| Populations of marine angiosperms, or seagrasses, are at the basis of productive ecosystems thriving in shallow coastal areas around the world. |
| Some are herbivores, grazing on the filamentous algae covering coral reefs, and a few eat seagrasses and algae on reef flats. |
| Also, seagrasses trap sediment and slow down water movement, causing suspended sediment to fall out. |
| It feeds mainly on sponges, but also takes tunicates, algae, zoantharians, gorgonians, hydroids, bryozoans, and seagrasses. |
| Healthy tiger shark populations keep turtle populations in check so they do not devour entire meadows before the seagrasses are able to replenish themselves. |
| The nutrient-enriched water causes an explosive growth of tiny plants and animals that coat the leaves of the seagrasses. |
