Overview

Marine scientists have discovered what they believe to be the “world’s biggest seagrass ecosystem” in the Bahamas. The discovery significantly increased previous estimates on how much seagrass exists on Earth.

The science and other stuff to know

In an attempt to measure the extent of seagrass meadows in the Bahamas, scientists may have uncovered a seagrass ecosystem that could be the biggest in the world. Astonishingly, they were able to map this ecosystem by attaching cameras and tracking devices to tiger sharks.

But why did they use the sharks? Well, mapping seagrass is difficult because satellites and scientists on planes can see deep into the sea. Also, sending divers to photograph vast tracts of ocean floors is expensive, logistically challenging, and very slow. But sharks offer the solution. They can reach significant depths, have a large range and spend a lot of their time in seagrass meadows.

After tracking the sharks, the research team analyzed the data they collected against estimates from over 2,500 surveys by deep sea divers, according to a study published in the journal Nature Communications.

As per the findings, the seagrass meadows in the Bahamas stretch across up to 92,000 square km (35,000 square miles) of Caribbean seabed. This newly found ecosystem extends the total known global seagrass coverage by more than 40 percent.

So what?

Seagrasses are important breeding and feeding grounds for many marine species. They also provide a buffer against coastal erosion. Additionally, they are a significant source of “blue carbon”, trapping, and storing vast amounts of carbon in the seabed, making them a vital tool in mitigating the climate crisis.

Researchers hope this discovery will help better protect seagrass ecosystems. They are even planning to use other mammal species to explore other unexplored corners of the oceans.

“[The study] opens a window onto the marine world and can help answer questions about the climate and biodiversity crises,” Richard Unsworth, an associate professor at Swansea University who wasn’t involved in the study, told The Guardian.

What’s next?

Every year, around seven percent of the world’s seagrasses are lost, according to United Nations Environmental Program. The main threats to these meadows include urban, industrial, and agricultural run-off, coastal development, dredging, and unregulated fishing and boating activities. Such studies that map seagrass are incredibly important, since, as Unsworth has put it, “if we don’t know where it is, we can’t protect it.”

Next, the researchers hope to use other mammal species to explore other unexplored areas of the oceans.