Submerged Aquatic Vegetation
Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) includes plants that grow underwater in shallow coastal areas. SAV like seagrass require protection from waves, and are sensitive to environmental conditions like water quality and excessive sediment deposition. Seagrass beds provide important fish habitat and serve as a food source for sea turtles and other species.
Relating seagrass habitat to geomorphology and substrate characteristics in the Mississippi Sound
Studies relating seagrass growth to physical conditions tend to focus on fine-grained estuarine environments, where wave exposure and light are identified as primary limiting factors for growth.
Important seagrass ecosystems also occur in sandy, geomorphologically dynamic barrier island systems, where controlling factors such as wave energy and rapid deposition or erosion can be much more complex.
Related Publications
Eisemann, E.R., Altman, S., Thomas, C., Balazik, M., Acevedo-Mackey, D., 2021. Environmental factors affecting coastal and estuarine submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV). ERDC EL SR-21-6. U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, MS. Full Text
Eisemann, E.R., Altman, S., Acevedo-Mackey, D., Reif, M.K., 2019. Relating Seagrass Habitat to Geomorphology and Substrate Characteristics around Ship Island, MS. EMRRP Technical Notes Collection. ERDC TN EMRRP-EBA-24. U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, MS. Full Text