SEAGRASS MONITORING

WHY DO WE MONITOR SEAGRASSES?

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.