Tiger sharks helped discover the world’s largest seagrass meadow: Here’s how 

Have you ever heard of a forest that grows underwater? It may sound like a mythical wonderland, but it’s true! Recently, scientists discovered the largest known seagrass forest in the world under the sea. This amazing discovery is located in the crystal-clear waters of the Bahamas in the Caribbean, which spans over an incredible 92,000 square kilometres! But what makes this discovery truly unique is how it was found. Surprisingly, it was discovered not just by a team of marine biologists or oceanographers, but also by tiger sharks! Yes, you read that correctly! These apex predators played an important role in the discovery of the seagrass meadow. The story of how they helped scientists locate it is fascinating and worth exploring indeed!  

A discovery by unusual helpers 
Have you ever wondered what’s hiding beneath the waves in the ocean? Well, marine biologists are always exploring new plant and aquatic life to study the marine ecosystem. But sometimes, it can be tough to find things! Traditional methods using satellites and divers are not always effective. Satellites can’t identify seagrass, and divers can’t go very deep into the waters. But guess who came to the rescue? Tiger sharks! Dr. Austin Gallagher, the head of the research team at Beneath the Waves, a non-profit organisation in the USA, had an idea. He knew that tiger sharks are native to the Caribbean Sea and like to hang out around seagrasses. So, he and his team attached cameras and radios to the dorsal fins of seven tiger sharks and let them loose in the water. And guess what they found? The largest seagrass meadow in the world! This was a huge discovery because studying seagrass is important for understanding the health of the ocean.  

Why is seagrass so important? 
Seagrass might look like plain old grass, but it is important for the ocean and our planet. Seagrass meadows are like underwater forests providing homes and food for different sea creatures, such as fish and crabs. But that’s not all. Seagrasses also help fight climate change. How? Well, during photosynthesis. When plants use sunlight to make food, they take in a lot of carbon from the air and store it in their roots deep in the ocean floor. This is important because it helps reduce the amount of carbon in the air, thus helping us fight against climate change. Unfortunately, seagrass is disappearing quickly, which is bad news for the ocean and the planet. When seagrass disappears, the creatures that depend on it lose their homes and food, and the carbon stored in the seagrass is released back into the air.  

Safeguarding seagrass 
People have not been taking good care of seagrasses. As a result, they are disappearing at an alarming rate. One of the biggest culprits is careless boating. When boats pass over seagrass beds, they can damage the plants and animals that rely on them. It can even take several years for the seagrass to recover! To prevent this from happening, it is important to wear polarised sunglasses when you’re out on a boat. These special glasses will help you see the seagrass beds and avoid hitting them. Another way to protect seagrass is to be mindful of where you anchor your boat. Dropping your anchor on seagrass beds can cause damage to the plants and disrupt the habitat for the animals that live there. Dispose of your trash properly! Litter can harm seagrass and the animals that depend on it.