Sea Grass Pollination

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Hydrophily Pollination Process of Seagrass Abstract: Pollination in marine angiosperms (seagrasses) is important for the long-term stability and, in some cases, the maintenance of local populations. Like other flowering plants, the pollen of seagrasses must reach the stigmas of female flowers to pollinate. However, unlike most flowering plants, the five families of seagrasses pollinate abiotically (without an animal vector) in the water (hydrophily), which is a condition that occurs among 2.7% of angiosperm families (Hemminga and Duarte, 1987). The seagrasses are currently divided into 5 families: Hydrocharitaceae, Cymodoceaceae, Posidoniaceae, Zosteraceae and Ruppiaceae, with 60 species. Each species has a number of characteristics that are associated and have evolved in relation with hydrophily. Of the 60 species worldwide most inhabit tropical areas resulting in large amounts of diversity, up to thirteen species recorded in the Philippines (Hemminga and Duarte, 1987). In temperate areas, usually one or a few species dominate (like the eelgrass Zostera marina in the North Atlantic; Harwell and Orth, 2000). The turbidity of the water can play a crucial role in the ability of seagrass to grow, the darker the water is with sediment the more likely algae is to grow blocking the sun for seagrass to photosynthesize (Orth et al. 2006). Salinity however has little to no effect, with seagrass beds being present in both brackish and ocean water. Another factor affecting pollination is the shape of the pollen. If the pollen is spherical it can enhance the probability of reaching a female stigma, whereas filamentous pollen is more likely to reach the stigma by chance. Unlike terrestrial plants which have animals to aide in pollination, seagrasses must rely solely on the currents of the water. The successful release, transport, and capture of pollen will,

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