Biomass and density of two seagrass species in southern Quintana Roo, Mexico

The biomass and productivity of a seagrass community are useful for determi ning the ecological status of the coast. Leaf biomass and shoot density in beds of Thalassia restudinum Banks & Sol. ex K. D. Koenig, were compared fo r two environments in the Mexican Caribbean coast (N=6 quadrants/site) in N ovember 1998. Shoot and leaf biomass values were lower in the mangrove-asso ciated meadow than in the reef lagoon meadow. This could be related to the higher percentage of epiphytes on the leaves. In addition, T. testudinum ha d more biomass than Syringodium filiforme Kutz in the reef lagoon.