Taxonomy
Kingdom: Plantae
Subkingdom: Viridiplantae
Infrakingdom: Streptophyta
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Spermatophytina
Class: Magnoliopsida
Superorder: Lilianae
Order: Alismatales
Family: Zosteraceae
Genus: Zostera
Previously known as: Zostera angustifolia, Zostera subg. Zostera marina
Biological Information/Life History
| Growth Rate | N/A |
| Size | <1.2 m (Murphy et al. 2011) |
| Life span | Variable- some annual and some perennial (Blok et al. 2018) |
| Spawning Season | Late spring (Murphy et al. 2011) |
| Sessile vs non sessile | Sessile |
| Reproduction | Sexual & asexual (Murphy et al. 2011) |
| Age for Reproduction | >1 year for flowering (Blok et al. 2018) |
| Number of offspring | N/A |
| Role in food chain | Primary producer |
| Dispersal distance | N/A |
Common diseases: eelgrass wasting disease (Olesen et al. 1994)
Environmental Tolerances
| Temperature Range | Dependent on where population originates from (Blok et al. 2018) |
| Salinity | >10 ppt (Murphy et al. 2011) |
| Depth found at | Intertidal to subtidal |
Human Uses
Zostera marina is often used in restoration projects because it is able to stabilize sediments and improve water quality. Packages often contain eelgrass when shipping blue crabs. Historical uses for eelgrass include mattress stuffing and housing insulation (Murphy et al. 2011).
Fun Fact
Zostera marina has a worldwide distribution (Murphy et al. 2011).
References
Adams, M. S. (1976). The Ecology of eelgrass, Zostera marina (L.), Fish Communities. I. Structural Analysis. 22(848), 269–291. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0022098176900071
Gambi, M., Nowell, A., & Jumars, P. (n.d.). Flume Observations on Flow Dynamics in Zostera marina Eelgrass Beds (pp. 159–169). pp. 159–169. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps061159
Heck, K. L., & Orth, R. J. (1980). Structural Components of Eelgrass ( Zostera marina ) Meadows in the Lower Chesapeake Bay- Decapod crustacea. 3(4), 278–288. Retrieved from https://link.springer.com/article/10.2307/1352084
Jacobs, R. P. W. M. (1979). DISTRIBUTION AND ASPECTS OF THE PRODUCTION AND BIOMASS of eelgrass, Zostera marina L., at Roscoff, France. Aquatic Botany, 7, 151–172. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0304377079900196
Murphy, R., Orzetti, L., & Johnson, W. (2011). Plant Fact Sheet. Retrieved from https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_PLANTMATERIALS/publications/mdpmcfs10921.pdf
Olesen, B., & Krause-jensen, D. (2018). Life history events of eelgrass Zostera marina L . populations across gradients of latitude and temperature. (March). https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12479
Olesen, B., & Sand-jensen, K. (1994). Patch dynamics of eelgrass Zostera marina. 106, 147–156. Retrieved from https://www.int-res.com/articles/meps/106/m106p147.pdf
Rice, M. A. (2008). Environmental Effects of Shellfish Aquaculture in the Northeast. (105). Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258224495_Environmental_Effects_of_Shellfish_Aquaculture_in_the_Northeast