Phuket, Thailand – A groundbreaking discovery of seagrass at depths greater than 20 meters near the Similan Islands by a team of Thai researchers, led by Phaisarn Boonsawat, head of the Marine National Park Operations Center 2, Phuket, has sparked excitement in the marine science community. This finding represents a critical breakthrough that could reshape conservation strategies for seagrass meadows, which play a vital role in biodiversity preservation and carbon sequestration.
“Deep-Sea Seagrass” is Not New, but Increasingly Astonishing
While seagrass is typically found in shallow waters, international research has reported seagrass discoveries at depths exceeding 30 meters, challenging previous assumptions about its ecological range. Notable examples include:
- Halophila decipiens, recorded at 58 meters in the Caribbean Sea.
- Halophila stipulacea, found at 50 meters in the Red Sea.
Additionally, some studies have documented seagrass thriving at extreme depths of up to 90 meters, indicating its remarkable adaptation to low-light conditions.
New Opportunities for Marine Ecosystem Restoration and Conservation
The discovery of deep-sea seagrass in Thailand’s waters underscores the potential of unexplored marine ecosystems and could pave the way for expanding seagrass restoration efforts to deeper zones. Beyond serving as a critical food source for dugongs and sea turtles, seagrass meadows also function as natural carbon sinks, absorbing CO₂ and mitigating climate change effects.
Understanding the growth potential of seagrass in deeper waters will be instrumental in shaping Thailand’s marine and coastal conservation strategies, especially as marine ecosystems face increasing degradation. Seagrass meadows thriving at greater depths may hold the key to restoring ocean resilience and strengthening global marine biodiversity.
References
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X18301632