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Water-Related News

Summertime is seagrass survey time

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Despite the threat of severe weather, the Tampa Bay Estuary Program successfully led its annual seagrass transect training last month! Scientists from the Southwest Florida Seagrass Working Group gathered to identify species, measure blade lengths, and estimate seagrass abundance. Over the summer, these teams will document seagrass diversity and density at 62 locations around the bay. This data will be used to create a comprehensive picture of seagrass health in Tampa Bay.

Seagrass is a crucial habitat for fish and other marine animals. It stabilizes sediment, produces oxygen, and reduces shoreline erosion. The amount and condition of seagrass is a key indicator of ecosystem health in Tampa Bay.

View the data from previous years here: https://shiny.tbep.org/seagrasstransect-dash/