Endangered Ocean Plants Essential to Our Ecosystems

When you think of the ocean, and especially endangered species in the ocean, what comes to mind? For most people, it’s things like adorable penguins, majestic whales or playful dolphins. While these animals are all important parts of their respective ecosystems, they may be endangered. And they’re not the only life forms at risk. Ocean plants are an essential part of our ecosystems, and many of them are endangered due to overfishing and pollution. Here are a few ocean plants that are essential parts of their own ecosystem and the oceanic biosphere.

5 Endangered Plants in the Ocean

Gracilaria Skottsbergii

The Galapagos Islands are known for their remoteness — and if we’re being honest, for their massive, ancient turtles. It is also home to a very rare type of red algae known as Gracilaria Skottsbergii. First discovered in 1934, this algae is a primary food source for sea urchins and other herbivores in the area. 

Found at depths between 12 and 27 meters, this is one of the few ocean plant species considered to be critically endangered. It is so rare at this point that it is nearly impossible to observe in the wild. It may actually be extinct in some areas. Climate change is being blamed for the loss of this rare red algae, as the change of ocean temperatures disrupted its ecosystem.

Johson’s Seagrass

Florida is best known for its beaches and tourist attractions. It is also known for the endangered Johson’s Seagrass, an ocean plant only found in the waters around the Sunshine State. Johson’s Seagrass is an integral part of the ecosystem because of its ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the water. It is a food source for everything from green sea turtles to manatees. It also acts as a home to many of the native fish and shellfish that inhabit the waters around the state.

This particular seagrass is threatened by pollution and runoff from the state’s industrial and agricultural areas.  Damage is also frequently caused by boaters who pass on the water above. As a slow growing seagrass, it doesn’t repair damaged areas quickly. This makes it difficult for this species to thrive when under threat.

The Great Barrier Reef

While the reef itself isn’t a plant, the great coral structure is home to hundreds of species of plants and animals. All these lifeforms are under threat if the reef dies. Last years’ obituaries for the reef that made the rounds on social media were more accurate than their authors realized. The great reef is dying, because of climate change and human-introduced pollutants in the water.

When the Great Barrier Reef, this 25-million-year-old wonder of the natural world, finally dies, it will take its entire ecosystem with it. The ecosystem will collapse and all of the plants and animals that call the coral home will have to relocate or die . Most will probably die.

Plankton

No, we’re not talking about the one-eyed villain from the Spongebob Squarepants cartoon. Plankton, the often microscopic plants that float throughout the oceans, are an integral part of nearly every oceanic ecosystem in world. They are being threatened by climate change and water pollution throughout the world — and if they die, life on Earth might go with them.

Professor David Thomas, of the University of Bangor, explained it best. “Half of the world’s oxygen is produced by these organisms. If you took that away you would lose the basis of life on the globe. There simply wouldn’t be enough oxygen to support life.” We, quite literally, can’t exist without plankton and many of the individual species have become endangered due to human intervention.

Asian Surfgrass

The coasts of China, Japan and Korea are often heavily fished to sustain the growing populations of those three countries. One species taking the brunt of the damage caused by overfishing and aquaculture isn’t a fish at all — it’s Asian Surfgrass. This ocean plant grew along the coast of these three countries and served as food for a variety of different animals.

Today, thanks to the growth of the kelp aquaculture industry in the area, this surf grass is dying out. It can only be found in very limited areas in the region. Japan’s habit of using dynamite in fishing damages the grass’ ecosystem, making it hard for it to grow back. It is currently listed as endangered, but the aquaculture industry might mean this ocean plant isn’t too far from extinction.

Eyelash Seaweed

This ocean plant might sound a little strange, but it is one of the oldest plants we’ve discovered in the ocean so far. It is only found off the eastern coast of New Zealand’s South Island. Not much is known about this particular species of seaweed, in spite of its apparent age. It was only discovered in 2000. It is entirely possible that this species is extinct.

The 2016 Kaikoura earthquake that rocked New Zealand lifted the seabed in the area where the eyelash seaweed was discovered, and it hasn’t been spotted since. This particular extinction might not directly be due to human actions. However, it was only previously found on some boulders off the coast of New Zealand. This could point to the fact that it was unable to spread any further due to the change in water temperatures or ocean chemistry.

Conservationists in the area continue to search for any eyelash seaweed populations that remain so they can be studied further. These endangered ocean plants are an integral part of its local ecosystem. They are all under threat because of climate change, agriculture and aquaculture, or other human interventions. Without ocean plants, the ocean’s ecosystem would collapse and we would lose an important source of food, medicine and oxygen essential to our survival. 

The plants can’t speak for themselves, so its up to us to protect them and ensure that they survive.  We need to ensure that  future generations enjoy the beautiful ocean that we enjoy today-complete with their majestic whales and dolphins.