A preliminary evaluation of wave attenuation by four species of seagrass

Abstract

Seagrasses are able to modify current flow and sediment composition, yet little information exists describing their effect on waves. Four species of seagrass, Halodule wrightii, Syringodium filiforme, Thalassia testudinum and Zostera marina were evaluated for their ability to reduce wave energy under various combinations of shoot density and water depths over a 1 m test section in a wave tank. Percent wave energy reduction per meter of seagrass bed equaled 40% when the length of these seagrasses was similar to the water depth. Seagrasses are approximately equal to saltmarshes in reducing wave energy on a unit distance basis, but only when water depth is scaled to plant size. When seagrass beds occur as broad, shallow meadows, the influence of seagrasses on wave energy will be substantial.