This is also a good nursery area for smaller fish because then the bigger fish come in to find them. Seagrass meadows can be monospecific or multi-generic. Common communities in the Gulf of Mexico are Thallasia, Halodule and Syringodium Common communities in the Gulf of California are Thallasia, Halodule, Ruppia and Zostera J. Torre looking at Zostera marrina beds in Gulf of California. Examining differences between northern and southern populations. Northern plants have smaller blades, reproduction is mostly by rhizomes in perennial stands.
Seed germination seems to be triggered by salinity changes.
But germination rates are low. Southern beds have larger blades, seed germination triggered by temperature increasing above 20. Germination success is high. Dredging and dredge spoils. Pollutants and changes in flow from Everglades to Florida Bay.