Seagrass Ecosystem Study (SES) 



This study was begun in July 1974 to provide information 

 about the benthic marine ecosystem, particularly the dynamic 

 processes by which seagrass ecosystems are maintained, the 

 distribution of these ecosystems, and their contribution to the 

 seas. Initiation of these research activities has resulted from the 

 increased awareness of the importance of nearshore waters 

 in the productivity of the ocean and the vulnerability of these 

 waters to man-induced changes. The increased emphases on 

 nearshore renewable resources led to recognition of how little 

 is known about this important ecosystem. 



The Seagrass Ecosystem Study generally addresses three 

 main questions. What are the contributions of seagrass eco- 

 systems to food webs, nutrient and mineral cycling, and coastal 

 stabilization? What processes in seagrass ecosystem are affected 

 by environmental changes or man-induced perturbations? Are 

 there structural patterns in these ecosystems that allow them to 

 persist in changing environments? 



The SES program has initiated special field studies and 

 laboratory experiments to answer these questions. Later phases 

 of study will emphasize coordinated, intensive field studies and 

 establishment of a network of national and international field 

 sites for follow-on experiments. 



Participants in the SES programs are identified in table 1 1. 

 International collaboration is maintained through the Inter- 



Transplanting Zostera marina in seagrass garden in Puget Sound. Depth is 

 15 feet. November 12, 1975 



national Seagrass Committee. Its members are: Tom Fenchel, 

 Denmark; C. den Hartog, The Netherlands; Akihiko Hattori, 

 Japan; C. Peter McRoy, U.S.; Patrick L. Parker, U.S.; and 

 J. M. Peres, France. 



SES Bibliography 



Phillips, R. C. 1974: Transplantation of seagrass, with special 

 emphasis on eelgrass, Zostera marina L., Aquaculture, 4: 

 161-176. 



Phillips, R. C, C. McMillan, H. F. Bittaker, and R. Heiser. 

 1974: Halodule wrightii Acherson in the Gulf of Mexico, 

 Contrib. Mar. Sci. 18:257-261. 



Phillips, R. C. 1975: Seagrass, food in the inshore coast, Pacific 

 Search 9(9): 2-4. 



Table 11.— U.S. organizations, investigators, and projects in SES program 



Organization 



Investigator 



Project title 



University of Alaska 

 Fairleigh Dickinson University 

 University of Hawaii 

 Michigan State University 



Seattle Pacific College 



University of Texas 



University of Virginia 



C. P. McRoy 



J. C. Ogden 



K. W. Bridges 



M. J. Klug 

 R. G. Wetzel 



R. C. Phillips 



P. L. Parker 



C. McMillan 

 J. C. Zieman 



Process Succession of Seagrass Ecosystems 



Caribbean Seagrass Food Web Study 



Systematic Ecology 



Decomposition of Dissolved and Particulate Organic 

 Detritus in Seagrass Ecosystems 



The Interrelationships of Phenology and Transplant- 

 ing in the Analysis of Seagrass Stability 



Stable Carbon Isotope Ratios of Food Webs and 

 Biogeochemical Cycles in Seagrass Ecosystems 



Environmental Tolerances of Seagrasses 



Caribbean Seagrass Food Web Study 



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