Zostera marina
Zostera marina L.
Zosteraceae –Eel-Grass Family
Conservation status. Endangered [EN B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv)]. BC.
Morphology and biology. Perennial submerged herbs with creeping rhizome, fixed to the sea bed with adventitious roots. Stem 60–150 cm long. Leaves from 50 cm to more than 100 cm long, linear with rounded apex, with fully closed at the apex sheaths. Inflorescence up to 8 cm long, covered by the uppermost leaf, with numerous flowers. Flowers small, unisexual, grouped in two successive rows. Bract missing. Fruit furrowed, cylindrical nutlet. Fl. VII–VIII, fr. VIII–IX. Reproduction by seeds and vegetative means.
Habitats and populations. Inhabits slimy, sandy floors of shallow littoral zones of the Black Sea, forming submarine meadows. There are records for the species distribution in shallow places in the Black Sea (Kaliakra region, Varna bay, Devnensko Lake, Burgas Bay, Chengene Skele Protected Site, Sozopol Bay, mouth of Ropotamo river and others). Some of the localities have not been confirmed. Because of the pollution of the sea water in the coastal zone, the distribution of Z. marina is very limited.
Distribution in Bulgaria. Black Sea coast.
General distribution. Europe, Asia Minor, N America.
Threats. Deterioration of the quality of the habitats due to water pollution, destruction of the plants as a result of fishing, anchoring of boats and construction activities in the ports.
Conservation measures taken. Some localities are within sites of the European ecological network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria.
Conservation measures needed. Protection of the species by the national Biodiversity Act. Investigation into threat factors, allocation of the population and its territory protected status, monitoring of the population state.
References. Jordanov 1963; Petrova-Karadzhova 1982.
Authors: Dimitar Peev & Sonya Tsoneva
