Discover the beauty and significance of seagrass at Manatee Lagoon – An FPL Eco-Discovery Center® with our newly unveiled seagrass nursery.
This exhibit offers a one-of-a-kind experience, allowing visitors to learn about the crucial role seagrass plays in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems. This unique setup not only provides an educational resource for our visitors but also serves as a functional nursery to promote seagrass growth.
Seagrass is vital to our marine environment, offering food and shelter for diverse marine life, including manatees, fish, and sea turtles. By fostering the growth of seagrass, we highlight its importance to the ecosystem and help visitors appreciate the need to protect and preserve it. The seagrass nursery offers guests a deeper understanding of the delicate balance within our marine ecosystems and underscores the essential role of seagrass. We hope this exhibit will inspire visitors to become advocates for marine conservation and take action to protect our oceans.
The nursery consists of above-ground tanks that utilize water from Lake Worth Lagoon to facilitate seagrass growth. Seagrass is crucial not only for Florida manatees and marine species but also for the entire Lake Worth Lagoon ecosystem. Seagrass is the main food source for manatees, who consume up to 10% of their body weight in aquatic vegetation daily. Seagrass beds also help maintain water quality. The root systems stabilize the sea floor, preventing sediment from clouding the water, which enhances water clarity and allows sunlight to reach marine vegetation.
Visit us today and immerse yourself in the enchanting world of seagrass. We eagerly await your visit to share the wonders of this underwater ecosystem.
Our special thanks to Friends of Manatee Lagoon for funding this exhibit and furthering our mission of manatee and marine life education.
