tanks were measured. In aquariums, turtlegrass survived 7 months and shoal- 

 grass 3.5 months. In tanks, turtlegrass lived 12 months and produced new 

 leaves, roots, and rhizomes, but only a few shoalgrass plants survived. 



37. GOERING, J.J., and PARKER, P.L., "Nitrogen Fixation by Epiphytes on 

 Seagrasses," Limnology and Oaeanogvaphy , Vol. 17, No. 2, Mar. 1972, 

 pp. 320-323. 



Seagrasses (Thalassia testudinum, Cymodoaea manatommj Diplantheva 

 wvightiiy and Ruppia mavitima) in Redfish Bay, Texas, showed nitrogen-fixing 

 activity as measured by the acetylene reduction technique. Evidence is pre- 

 sented that epiphytes and not the macrophytes are responsible for the observed 

 fixation, which suggests nitrogen-fixing epiphytes play an important role in 

 the nitrogen economy of seagrass communities. 



38. GOOD, R.E., et al. , "Analysis and Delineation of the Submerged Vegetation 

 of Coastal New Jersey: A Case Study of Little Egg Harbor," Rutgers State 

 University, New Brunswick, N.J., Jan. 1978. 



The submerged vegetation in Little Egg Harbor estuary of New Jersey was 

 investigated, from September 1977 to January 1978, to determine the identifi- 

 cation and the delineation of submerged vegetation. Remote sensing was used 

 to delimit the important submerged macrophytes. The functions these species 

 play in the estuarine ecosystem were also described. 



Field sampling revealed extensive beds of eelgrass (Zosteva rmvtna) and 

 lesser amounts of widgeongrass {Ruppia rnxvitirna) ', however, significant amounts 

 of algal species important in other New Jersey coastal bays (sea lettuce, Utva 

 laatuaa; spaghetti grass, Codium fragile; and a red alga, Graailaria) were 

 absent. This study demonstrated that the distribution of submerged vegetation 

 in Little Egg Harbor can be determined through remote sensing. 



A survey of literature revealed that the major functions of eelgrass beds 

 include (a) a role in grazing and detrital food chains, (b) creation of habi- 

 tat for epiphytes, epifauna, finfish, and shellfish, (c) participation in 

 nutrient cycles, and (d) stabilization of sediments. Eelgrass beds are viewed 

 as an important contributor to the normal functioning and health of estuarine 

 ecosystems. 



39. HANLON, R. , and VOSS, G. , "A Guide to the Seagrasses of Florida, the Gulf 

 of Mexico, and the Caribbean Region," University of Miami, Sea Grant Field 

 Guide Series No. 4, July 1975. 



More species of marine flowering plants are found in the Gulf of Mexico 

 and Caribbean Sea than anywhere else in the Western Hemisphere. They include 

 the turtlegrass (Thalaesia testudinum), shoalgrass {Halodule wrightii), mana- 

 teegrass (Syvingodium filiforme), widgeongrass (Ruppia mar>itima) , Halophila 

 baillonis , and Halophila engelmanni. A seventh species, eelgrass (Zosteva 

 marina), is included in order to distinguish it from the native species; how- 

 ever, it is a temperate species occurring as far south as North Carolina with 

 only a few records of occurrence in Florida. Eelgrass should not be confused 

 with turtlegrass or shoalgrass, and the distinguishing characters of each are 

 given. 



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