Location: Shark Bay, Western Australia
Major Species: Posidonia australis
Shark Bay contains some of the largest, most carbon-rich seagrass meadows on Earth. Recent research discovered that parts of the bay are dominated by a single enormous clone of Posidonia australis spanning more than 180 sq km, making it the world's largest plant according to theh Smithsonian. These meadows support dugongs, sea turtles and significant blue carbon storage.
Location: Florida Bay, Caribbean Region
Major Species: Thalassia testudinum
Turtle grass forms extensive meadows throughout the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico. These ecosystems provide habitat for juvenile fish, sea turtles, and manatees while storing large amounts of organic carbon in their sediments. Florida Bay has become an important case study for understanding seagrass die-offs and ecosystem recovery.
Location: Limfjorden, Denmark
Major Species: Zostera marina
Zostera marina is the most extensively studied seagrass in the Northern Hemisphere and serves as a model species for seagrass ecology. European researchers have spent decades investigating its role in nutrient cycling, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration. Long term monitoring in Denmark and neighboring countrues reveal how eutrophication and water quality influence seagrass recovery.
Location: Channel Islands, California
Major Species: Zostera pacifica
Zostera pacifica is native to the Pacific coast of North America. Compared with the extensively studied Zostera marina, relatively little is known about its carbon-storage capacity, making it an emerging area of blue carbon research. Scientists at Santa Cruz Island are focused on how local environmental conditions influence sediment carbon storage.