Exploring the Key’s Seagrasses
Seagrasses and associated algal communities provide essential habitat (i.e., food, refuge) for fish and invertebrates and play key ecosystem and societal roles in maintaining water quality by trapping sediments and up-taking nutrients.
Seagrass beds composed of three species, manatee grass, shoal grass, and turtle grass are abundant in shallow nearshore habitats around Key Biscayne where they can be visited and enjoyed by swimmers, kayakers, and boaters.
The organisms commonly found in and around seagrass beds range from very small fish such as seahorses to marine mammals like dolphins.
One of the main threats to seagrass habitats in Key Biscayne and elsewhere is the physical damage caused by careless boaters that run aground or cause significant propeller scarring.
Protection of these habitats is essential for the sustainability of marine resources in our region.
Relative Environmental Questions
These Relevant Environmental Questions promote environmental awareness and serve as a starting point for citizens to begin making environmental observations. Citizens will soon be able to submit their environmental findings and answers to these questions with the launch of the Record page. Please be sure to follow our Facebook page for the latest news and updates!
- Have you noticed any changes to the seagrass beds? If so, describe?
- Have you noticed any areas with signs of human disturbance (e.g., damaged or removed mangroves, litter or marine debris)? If so, where?
- Do any of the seagrasses have debris and/or litter in them? If so, which one?
- Have you seen any non-native plants? If so, where?
- Have you seen any non-native animals? If so, where?
- Would you consider the seagrasses near Key Biscayne and Virginia Key to be in good condition? Why or why not?
More Relative Environmental Questions
Lists of Relevant Environmental Questions (REQs) can be found in each of the Explore sections of the Citizen Scientist Project’s Lab. Before going out to explore the environment in or around Key Biscayne, Virginia Key, or Hobie Island, you can review the REQs to have a better idea of what to look for during your exploring.
Once your exploration is complete, and you are ready to answer the REQs, just jump over to the Record section of the Citizen Scientist Project’s Lab to submit your answers.