Biomass and density of two seagrass species in the southern from Quintana Roo, Mexico

The biomass and productivity of a seagrass community are useful for determining the ecological status of the coast. Leaf biomass and shoot density in beds of Thalassia testudinum Banks & Sol. ex K.D. Koenig, were compared for two environments in the Mexican Caribbean coast (N=6 quadrants/site) in November 1998. Shoot and leaf biomass values were lower in the mangrove associated meadow than in the reef lagoon meadow. This could be related to the higher percentage of epiphytes on the leaves. In addition, T. testudinum had more biomass than Syringodinium filiforme Kutz in the reef lagoon.