Eelgrass Supports Biodiversity, Stores Carbon, Mitigates Climate Change, Study Shows

Seagrasses evolved from freshwater plants and use sunlight and carbon dioxide (CO2) for photosynthesis and are able to thrive in depths down to 50 meters. In contrast to algae, they possess roots and rhizomes that grow in sandy to muddy sediments. The grass-like, leaf-like shoots produce flowers and complete their life cycle entirely underwater. Seeds are negatively buoyant, but seed-bearing shoots can raft, thus greatly enhancing dispersal distances at oceanic scale.