A first attempt at seagrass repartitioning in the Moroccan coasts

Seagrasses play a prominent ecological role and support the productivity on which many communities of marine animals feed and reproduce but, unlike their macroalgae and microalgae counterparts, their diversity and extent have never been rigorously documented in Moroccan coasts. In this study we compiled and analyzed the available bibliographic data (Physical and chemical requirements) relating to seagrasses, followed by determination of physico-chemical characteristics of six selected coastal environments in Moroccan coasts. Comparison between seagrass species requirements and selected coastal environment conditions allowed us to distinguish four seagrass species (Zostera noltii, Zostera marina, Cymodocea nodosa, Posidonia oceanica) which can shelter these study areas. This paper provides baseline data for further work on ecological study and long term monitoring; and a first step to create a seagrass check-list in Moroccan coasts.