Seagrasses as a source of energy to marine and terrestrial organisms of Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay, East Coast of India

Abstract

Nutrients availability in the surrounding environment had influences on the morphology and seasonal cycling of seagrass communities. Live seagrasses are consumed by dugongs, sea turtles, fishes, sea urchins and crustaceans. Dead seagrasses are breakdown by sea cucumbers, gastropods, worms, crabs and filter feeders. The seagrass in general, contain fairly good nutrition with lipid content varying from 1.54 to 9.92%, protein 4.3 to 22.98% and carbohydrate 9.77 to 28.71%. Total nitrogen (N) content in seagrasses varied from 0.66 to 2.93%, carbon (C) 31.72 to 41.18% and phosphorous (P) 0.125 to 0.622%. Na content in seagrasses varied from 2.13 (E. acoroides) to 39.25mg/g (T. hemprichii), K 0.34 to12.41 mg/g (C. serrulata from Thonithurai) while Ca 1.30 (E. acoroides) to 18.23 mg/g (S. isoetifolium of Thonithurai). These constituents level implies as a good source of nutrients for the aquatic ecosystem and judicious utilization would benefit the human being as well.