1. Ecosystem #2:
Seagrass Meadows

2. Ecosystem
A community of living organisms in conjunction with the abiotic factors, interacting as a system.

3. Things to Ponder: What do you know about seagrass?
Why do you think seagrass is important to an area?
What is the difference between seagrass and seaweed?

4. Seagrass vs. Seaweed Seagrass – Vascular plant (xylem & phloem)
Kingdom Plantae
Seaweed – Macroscopic marine algae
Kingdom Protista (not a true plant)

5. Number of Species Worldwide--
Seagrass
Macroalgae (Seaweed)
Number of Species Worldwide 55
5,000-6,000
Reproduction
Have separate sexes
Produce flowers, fruits, and seeds
Produce spores
Structure
Evolved from terrestrial plants
Have roots, leaves, and underground stems (rhizomes) that hold plants in place
Relatively simple and unspecialized
Holdfast anchors plant to a hard surface; does not possess roots extending below the surface

6. Why is good water clarity important?
Seagrasses and algae need sunlight in order to photosynthesize
Light availability determines depth they will grow

7. Patch – small area of seagrass Meadow – large area
If conditions are optimal (light, water quality and minimal disturbance) the patches will join to form a meadow

8. Why are Seagrasses Important? Predator/Prey Demo

9. YouTube: Gary the Explorer!
Divide your paper into 3 columns and label as follows:
#1 – Why are Seagrasses important?
#2 – Organisms that live in Seagrasses
#3 – Threats to Seagrasses

10. Importance: Basis of the food chain Habitat Nursery for baby animals
Provide oxygen
Improve water clarity by trapping suspended particles
Stabilize ocean bottom
Slow down waves action and prevent erosion
Support local economies
*Epiphyte – planktonic organisms that settle on sea grass

11. 40,420 acres in 1950
26,920 acres in 1996
*2016 sea grass mapping study by TBEP revealed 41,655 acres of healthy sea grass

13. Seagrass ID Divide a sheet of drawing paper into 3 sections
Turtle Grass
Manatee Grass
Shoal Grass

14. For each Type of Seagrass:
Common Name
Properly written scientific name
Detailed drawing (in color)
Detailed description
6 points per seagrass

15. What are the coils on the turtle grass?
Tube worm casings from a fan worm!
Clockwise - Spirobis spirillum
Counterclockwise - Spirobis borealis

17. Algae Classification (Seaweed)
Phylum Chlorophyta (green algae)
Phylum Rhodophyta (red algae)
Phylum Phaeophyta (brown algae)
*Red and brown are exclusively marine while green algae can be found in freshwater

18. Seaweed ID Divide each sheet of drawing paper into 3 sections
Draw each of the different types of algae

19. Seaweed ID Part I: Part II: Color drawing Write down the bucket number
Detailed description
Part II:
Identify:
Phylum
Common Name
Scientific name (properly written)
FYI – additional info about it

21. What caused sea grass in Tampa Bay to decline beginning in 1950?
Bringing Back the Bay

22. The Decline Population increased
More people lived near the bay
More garbage ended up in the water
More cars/trucks = air pollution
# of Cargo ships increased at the Port of Tampa
Oil & gasoline spills/leaks
Dredging

23. More Nitrogen entering the Bay
Sewage treatment plants & other industries allowed to dump untreated waste products into Bay
No real gov’t control of water pollution before 1972

24. Current Conditions
Tampa Bay now gains over 500 acres of sea grass per year due to restoration projects and improved water quality

26. Article: A Crisis for Crabs

27. Questions What problem does the article focus on?
What was the impact of the problem?
Describe the life cycle of a blue crab. How many are likely to survive to adulthood?
Describe why scientists believe the blue crab population is down off the coast of Georgia. What role does the estuary play in that decrease?
How could bioaccumulation play a role in this estuary food web?