Seagrass:
According to recent study, seagrass has been declining at a rate of 1-2 per cent per year for the past century and nearly 5 per cent of species are now endangered.
- It is a flowering plantthat grows submerged in shallow marine waters like bays and lagoons.
- It is so-named because most species have long green, grass-like leaves.
- Seagrasses have roots, stems, and leaves and produce flowers and seeds.
- Like terrestrial plants, seagrass also photosynthesizes and manufactures their own food and releases oxygen.
- They evolved around 100 million years ago, and there are approximately 72 different seagrass species that belong to four major groups.
- Pollution from cities, industries, and agriculture continues to degrade these meadows, while coastal development and tourism put additional pressure on fragile habitats of seagrass.
