Sunset With the Seagrasses in Trinidad & Tobago 

Seagrasses are a productive natural system in the marine environment, and they provide several ecosystem services. Several marine creatures use the “underwater meadows” as a nursery for their young and as a food source, while the root system of seagrasses protects the seabed and reduces impacts of storm surge in coastal areas.  

Globally, seagrasses are on the decline; in Trinidad and Tobago, research is underway under the BES-Net Trinidad and Tobago project (BES-Net TT) to illuminate the pollination of seagrasses. This research can assist in learning more about the reproductive cycle of these plants and therefore has the potential to reverse the decline seen in some of the local coastal zones.  

Each week, near sunset hours, the local research team visits bay areas – one in Trinidad and one in Tobago – to investigate seagrass systems.  The evening/night period is preferred since the seagrass species found at these locations have been reported to flower at night. The local study will investigate when the flowers appear and the marine fauna associated with the plants, to determine the role they may perform in the pollination process. Piecing the information gleaned from this research will take place after samples have been collected and identified. The field study will continue over the coming months and a summary report is expected by mid-year.   

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