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  Seagrasses of Australia    

Seagrasses of Australia

Introduction

Seagrasses are flowering plants which grow in near shore brackish or marine environments. They are called seagrasses because the leaves are long and narrow and are very often green, and because the plants often grow in large "meadows" which look like grassland. There are currently 58 known species known of which Australia is home to 30 or more than half. They are found in temperate and tropical regions of the world.

They are closely related to terrestrial lillies and gingers and evolved from land plants and adapted to marine life around 100 million years ago.

Seagrasses have roots (rhizomes), shoots and leaves. The specialised roots (rhizomes) creep along the bottom, and produce upright shoots. The rhizomes and roots anchor the plant to the soft bottom and absorb nutrients. The leaves are generally long and strap shaped but may be paddle-shaped.

 



Seagrass meadows
Image from DPI Victoria

   

References

www.bsb.murdoch.edu.au/groups/seagrass/whatareseagrasses.html
www.seagrasswatch.org/
www.ozcoasts.org.au/indicators/changes_seagrass_area.jsp
www.abc.net.au/oceans/jewel/grass/
www.reef.crc.org.au/seagrass/index.html
www.dpi.vic.gov.au/DSE/nrence.nsf/LinkView/9C096F1AE0F2ECC5CA2576F5007BE6
FDFAC136135D45EA65CA25770C001E8C5E?Open&Layout=DSE~PrinterFriendly

www.reef.edu.au/asp_pages/secb.asp?FormNo=12
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seagrass
www.cosmosmagazine.com/features/online/4459/seagrass-blues?page=0%2C1



Seagrasses
   
Seagrass - COSEE coastaltrends
This short movie about seagrass features some facts about these
underwater plants, global trends that seagrasses are experiencing,
and seagrass research.

Virginia Seagrass Restoration natureconservancy
Largest Seagrass Restoration in the World! Learn more about the restoration
efforts at Virginia Coast Reserve and see how The Nature Conservancy
is bringing seagrass back to life.

Thanks to
I would sincerely like to thank the many members of the Flickr community who have given me permission to use their wonderful images for this unit. Their contributions really make this unit come alive!

Next:   Distribution and Diversity ...   

 

Introduction
Distribution and Diversity
Ecology
Seagrass Animals
Seagrass Plants
Benefits and Uses
Threats
Conservation
Photo Gallery 1 - Plants
Photo Gallery 2 - Animals

 

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