Ecology of the seagrass meadows of the west coast of Florida: a community profile

Seagrass beds have come to be known as extremely productive and valuable coastal wetland resources. They are critical nursery areas for a number of fish, shrimp, and crab species, and support the adults of these and other species that forage around seagrass beds, preying on the rich and varied fauna that occur in these habitats. Seagrass beds support several endangered and threatened species, including sea turtles and manatees along the west coast of Florida, the geographic area covered in this profile.