Seagrass Species in New South Wales
Seagrasses in NSW are found in estuaries and sheltered marine areas where there is not a great amount of ocean currents or wave action. They are often found alongside other seagrasses or marine algae (seaweed). There are eight species of seagrass that grow within NSW.
Halophila species
Commonly known as Paddleweed, Halophila is one of the smallest seagrass species in the world. This species is a coloniser and recovers well after disturbance.
Common Species in NSW: H. australis, H. decipiens, H. ovalis |
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Posidonia species
Posidonia, also known as Strapweed, is one of the slowest growing
seagrasses in the world. Studies on Posidonia have indicated that
damaged beds could take hundreds of years to recover.
Common Species in NSW: P. australis |
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Ruppia Species
Ruppia seagrass species are commonly known as Sea Tassel.Ruppia is not
a true seagrass as it releases its spores into the air and rather than
in the water like the other seagrasses. It also can tolerate a range of
saline conditions from seawater to fresh water, and may be found close
to salt-water sources such as the estuary mouth.
Common Species in NSW: R. megacarpa |
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Zostera species
Commonly called Eelgrass, Zostera species are closely related and
identification between species is difficult and often depends on
microscopic analysis of the rhizome or root system. Although Zostera
and Posidonia have a similar appearance, Posidonia has a much wider
(thicker) blade than Zostera.
Common Species in NSW: Z. capricorni, Z. muelleri Hertozostera, tasminca |
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All photos courtesy Peter Adderley.
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