Science

Behold, the Power of Seagrass!

• Relevant
• Fascinating
• Sexy

This project is aimed at understanding the connections between sensitive seagrass habitats and the surrounding environment.  Please have a look around and see how you can support research that can shape policy and management of our coastal ecosystems.

THE FLOW OF ENERGY

When you think of a beach, what comes to mind?  Maybe a sandy expanse stretching off into the horizon, or maybe a rocky shore speckled with tiny tide pools.  The fact is there are many types of beach habitats with a vibrant array of creatures living both above and beneath the waves.  And while we may think of each of these habitats as a distinct entity, each supporting its own special brand of plant and animal diversity, they are actually intimately linked to one another.

Have you ever seen large clumps of seagrass or seaweed washed high up on the shore?  Well you could probably guess that it didn’t grow there.  Yet there it sits becoming dry and brittle in the sun.  If you were to pick up that piece of seagrass you might see dozens of tiny sand fleas leaping away from their recently acquired shelter.  Now here is where it gets interesting…

Those sand fleas were seeking shelter and feeding on material produced in a different habitat that just happened to be carried up with the tide and onto the beach.  Those fleas that benefited from the seagrass in turn become prey for spiders and other predators.  The spiders become food for birds and small mammals and so on up the food web.  This flow of material from one habitat to another creates a link between ecosystems.  In this way production in one system is exported to another, benefitting the recipient.

BEHOLD, THE POWER OF SEAGRASS!

My research aims to explore these connections in sensitive habitats, and to quantify the export of material from one marine ecosystem to another.  In addition, I will measure the quantity and quality of these fluxes as they move up the food web and the distance that they can travel. 

To do this, I will be working in the seagrass meadows of British Columbia.  Seagrass is a globally distributed marine plant that grows along both tropical and temperate shores.  It is highly productive and supports a diverse range of animal life including birds, fish, crab and clams.  Not only does it provide shelter to these animals, but it also is frequently transported to nearby habitat including the shore and deep abyssal plains.  It has been estimated that greater than 90% of the photosynthetic energy generated by some seagrass meadows in the form of leaves, roots and associated algae is transported to adjacent habitat through waves, currents and wind.

Unfortunately, seagrass meadows worldwide are declining for reasons that are not fully understood.  This decline will impact not only the residents of the seagrass, but those habitats that rely on energy derived from fluxes of seagrass energy.  By understanding how much seagrass material is exported and how it is integrated into adjacent food webs, we will better understand the impact that seagrass declines will have on a larger scale.  This in turn will help us identify the most effective strategies for coastal conservation and management.

HOW WILL THIS HAPPEN?

I will be using beach surveys and surface nets to calculate the export of seagrass derived material in several seagrass beds across the greater B.C. area.  In addition, I will calculate the amount of seagrass export incorporated into nearby habitats by using biomarkers that allow us to trace the flow of energy through food webs.  All the money I receive from the SciFund Challenge will be put toward logistical and equipment needs including: gas and ferry costs, materials for building surface nets, reagents for biomarker analysis, and research boat access.

Now is your chance to support scientific research that will enhance our knowledge of marine ecosystems and how they interact across traditional habitat borders.   By donating to my project you will have a direct hand in supporting a study that will help us understand the power of seagrass and hopefully, how we can better conserve this valuable resource.  

Photos by Andrew Huang