Alas, the shore there has changed dramatically. What used to be a sandy shore, is now very rocky!
Oct 9, 2010
Tuas (8 Oct 10)
Yesterday, I joined Sheryl and Helen and the volunteers from Schering Plough who monitor the seagrass meadows at Tuas just outside their premises.
Alas, the shore there has changed dramatically. What used to be a sandy shore, is now very rocky!
Alas, the shore there has changed dramatically. What used to be a sandy shore, is now very rocky!
Sep 16, 2010
Dugongs in Australia at risk from toxic algae that smothers seagrass
Blue-green algae is threatening to smother the Western Australian seagrass beds that dugongs feed off.
Vicki Laurie Australian Geographic 16 Sep 10;
OFF THE COAST OF BROOME, snaking trails are visible at low tide through glistening seagrass meadows. The pathways are a sign that a family of dugongs has swum through the area, pushing through the grassy seabed and grazing on a smorgasbord of tender shoots and roots.
Thriving seagrass meadows are vital for these hefty aquatic mammals, which can eat up to 40 kg of plant matter a day. Fiona Bishop, coordinator of the Broome Community Seagrass Monitoring Project, says dugongs (Dugong dugon) are regular visitors to Broome's Roebuck Bay, a Ramsar-listed wetland with extensive seagrass beds.
"We're lucky to have such low tides so we can walk out and see dugong trails everywhere, sometimes zigzagging back and forth. Two of the dugongs' favourite species of seagrass grow here, and they eat the whole plant, roots, flowers and seeds."
As well as 'mowing' the grass, the dugongs help disperse the seed widely when they expel their waste into the water
Toxic spread
But the health of seagrass is this year threatened by an outbreak of toxic blue-green algae, called Lyngbya majuscula, which scientists say the will study in coming weeks to establish whether Roebuck Bay's dugongs, famous migratory bird flocks and marine invertebrates are affected.
Vicki Laurie Australian Geographic 16 Sep 10;
OFF THE COAST OF BROOME, snaking trails are visible at low tide through glistening seagrass meadows. The pathways are a sign that a family of dugongs has swum through the area, pushing through the grassy seabed and grazing on a smorgasbord of tender shoots and roots.
Thriving seagrass meadows are vital for these hefty aquatic mammals, which can eat up to 40 kg of plant matter a day. Fiona Bishop, coordinator of the Broome Community Seagrass Monitoring Project, says dugongs (Dugong dugon) are regular visitors to Broome's Roebuck Bay, a Ramsar-listed wetland with extensive seagrass beds.
"We're lucky to have such low tides so we can walk out and see dugong trails everywhere, sometimes zigzagging back and forth. Two of the dugongs' favourite species of seagrass grow here, and they eat the whole plant, roots, flowers and seeds."
As well as 'mowing' the grass, the dugongs help disperse the seed widely when they expel their waste into the water
Toxic spread
But the health of seagrass is this year threatened by an outbreak of toxic blue-green algae, called Lyngbya majuscula, which scientists say the will study in coming weeks to establish whether Roebuck Bay's dugongs, famous migratory bird flocks and marine invertebrates are affected.
Aug 23, 2010
Your seagrass photos wanted for a photo competition!
Wanted! Photos for a Seagrass Calendar for the year 2011!
Needed! Photos of seagrass, seagrass habitats, animals in seagrass beds, human activities / resource use in seagrass beds, threats to seagrasses, research activities in seagrass beds, etc. from anywhere in the world.
Let's show the world that Singapore has great seagrasses and seagrassers!
Here's more details!
Let's show the world that Singapore has great seagrasses and seagrassers!
Here's more details!
Jul 17, 2010
Pulau Semakau (17 Jul 10)
Today, the Team has a new motto: "We may die, but we will try!".
We all woke up to a pre-dawn deluge of biblical proportions, sheets of rain falling to the thunderous accompaniment of constant lightning.
Did this stop us?
We all woke up to a pre-dawn deluge of biblical proportions, sheets of rain falling to the thunderous accompaniment of constant lightning.Did this stop us?
Jul 16, 2010
Cyrene Reef (16 Jul 10)
TeamSeagrass arrives at sunrise on Cyrene in high water!
And high spirits too!
And high spirits too!Jul 2, 2010
Singapore oil spill in Seagrass Watch Magazine issue 41, Jun 10
The Seagrass-Watch magazine issue 41, Jun 2010 is now online!
The lead feature this issue explores the important issue of putting an economic value to seagrasses: "Many would argue that ecological systems are 'priceless'. However, by not valuing natural resources, when decisions are made, the value may be assumed to be zero" begins the authors in the introduction.
The lead feature this issue explores the important issue of putting an economic value to seagrasses: "Many would argue that ecological systems are 'priceless'. However, by not valuing natural resources, when decisions are made, the value may be assumed to be zero" begins the authors in the introduction.
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