#32 seagrasses and mangroves Flashcards
what type of plant are seagrasses
why is this special
they are angiosperms - flowering plants
they have shoots, leaves, pollen, seeds rhizomes and roots
they are the only marine angiosperm plant
what do seagrasses need to grow
they need soft sediment to grow in - hence most are in subtidal areas
where are seagrasses commonly found
in subtidal areas
as they do not have the same pigment as seaweed,s they need to be in shallow areas
what salinity does seagrass require
they can cope with a range of salinites i.e. estuaries
are seagrasses endemic?
many species are endemic
what is the ecological importance of seagrass?
they are an ecosystem engineer - they provide habitat for species to grow and live in
they stabilise sediments and prevent erosion
they are substrate for bacterias
they are nursery for fish
they are food for dugongs - not many other species eat seaweed as its high in cellulose
why is seagrass being lost in Australia?
dredging, anchors from boats, catchment water impacting seagrass, changing temperatures
where do mangroves live - what are they adapted for
intertidal areas - they are largely tropical
they are largely estuarine
they live in soft sediments - intertidal areas
what are some key characteristics of mangroves
they are salt tolerant - halophytes
they can cope with a range of salinities
they are largely estuarine
why are Australias mangroves special
they occur at the highest latitude in the world
what roots do mangroves have
they have pneumatophores - aerial roots for gaseous exchange
they have prop roots - roots that arise from the step to give extra support
how can mangroves cope with saline environments
they use salt glands
this allows them to isolate salt, reduce water loss, reduce salt intake
who eats mangroves
no animal eats mangroves but they do provide habitat for animals
what are threats to mangroves
people think of them as smelly, muddy and filled with mosquitos
they are cleared for development
why are mangroves important
they provide habitats for animals
nurseries for fish
they are a carbon sink!
