Determination of In Situ Biomass and Energetics in Seagrass Beds on the West Coast of Florida. Purchase This Document Determination of In Situ Biomass and Energetics in Seagrass Beds on the West Coast of Florida. Attached and drift benthic seaweeds also occur and may have higher energetic yields than the seagrasses. The beds offer a possible source for plant biomass use in methane production, if sufficient material is available throughout the year and the energetics are high enough. This study examines the available biomass and energetics of the components of the naturally occurring seagrasses and seaweeds in the area.
Analysis is performed through regular scheduled samplings at several chosen sites.
The low fiber content and moderate ash levels in both seagrasses and seaweeds support the use for biogas production. Seasonal variations in biomass at all sites and the wide variation in biomass from various sites indicate difficulty in obtaining sufficient amounts for sustained production. Energetics are similar for most collections but reveal the loss of biomass in the winter. The available biomass of combined seagrasses and seaweeds is lower that that predicted when compared with terrestrial crops. The beds do not have sufficient biomass to justify harvesting even though energetics levels are high.