Threatened temperate sea-grass beds

The general consensus is that human activities have at least contributed to the changes in sea grass communities, but a high degree of natural system variability has made elucidation of the links between human activity and ecosystem dynamics difficult. A greater understanding of these dynamics is necessary.

The loss of seagrass exacerbates the decline of seagrass canopy-dwelling crustaceans and fishes.

There are over 10,000 km2 of seagrass beds in south Florida.

The Florida Bay ecosystem has changed substantially in the past decade. Observations since 1991, have witnessed alterations in the seagrass communities. Changes in the dynamic of freshwater inflow into the southern Everglades is thought to be altering the levels of inputs of nutrients into Florida Bay causing persistent microalgal blooms, resuspended sediments, increased turbidity, decreasing light availability and ultimately seagrass die-off. Patterns of seagrass loss in Florida Bay between 1984 and 1994 have seen the reduction of; T. testudinum standing crop by 28%; H. wrightii by 92% and S. filiforme declined by 88%. The long-term future of seagrasses in the Florida bay is uncertain.