Manatee grass Manatee grass

Manatee grass is another common seagrass in our region. It is found on or r sea bo oms in the oralzone.Thisgrassismoreabundantinstable is another common seagrass in our region. It is generally found on muddy or sandy sea bo infra-li oral zone. This grass is more abundant in stable environments and does not tolerate low salinity condi ons very well. In Puerto Rico, this species tends to thrive in shallow waters, mixed with turtle grass (Figure 13B), or in monospecific meadows down to a depth of approximately 20-30 m (66-100 feet). Manatee grass is the main food source for the West Indies Manatee (Trichechus manatus), an endangered species.

Manatee grass features fine, cylindrical leaves (shaped like spaghe noodles), ranging between 0.8 and 2 mm wide and up to 50 cm (approximately 20 inches) in length. Because they have less surface area than other seagrass species, manatee grass is not good at compe ng for sunlight (necessary for photosynthesis). However, since their fine leaves generate less resistance to surf condi ons, these seagrass are able to colonize and thrive in high energy environments where other species cannot.

Manatee grass usually flowers from January through June (Den Hartog, 1970). This species is dioecious, meaning it has separate female and male plants. Pollina on occurs when the waterborne pollen reaches a female plant’s s gma

Manatee grass Manatee grass

Dioecious: Adjec ve describing a plant that has dis nct male and female individual organisms.

S gma: Part of the gynoecium or pis l (female parts of the flower) that receives the pollen during pollina on.

Pollina on: Process through which pollen is transferred from one flower’s stamen (male part of a flower, which produces pollen) to the s gma (recep ve part of a flower).