The job of seagrass restoration in the Indian River Lagoon is being boosted by the efforts of a team of St. Johns River Water Management District scientists. Seagrasses are important because they provide habitat, food and refuge for juvenile aquatic species, as well as serve as a food source for manatees and turtles. Environmental Scientist Lauren Hall and her colleagues spend most of their time in the water documenting growth progress of various species of seagrasses. This depth is based on maximum depth of seagrass in healthy areas, but can be modified by local water quality conditions. Using a technique called fixed transect monitoring, a line is tautly strung between permanent stakes from shore to the edge of the seagrass bed.
Scientists can detect changes within seagrass beds.
By sampling along fixed lines twice a year, expansions or contractions of the bed can also be detected. Data are entered and plotted to show trends. The project began in 1994 and aids in the interpretation of aerial photos and seagrass maps, as well as in measuring impacts due to changes in water quality. It also helps to determine areas where seagrass habitats are declining, as well as to documenting improvements, by detecting any changes in depth distribution, percentage of cover and species composition. A. Seagrass transect monitoring is done along a marked line perpendicular to the shore, extending from the shore past the deep edge of the seagrass bed.