Distribution of the Sea Grass, Thalassia, in the United States

The distribution of Thalassia testudinum in the United States is found to depend on a number of ecological factors. Limiting factors are temperature, depth of water, turbidity, salinity and wave action. Gaps in distribution of Thalassia are due to one or more unfavorable conditions, such as the greatly increased turbidity and lowered salinity along the Louisiana coast. Thalassia beds are considered to be of great importance to shallow water animal populations, and commercially important species derive both food and shelter from grassy areas.