SUBMON
  • Element del menú
    • About us
      • Mission, vision y values
      • Our team
      • Transparency
    • Activity
      • Conservation and marine biodiversity
      • Environmental education and training workshops
      • Restoration, improvement and mitigation of impact on species of marine ecosystems projects
      • Sustainable activities for marine environment
    • Collaborate
      • Participate in our projects
      • Companies
    • Shop
    • News
    • Contact
    • Element del menú
  • en
    • ca
    • es
    • en
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • ca
  • es
  • en
  • DONATIONS
SUBMON
  • About us
    • Mission, vision y values
    • Our team
    • Transparency
  • Activity
    • Conservation and marine biodiversity
    • Environmental education and training workshops
    • Restoration, improvement and mitigation of impact on species of marine ecosystems projects
    • Sustainable activities for marine environment
  • Collaborate
    • Participate in our projects
    • Companies
  • Shop
  • News
  • Contact
  • Element del menú
Environmental education and awareness

Seagrasses: the great (un)known

March 18, 2021
By Andreu Dalmau
0 Comment
687 Views
Article by Andreu Dalmau

March has been internationally established as the seagrass awareness month. This fact is indicative of the existing need to make seagrasses better known to society, being the perfect example of something that even being close to us keeps unknown. Thus, seagrasses could be compared (if we are discussing the general knowledge that society has about them) to the neighbor of the fifth floor: you have crossed many times, sometimes you have even interacted, but you really do not know each other.

Neptune seagrass flower. Photo SUBMON.

To change this relationship, it is important to start from the beginning: what are seagrasses? The answer is simple, they are marine plants that form meadows. In fact, they are plants originally from the terrestrial environment that tens of millions of years ago adapted to live in the marine environment. For this reason, they maintain a complex structure, made up of roots, rhizomes, and leaves, and they can produce flowers, fruits, and seeds. This fact distinguishes them from other less complex organisms such as algae. Therefore, the first noteworthy aspect about seagrasses (unknown to much of society) is that they are superior plants, NOT algae.

Globally, it is considered that there are around 60 species of these marine plants, and in our closest environment, we can find 4 different species: Posidonia oceanica (a species that is only found in the Mediterranean Sea, being, therefore, endemic), Cymodocea nodosa, Zostera noltei and Zostera marina.

Why is it important to make society aware of them?
A moray eel observing from the refuge of a Neptune seagrass. Photo: SUBMON.

Once this general explanation about seagrasses has been made, it is time to talk about their importance… Why is it important to make society aware of them? This answer could be very long since they provide multiple goods and services, so these are some examples:

1- They are habitat-forming species, which means that lots of marine organisms live in the meadows they create, being especially important as a nursery (where juveniles develop) for many species, finding refuge among their leaves.

2- They are great producers of oxygen, on which we depend to live.

Snakelocks anemonea in a Neptune seagrass meadow. Photo: SUBMON

3- They represent a key element to mitigate the effects of climate change, by capturing large amounts of CO2 and burying it in the sediment or by slowing down hydrodynamism, protecting the coastline from the effects of storms.

Finally, knowing that seagrasses play a key role both for the proper functioning of the marine environment and for our own interests, it is important to note that as a society we should be aware of seagrasses and ensure their conservation every day of the year, and not only during March.

  • email
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin

Previous Story
What’s that fin? The amazing ocean sunfish
Next Story
More than 300 scientists attended the European Cetacean Society webinar

Related Articles

Sunscreens protect us, but do they harm the marine environment?

Now that the good weather is here and summer is...

educamares

We finished the EDUCAMARES project with more than 7,100 sensitized students

The EDUCAMARES project finishes this May, having achieved all the...

Leave your comment Cancel Reply

(will not be shared)

Join our newsletter

Categories

  • Conservation
  • Environmental education and awareness
  • Mitigation of environmental impact
  • Sustainable development
  • Uncategorized

Popular posts

  • Increases in sightings of marine fauna: covid19, nature or espionage?
  • Seals, dolphins and Natura2000: Collaboration with Ionian Dolphin Project
  • The Wildsea Atlantic Ocean Heritage Route: a Dive into Adventure
  • We started the SCARS Project in the waters of the Catalan submarine canyons and the Mediterranean Cetacean Migration Corridor
  • JPI Oceans agenda includes underwater noise and aims to support Marine Strategic Framework Directive on the implementation of Descriptor 11
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

Legal notice

© SUBMON
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

SUBMON complies fully with the current legislation for the protection of personal data, and the requirement for confidentiality for content management services.

SUBMON has adopted the necessary technical measures to ensure the required level of security, according to the nature and circumstances of the personal data being processed, in order to avoid its alteration, loss, unauthorised access or processing, as far as possible and according to the techniques employed.

Where personal data is required when filling in a form, the client or user will be informed of the recipient and purpose of the information, the identity and address of the individual or company responsible for the file and the right of the user to access, rectify, cancel or object to the processing of their data. Personal data will only be processed and/or released for the purpose expressed, and then only with the permission of the user or client.

In order to always keep our database up to date and to ensure that it does not contain errors, we request that our clients and users inform us as soon as possible of any modification or rectification to their personal data which may be necessary.

Some of the pages of the SUBMON site contain cookies, which are small data files generated in the computer of the user or client which enable the system to remember the language and site, as well as other characteristics and navigation preferences chosen by the user during their first visit. These cookies are not invasive, nor do they carry virus or personal data, and their only function is to personalise navigation according to the choices made previously by the user. If you wish, you can deactivate and/or eliminate cookies by following the instructions which appear in our Security Recommendations .
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
SearchPostsLoginCart
Wednesday, 8, Jun
Forests of marine animals: the political courage needed to protect them
Thursday, 2, Jun
Sunscreens protect us, but do they harm the marine environment?
Tuesday, 31, May
We finished the EDUCAMARES project with more than 7,100 sensitized students
Friday, 27, May
What a successful European Maritime Day!
Thursday, 12, May
Registration and abstract submission open for Sharks International 2022
Tuesday, 10, May
EUROWA-2: First oiled sea turtle response training presented in Greece

Welcome back,