Epiphytes of seagrasses

Abstract

In all aquatic environments, available surfaces are rapidly colonized by a variety of organisms. If these organisms grow on plants they are called epiphytes. Seagrasses provide an excellent substratum for epiphytic organisms and these organisms are an integral component of seagrass ecosystems. The ecology and physiology of seagrass epiphytes have been reviewed previously (Harlin, 1980; Borowitzka and Lethbridge, 1989) and this chapter focuses primarily on new developments in our understanding of seagrass epiphyte biology and ecology that have occurred since then. © 2006/2007 Springer. All Rights Reserved.