Lecture on Seagrasses and Mangroves

Introduction

• Ancient species of flowering plants
• Grow submerged in oceans worldwide from Alaska to South America
• Evolved during the dinosaur era, nearly 100 million years ago
• Found today in bays and estuaries globally

Importance of Seagrasses

• Connects coral reefs with mangrove forests in tropical/subtropical waters
• Stabilizes coastal sediments and buffers against storm surges and floods
• Removes CO2, filters contaminants, adds economic value
• Declining globally due to coastal development
• Potential for ecosystem collapse from food chain base

Threats to Seagrasses

• Human population growth along coastlines
• Decline rate ~7% per year, higher than coral reefs/rainforests
• Storm water runoff and human shoreline activities
• Boat groundings and anchor damage

Ecological Value

• Erosion control, sediment stabilization, and clear water maintenance
• Hurricane protection by breaking wave action

Economic and Environmental Benefits

• Nitrogen removal equivalent to treated sewage from 800 people per year
• Carbon fixation per square meter comparable to driving 7500 miles
• Foundation of fisheries and tourism industries

Biscayne Bay and Restoration Efforts

• Managed by Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve
• Historically connected to Everglades
• Salinity, sediments, and organism monitoring at Biscayne Bay
• Photo-archival data collection using SWaPS system

Relationship with Mangroves

• Provide food and shelter for marine organisms
• Nursery habitats crucial for fisheries
• Impacted by historical developments and restoration efforts

Restoration and Community Engagement

• Efforts to restore natural mangrove wetlands
• Community involvement in restoration projects
• Challenges of resource management in recreational areas

Sea Level Rise and Future Concerns

• Southwest Florida's Ten Thousand Islands as research ground
• Impacts of accelerated sea level rise on ecosystems
• Mangrove and oyster reef interactions

Conclusion

• Importance of continued protection and restoration
• Potential future of coastlines and seagrass/mangrove ecosystems
• Experiment-in-progress with uncertain outcomes related to climate change

Additional Note

• Major funding from The Batchelor Foundation to support marine resource preservation.