Eelgrass

Overview

Eelgrass (Zostera marina) is a widespread marine flowering plant that forms dense, underwater meadows in shallow coastal environments across the Northern Hemisphere. As a keystone species, it provides essential nursery grounds for numerous fish and invertebrates while playing a vital role in stabilizing sediments and sequestering carbon.

Distribution & habitat

This species is the most widely distributed seagrass in the temperate and subarctic regions of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It thrives in sheltered to moderately exposed bays, lagoons, and estuaries, typically growing on soft substrates ranging from clean sand to muddy fine gravel. It is highly resilient, capable of enduring significant seasonal temperature fluctuations and even surviving under ice cover in Arctic regions.

Appearance

Eelgrass is a vascular plant characterized by long, slender, ribbon-like leaves that emerge from a submerged root system. These plants grow in expansive, grass-like beds that can cover large areas of the seafloor, creating a distinct underwater landscape.

Biology & behavior

As a "blue carbon" ecosystem, eelgrass meadows are highly efficient at capturing and storing carbon dioxide. These plants have evolved to readapt to marine life after an evolutionary history that included a transition to land. Beyond their carbon-sequestration capabilities, they act as natural barriers that protect shorelines by reducing coastal erosion and improving water quality through nutrient cycling.