Seagrass meadows play a fundamental role in carbon storage, in mitigating the impacts of climate change, in enhancing economic and food security, and in improving the health of ecosystems.
However, it is difficult to identify their location and extent using conventional cartographic methods. Despite their importance, mapping their distribution accurately remains a challenge.
A study explores a new approach to identifying seagrass meadows by tracking adult green turtles, which feed almost exclusively on seagrass.
By using turtles as indicators, researchers precisely located the seagrass meadows in the Red Sea and estimated their carbon storage potential. Improving the accuracy of seagrass location estimates will facilitate better conservation of blue carbon resources worldwide.
