Learn more about the fascinating seagrass habitat and it's nitrogen and carbon cycling in this short video!

Seagrasses occur in shallow coastal regions of both temperate and tropical seas, covering up to 600,000 square kilometers, which is larger than France or almost as large as Texas. No doubt, seagrasses form an important habitat on our planet. The lush meadows are home to numerous organisms, many of them endangered species such as turtles, seahorses and sea cows. They act as nursery grounds or homes for many economically important fish species. Moreover, seagrasses provide important ecosystem services, such as protecting coastlines and keeping the ocean clean.

The underwater plants are also key players for our climate, as they are involved in marine carbon cycling. Seagrasses are well adapted to life under water and are considered one of the most productive ecosystems in the marine biosphere. At the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen, Germany, we study how seagrasses interact with the surrounding sediment. Scientists have estimated that despite occupying less than 0.1 percent of the oceans, seagrass beds are responsible for the storage of up to ten percent of marine carbon. They might be capable of capturing 83 million tons of carbon each year – equivalent to the yearly carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of passenger cars in Italy and France combined. Consequently, these ecosystems have a significant impact on global carbon stocks and are important in regulating climate.