1. Seagrass Ecology Estuarine seagrass ecosystems in North Carolina and Florida

2. Seagrasses Angiosperms (flowering plants) that live life entirely underwater Primary productivity is among the highest measured (500 - 4000 g C/m 2 /year) Important feeding and refuge habitat for fishery species (shrimp, scallops, fishes) Seagrasses act as sediment stablizers help to filter water

3. Major polyhaline seagrass species

4. Major oligohaline aquatic macrophytes

5. Seagrass productivity

6. Habitat Complexity Habitat complexity is high in seagrass/SAV Predators are inhibited by complexity because the prey have many places to hide Densities of many invertebrates (infaunal and epifaunal) and small fishes are greater in SAV than in nearby unvegetated areas Seagrass provides a refuge from predation

7. Types of animals in seagrass Infauna: bury in sediment. –Polychaete worms, amphipods, clams, benefit from root and rhizome mat which protects from predators –deeper-living animals survive better than shallow-living (Mercenaria > Chione) Epifauna: Live on surface of blades and sediment –Meiofauna (harpacticoid copepods), macrofauna (amphipods. isopods), tube-dwelling sessile polychaetes, gastropods, decapods –Shoot and leaf complexity provides refuge Mobile fauna: Live in water over canopy –fishes swim above canopy, dive into it when predator