What is a seagrass bed?
Describe primary production in a seagrass bed. Seagrass beds are soft-bottomed areas that are carpeted by dense forests of sea grasses. Sea grasses are grass-like, flowering plants that are adapted to a marine lifestyle. Seagrass beds develop best in sheltered, shallow water close to the coast. Seagrass beds contain a very high plant biomass and have the highest benthic primary production in the subtidal zone. 71. Review: What is biomass? Biomass is the total weight of living organisms in a community. 72. Describe how sea grasses grow in soft-bottom areas. Sea grasses have true roots and a network of underground stems that anchor them in place. The roots and stems help to stabilize the soft sediment and reduces turbulence and erosion. This helps to increase the clarity of the water, allowing for high rates of photosynthesis. 73. Describe epiphytes in seagrass beds. Epiphytes are small algae that grow on the surface of seagrass leaves (and other surfaces). They are photosynthetic and co
