PREFACE 



This profile of the seagrass commun- 

 ity of south Florida is one in a series of 

 community profiles that treat coastal and 

 marine habitats important to humans. Sea- 

 grass meadows are highly productive habi- 

 tats which provide living space and pro- 

 tection from predation for large popula- 

 tions of invertebrates and fishes, many of 

 which have commercial value. Seagrass 

 also provides an important benefit by 

 stabilizing sediment. 



The information in the report can 

 give a basic understanding of the seagrass 

 community and its role in the regional 

 ecosystem of south Florida. The primary 

 geographic area covered lies along the 

 coast between Biscayne Bay on the east 

 and Tampa Bay on the west. References 

 are provided for those seeking indepth 



treatment of a specific facet of seagrass 

 ecology. The format, style, and level of 

 presentation make this synthesis report 

 adaptable to a variety of needs such as 

 the preparation of environmental assess- 

 ment reports, supplementary reading in 

 marine science courses, and the education 

 of participants in the democratic process 

 of natural resource management. 



Any questions or comments about, or 

 requests for publications should be di- 

 rected to: 



Information Transfer Specialist 

 National Coastal Ecosystems Team 

 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

 NASA/SI idell Computer Complex 

 1010 Gause Boulevard 

 SI idell, Louisiana 70458 



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