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Submerged Aquatic Vegetation

Submerged Aquatic Vegetation. W HAT I S I T AND W HY I S I T I MPORTANT?. Image provided by Ronald C. Phillips. Algae. Image provided by Alexandre Meinesz, University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis. What Is Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV)?.

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Submerged Aquatic Vegetation

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  1. Submerged Aquatic Vegetation WHAT IS IT AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? Image provided by Ronald C. Phillips

  2. Algae Image provided by Alexandre Meinesz, University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis What Is Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV)? • SAV consists of plants that spend their life cycle completely submerged • Includes algae, but usually refers to complex plants such as seagrasses • SAV does not include marsh grasses Seagrasses Image provided by Ronald C. Phillips Marsh grasses Image provided by NOAA Department of Commerce

  3. What Are Seagrasses? • Type of SAV • Exhibit seasonal growth • Contribute to a rich, productive ecosystem • Provide oxygen, food and habitat for many animals Paige Gill - Florida Keys NMS

  4. Image provided by Ronald C. Phillips Where Do Seagrasses Grow? • They require habitats where sunlight can reach the bottom • They typically prefer shallow clear water • They grow close to the shore in many coastal regions • They occur from the Tropics to the Arctic

  5. Why Should We Care about Seagrasses? • They release oxygen into the water • They provide habitat and shelter • They are a food resource • They help stabilize the shoreline • They help maintain water quality

  6. Seagrasses Release Oxygen into the Water • Seagrasses use sunlight to produce oxygen • Many economically important fish and shellfish require oxygen Image provided by Fred Short

  7. Seagrasses Provide Habitat and Shelter • Leaves provide habitat for tiny plants • These tiny plants are the food resource of many economically important finfish, shellfish, and crustaceans. • Leaves provide hiding spots for juvenile finfish and other animals • Roots and stems prevent efficient foraging by predators who dig for prey Image provided by SFWMD Image provided by Heather Dine

  8. Seagrasses Are a Food Resource • Seagrasses are a primary food source for manatees and sea turtles • Many migratory waterfowl such as the Canada Goose and Black Brant consume seagrass Image provided by Ronald C. Phillips

  9. Seagrasses Help Stabilize the Shoreline • Roots trap sediments • Seagrasses buffer the shore from storm effects • They help prevent erosion

  10. Seagrasses Help Maintain Water Quality • Roots trap sediments and promote water clarity • They reduce sediment stirring caused by currents • Stems and roots hold dead materials in place for decomposition Images provided by Ronald C. Phillips

  11. Why Are Seagrasses Threatened? • Seagrasses grow close to the shore and coastal areas are naturally dynamic • Seagrases grow in areas that typically have increased development and recreational pressures • There are laws that protect seagrasses, but it is hard to protect what you can’t see

  12. Image provided by SFWMD Natural Threats toSeagrasses • Overgrazing can decimate seagrass beds • Storms can uproot or bury seagrasses • Drought can change water levels, which can expose seagrasses • Changes in rainfall can alter salinity, which can stress or kill seagrasses • Outbreaks of diseases can cause diebacks

  13. Harold Hudson - NMS Florida Keys Human Threats to Seagrasses • Fertilizer and other chemical runoff reduce water quality • Reckless boating can contribute to prop scars • Docks shade seagrass beds • Dredging destroys habitat • Sediment runoff buries seagrasses and clouds water • Certain shellfish harvesting methods destroy seagrass beds

  14. Image provided by Kawartha Fisheries Association Image provided by SFWMD Can SAV Be Harmful? • Some SAV can cause problems • These plants can grow quickly and crowd out seagrasses • They often thrive in polluted waters • Their quick growth may lead to large population sizes • They may contribute to fish and shellfish die-offs • Plants clog waterways and choke boat engines

  15. Why Should We Protect Seagrasses? • Seagrasses supports a healthy coastal environment • They are important in maintaining recreational and commercial fisheries • They are legally protected • Seagrasses help reduce erosion

  16. How Do We Know Where Seagrasses Live? • Field monitoring • Underwater surveys • Underwater photographs and videography • Remote sensing technology • Aerial imagery • Underwater sensors

  17. How Can You Help? • Always use pump-out stations to dispose of boat waste • Avoid vegetated shallows when planning dredging or pier construction • Participate in water quality monitoring programs • Practice responsible boating and navigation • Help environmental organizations plant seagrasses • Use environmentally friendly landscaping techniques

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