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FIU researchers identify coastal populations as cause for rapid seagrass disappearance
In Miami, FL, Florida International University researchers, supported by the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS), spearheaded the first comprehensive global assessment of coastal seagrass observations. The rapid decline of the seagrass meadows, due in part to the 45% of the population living in coastal regions, threatens the health and sustainability of these ecosystems. The rate at which the seagrasses are disappearing is comparable to that of coral reefs and tropical rainforests, losing a soccer field-sized meadow every half hour.Disappearing seagrass threatening future of coastal ecosystems