Eelgrass beds developing in shallow seas play important roles in ecosystem functioning of coastal areas. To understand their biodiversity and functions globally, a group of scientists involved in the Zostera Experimental Network (ZEN) conducted a unified field experiment at 15 sites in the northern hemisphere. 

Distribution of eelgrass in the world (green lines) and the study sites (circles)

The results highlighted that growth of eelgrass is facilitated by the grazing activity of small animals in the beds by acting to prevent decay of eelgrass by overgrowth of ephemeral algae. The results were derived from the evidence that eelgrass without such small animals lost various types of functions eelgrass beds originally provide. The output of this research will be useful to promote planning better marine policy, management, and conservation of eelgrass beds which are declining rapidly from the world’s oceans.

Masahiro NAKAOKA, Professor, Akkeshi Marine Station, Field Science Center for Northern Biosphere, Hokkaido University

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E-mail: nakaoka@fsc.hokudai.ac.jp