Seagrasses are perhaps the single most important habitat in the IRL because so many other species depend on them for food and habitat. The IRL is sometimes known as a “seagrass-based ecosystem” due to the nature of seagrass being the predominant plant-based food source for animals in the lagoon. For this reason, and for the fact that their growing habits change depending on the water quality, they serve as a barometer for gauging the overall health in the lagoon. Seagrasses are also valuable to the lagoon because they enhance water quality by removing nutrients and stabilizing sediments.