Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows of the Valencian coast

Environmental conditions

This is an underwater habitat in coastal marine waters; the plant that forms it is considered a bioindicator of water quality, although the sources do not specify particular environmental ranges.

Distribution and scope

Posidonia oceanica is endemic to the Mediterranean, and the monitoring of its meadows in Spain cited in the material takes place in the Valencian Community, mainly in Alicante, without specifying their total extent.

Structure

The plant has roots, rhizomatous stems, and ribbon-shaped leaves up to one metre long, grouped in clusters of six to seven; these plants form underwater meadows.

Ecological processes

The meadows help protect the coastline from erosion and provide food and shelter for animal and plant organisms; the plant flowers in autumn and produces floating fruits in spring.