Threats associated with climate change

• Hurricanes, tsunamis and storms bring in strong surf and wind conditions that can tear seagrasses from the substrate.

• Flood and drought cycles associated with climate change can cause seagrass desiccation and death by:

• excessive increases in salinity levels and water temperatures.

• exposing seagrasses to the air for prolonged periods of time.

• Storm surges associated with storms and hurricanes can be strong enough to destroy wide areas of seagrass meadows. Furthermore, the resul ng erosion can cause direct harm to seagrass meadows (by burying them, for instance), or indirect harm such as increased water turbidity.

• The floods and droughts associated with global climate change can cause fluctua ons in water temperature and salinity. Associated sea level changes can also cause seagrasses to become exposed to air for prolonged periods of me, drying them out.

Threats to seagrasses, cont.

seagrasses, cont.

• Boat propellers cut and uproot seagrasses from the sea bottom, forming scars in the seagrass meadows. This commonly happens when boats are used in shallow areas.

• Boat propellers carve furrows out of seagrass meadows, fragmen ng the ecosystem. These furrows are called ‘scars’.

• It can take years for these scars to become fully covered once more.