Anne Frijsinger & Mat Vestjens, Holland
Info
Zostera marina Linnaeus, 1753
Zostera marina is a long and narrow seaweed and not an algae. The common seagrass occurs primarily in sandy areas, fine gravel, in sheltered waters such as shallow bays and salty lagoons up to 4 meters deep, where the seagrass forms roots and rhizomes and sprouts flowers.
As a rule, the grass can reach a length of up to 1 meter, although in exceptional cases plants with a length of 2 meters can also be found.
Large stands of seagrass are extremely important in the oceans, as they provide a spawning and nursery ground for many marine animals such as fish and crustaceans and a richly laid table for predators.
Humans also use this seagrass for mattresses and pillow fillings as well as to help build dykes.
Unfortunately, seagrass is now also on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, as there has been a significant decline in seagrass meadows and seagrass mortality in recent years.
In addition to fungal infestation, the increasing eutrophication of the seas is also playing its part, i.e. as with the decline of the important mangrove forests, humans must finally come up with long-term protection concepts for these highly productive zones.
Synonyms:
Zostera marina var. angustifolia Hornemann 1816
Zostera angustifolia (Hornemann) Reichenbach 1845
Zostera marina is a long and narrow seaweed and not an algae. The common seagrass occurs primarily in sandy areas, fine gravel, in sheltered waters such as shallow bays and salty lagoons up to 4 meters deep, where the seagrass forms roots and rhizomes and sprouts flowers.
As a rule, the grass can reach a length of up to 1 meter, although in exceptional cases plants with a length of 2 meters can also be found.
Large stands of seagrass are extremely important in the oceans, as they provide a spawning and nursery ground for many marine animals such as fish and crustaceans and a richly laid table for predators.
Humans also use this seagrass for mattresses and pillow fillings as well as to help build dykes.
Unfortunately, seagrass is now also on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, as there has been a significant decline in seagrass meadows and seagrass mortality in recent years.
In addition to fungal infestation, the increasing eutrophication of the seas is also playing its part, i.e. as with the decline of the important mangrove forests, humans must finally come up with long-term protection concepts for these highly productive zones.
Synonyms:
Zostera marina var. angustifolia Hornemann 1816
Zostera angustifolia (Hornemann) Reichenbach 1845
