Sea Grass

Adaptations:

Sea grasses adaptation to saltwater is most important since most land plants cannot tolerate even small amounts of salt. They also have developed horizontal stems, known as rhizomes. Roots growing from the rhizome also assist in anchoring and taking up dissolved nutrients. Sea grass is very flexible, bending with any water movement. Air spaces among the sea grass provide flotation and reparation mechanisms. 

Food Provider:

Sea grass provides detritus which many animals then feed off of. The detritus is located on the sea grass along with nutritious bacteria and fungi. Animals can also feed off of the Epiphytes (epiflora/epifauna) which are organisms living on the sea grass. These organisms consist of anemones, snails, algae and cucumbers. 

Residents: Organisms which stay in the sea grasses. The sea grass provides only low cover. Many invertebrates live attached to the leaves. Over 100 species of algae are found on the sea grass. ( snails, sponges, crabs and sea cucumbers ).

  

Migrants: Organisms which visit the sea grass beds. Some search the beds by night and others by day. Eating and sleeping in shifts reduces competition for food and helps make sure there are enough safe places to hide. Many of these fish come to graze on the animals and detritus found on the sea grass. ( grunts, snapper, barracuda and wrasse ).

Travelers: Organisms which come threw the sea grass to look for food. Travelers are animals which travel for a long time at once. ( dolphins, sharks, sea turtles and whales ).

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