website (webpage currently in beta-testing).
