Living in the Baltic Sea

Habitat
Eelgrass grows in shallow bays and coves 1-5 meters deep, tidal creeks and estuaries with sandy or muddy seabeds. The water should hold low salt levels for it to thrive.
Nutrition
By photosynthesis, carbon dioxide in the air is mixed with hydrogen in water to make carbohydrates that plants live on.

Reproduction
Age: 6 months to year old plants
Season: Mature fruits release seeds in late summer.

Each plant is distinctly male or female. Pollination and the development of the seeds take place entirely under the water surface. Eelgrass expands by both vegetative growth, the creeping extension of new shoots from the base of the plant, and sexual reproduction or seed production. Bare areas not adjacent to existing eelgrass beds are colonized by new seedlings since uprooted plants are positively buoyant and tend to be washed ashore.

Human impact and Status
During the fall, large amounts of Eelgrass get washed up on the beaches and dries out. Dried Eelgrass can be used as insulation, roofing material and as material for building protection against flooding.

It can also be used as human food, fresh or dried and has been used to add flavor while smoking different kind of meats.

The two principal human disturbances affecting eelgrass growth is declining water quality and physical disturbance. Because of the increased eutrophication, the Eelgrass is no longer found on the depths of 10-15 m, where it could be found 40 years ago.

Pollution poses a great threat to Eelgrass survival. Agriculture, forestry, and dredging for commercial and residential development have all lead to the loss of eelgrass meadows. In addition, boat activity and shellfish harvesting destroy eelgrass. The Wasting disease, caused by the slime mold Labyrinthula sp., has been shown to cause devastating effects on eelgrass beds.

Because Eelgrass has been recognized as a sensitive indicator of nitrogen loadings and because the distribution and abundance of Eelgrass beds can be easily documented with aerial photographs, it is an ideal habitat to track to monitor overall ecosystem health. CLOSE