EELGRASS IN THE GULF OF MAINE: 5 ways eelgrass helps the local ecosystem and commercial fisheries All photos courtesy of Cornell Cooperative Extension Marine Program / www.seagrassLI.org
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EELGRASS IN THE GULF OF MAINE: 5 ways eelgrass helps the local ecosystem and commercial fisheries All photos courtesy of Cornell Cooperative Extension Marine Program / www.seagrassLI.org
#1
Eelgrass offers shelter for small animals to hide from larger predators.
Can you spot the snails that have found shelter in the grass?
#1
Eelgrass offers shelter for small animals to hide from larger predators.
Can you spot the snails that have found shelter in the grass?
#1
Eelgrass offers shelter for small animals to hide from larger predators.
Who is this juvenile cunner fish hiding from?
#1
Eelgrass offers shelter for small animals to hide from larger predators.
Who is this juvenile cunner fish hiding from?
Don’t worry, I think you’re faster than the spider crab.
#2
Eelgrass is an important food source for lots of different animals, including these snails, grazing on lunch.
#2
Eelgrass is an important food source for lots of different animals, including these snails, grazing on lunch.
Looks like this snail just ate 5-times the length of its body! Or maybe it’s just picking up where a friend left off.
#3 Eelgrass provides habitat for a variety of different animals.
#3 Eelgrass provides habitat for a variety of different animals.
Can you identify the animals in these photos from this list of local critters?
winter flounder
rock crab
silversides
sea star
sea nettle
#3 Eelgrass provides habitat for a variety of different animals.
winter flounder
Can you identify the animals in these photos from this list of local critters?
winter flounder
rock crab
silversides
sea star
sea nettle
winter flounder
Can you identify the animals in these photos from this list of local critters?
winter flounder
rock crab
silversides
sea star
sea nettle
rock crab and silversides
#3 Eelgrass provides habitat for a variety of different animals.
#3 Eelgrass provides habitat for a variety of different animals.
#3 Eelgrass provides habitat for a variety of different animals.
winter flounder
Can you identify the animals in these photos from this list of local critters?
winter flounder
rock crab
silversides
sea star
sea nettle
rock crab and silversides sea star
#3 Eelgrass provides habitat for a variety of different animals.
#3 Eelgrass provides habitat for a variety of different animals.
winter flounder
Can you identify the animals in these photos from this list of local critters?
winter flounder
rock crab
silversides
sea star
sea nettle
rock crab and silversides sea star
sea nettle
#4
When blades of eelgrass die and decay, they release rich nutrients that help other plants and animals flourish.
#4
When blades of eelgrass die and decay, they release rich nutrients that help other plants and animals flourish.
A garden of seaweed blooms amongst eelgrass beds.
#5
Eelgrass beds slow down incoming water currents, preventing erosion and increasing shore stability along the coast.
#5
Eelgrass beds slow down incoming water currents, preventing erosion and increasing shore stability along the coast.
See how well this bed of eelgrass is catching incoming swells?
You catching this wave, dude?
#5
Eelgrass beds slow down incoming water currents, preventing erosion and increasing shore stability along the coast.
See how well this bed of eelgrass is catching incoming swells?
Yeah, dude, totally have this shore under control.
You catching this wave, dude?
#5
Eelgrass beds slow down incoming water currents, preventing erosion and increasing shore stability along the coast.
See how well this bed of eelgrass is catching incoming swells?
What are 5 things EELGRASS offers THE GULF OF MAINE ecosystem?
What are 5 things EELGRASS offers THE GULF OF MAINE ecosystem?
1. Shelter
2.
3.
4.
5.
What are 5 things EELGRASS offers THE GULF OF MAINE ecosystem?
1. Shelter
2. Food
3.
4.
5.
What are 5 things EELGRASS offers THE GULF OF MAINE ecosystem?
1. Shelter
2. Food
3. Habitat
4.
5.
What are 5 things EELGRASS offers THE GULF OF MAINE ecosystem?
1. Shelter
2. Food
3. Habitat
4. Nutrients
5.
What are 5 things EELGRASS offers THE GULF OF MAINE ecosystem?
1. Shelter
2. Food
3. Habitat
4. Nutrients
5. StabilityThe shelter, food, habitat, nutrients, and stability that eelgrass brings to the Gulf of Maine promotes a vibrant commercial fisheries industry that Mainers have thrived on for centuries.
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