ECOLOGICAL SWIM-IN RESTAURANT FOR SEAGRASSES

Seagrasses, marine flowering plants, are widely distributed along temperate and tropical coastlines of the world. Seagrasses have key ecological roles in coastal ecosystems and can form extensive meadows supporting high biodiversity. At global level, the species diversity of seagrasses is low (60 species), but species can have ranges that extend for thousands of kilometres of coastline. They comprise less than 0.02 % of the angiosperm species, and have relatively fewer species than other marine organisms. Despite their low diversity, seagrass beds are ecologically, biotechnologically and economically highly important. Seagrasses may significantly influence the physical, chemical and biological environments in which they grow by acting as "Ecological Swim-in Restaurant for Seagrasses" Temperature-pH-carbon concentration optimums in seagrass are species-specific and partially constrain the current spatial distribution that represents the long-term histories of species. Further, the mmarine environs have been significantly affected by land and sea based human activities over the last decades. Maritime transport, coastal tourism, fisheries, aquaculture, seabed exploitation, and sea based renewable and conventional energy have all made an immense contribution to our wealth and welfare. But they have also had a growing impact on seas and oceans, to the point that the very balance of the oceanic system is being seriously affected, endangering the source of this crucial contribution to our wealth and welfare. While the reductions of emissions are currently at the centre of climate change discussions, the critical role of the oceans and ocean ecosystems has been vastly ignored. Maintaining or improving the ability of oceans to absorb and bury CO₂ is a crucial aspect of climate change mitigation. Blue Biotechnology applies to marine or aquatic applications, such as restoring or preserving various marine resources and the environs. The potential application of various biotechnological approaches to mitigate global climate change is explored here in this paper.