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Zostera marina

Linnaeus, 1753

Eelgrass

Classification
Identification
Biology
Distribution
Links
Bibliography

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Classification   {MSG_BIOLOGY_LISTE_CATEGORIES}
Latin name : Zostera marina (Linnaeus, 1753)
Synonyms :
Classification : Angiosperma ? ( Flowering plants )
 
Name : Zost?re marine
Mousse de mer
Herbe de mer
Name : Eelgrass
Identification   {MSG_BIOLOGY_LISTE_CATEGORIES}
Main identification characters
Grass like flowering plant with dark green, long, narrow, ribbon shaped leaves 20 - 50 cm in length (exceptionally up to 2m long) with rounded tips.

Leaves shoot from a creeping rhizome that binds the sediment. Leaves and rhizomes contain air spaces, lacunae, that aid bouyancy. Numerous flowers occur on a reproductive shoot similar to those of terrestrial grasses. Forms dense swards in the subtidal, supports a diverse fauna and flora and may act as a nursery for fish and shellfish.
Possible confusions
Zoostera noltii (nana).
Biology   {MSG_BIOLOGY_LISTE_CATEGORIES}
Feed
Feel free to update this datasheet and complete this data.
Cycle of life / Reproduction
By seed and rhizome. Flowers from May-June.
Interaction with other species
Feel free to update this datasheet and complete this data.
Distribution   {MSG_BIOLOGY_LISTE_CATEGORIES}
Habitat

Sand
Dense swards found primarily on sand to fine gravel in the subtidal, typically down to 4m, in sheltered waters such as shallow inlets, bays, estuaries and saline lagoons.
Geographical distribution
Zostera marina has a wide but patchy distribution.
Links   {MSG_BIOLOGY_LISTE_CATEGORIES}
Websites :
http://www.algaebase.org/action.lasso?-database=Species.fm&-layout=las [...]
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/bay/sav/key/zost_final.html
http://www.fao.org/docrep/x0169f/x0169f2j.htm
http://www.mar.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/science/hab/f/zostere.htm
http://www.marlin.ac.uk/demo/Zosmar.htm

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Bibliography   {MSG_BIOLOGY_LISTE_CATEGORIES}
Découvrir l'Atlantique, la Manche et la mer du Nord
Steven Weinberg
Editions Nathan 1994
Guide de la faune et de la flore littorales des mers d'Europe
A.C. Campbell, James Nicholls
Delachaux & Niestlé 1979, 1986
Guide de la faune sous-marine des côtes méditerranéennes
W. Luther & K. Fielder
Delachaux et Niestlé, 1987
Data sheet written by Christophe Naslain , 4/07/2002

Updates :
Christophe Naslain - 13/07/2002


 Comments
Add a comment

 Comment from Béné
C'est dans ces herbiers de zoostère que l'on trouve souvent les hippocampes d'Arcachon.
Posted date 14/07/2002 

 Comment from Laurent
zOstères, et pas zOOstères ...
Posted date 13/08/2008 


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