By: Jessica Embrey and Lizzy Jackson
I. Sea grass beds, what are they?
a. Flowering, vascular plants descended from terrestrial plants
b. Live entirely underwater in shallow areas with a lot of sunlight
II. Characteristics of Sea grass:
a. Adapted to saline H2O
b. Able to grow completely submersed
c. Securely anchored with perennial rhizomes or “holdfasts” to withstand wave action and tidal currents
d. Water pollinated
III. Some types of Sea grass:
a. Thalassia testudinum (Turtle Grass)
b. Halodule beaudettei (Shoal Grass)
c. Syringodium filiforme (Manatee Grass)
d. Halophila johnsonii (Johnsons Sea Grass)
e. Halophila engelmannii (Star Grass)
f. Halophila decipiens (Paddle Grass)
g. Ruppia maritima (Widgeon Grass)
IV. Ecological Functions of Sea Grass
a. Benefits to organisms
b. Benefits to surroundings
V. Organisms in Sea grass
a. Examples of specific organisms and their dependency on sea grass
b. Examples of complications to some organisms
VI. Sea grass beds and humans
a. Humans benefit from sea grass beds
b. Humans damage sea grass beds