What affects SAV occurrence and health?
The occurence of SAV species in the bay strongly depends on environmental conditions. Each species has its own requirements for and tolerances of physical characteristics, such as temperature, salinity, sediment composition, water velocity, and turbidity. The temporal and spatial shifts of SAV in the Barnegat Bay ecosystem likely result from naturally occurring cycles although human activities such as dredging, nutrient loading, boating and the use of personal watercraft may be detrimental.* The impact of increased development within the watershed coupled with the possible recurrence of wasting disease has sparked concern about the status of eelgrass (Zostera marina) and other seagrasses. Wasting disease, presumably caused by the protist Labyrinthula zosterae, is responsible for significant declines of seagrasses during certain years.* Barnegat Bay shows a pattern of higher water turbidity as well as greater nutrient loading the northern bay which follows the pattern of increased resid
