In: Seagrass: Ecology, Uses and Threats ISBN 978-1-61761-987-8 Editor: Robert S. Pirog © 2011 Nova Science Publishers, Inc. Chapter 9 SEAGRASS ECOLOGY AND THREATS IN THE TROPICAL INDO-P ACIFIC BIOREGION Rob Coles *1 , Alana Grech 2 , Michael Rasheed 1 , Len McKenzie 1 , Richard Unsworth 3 and Fred Short 4 1 Northern Fisheries Centre, Fisheries Queensland, Department of Employment Economic Development and Innovation, Cairns, Australia 2 ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia 3. Biological Sciences Research Unit, Glyntaf Campus, University of Glamorgan, Pontypridd, Wales 4 Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, Jackson Estuarine Laboratory, Durham, USA ABSTRACT Seagrass meadows are critical components of Indo-Pacific tropical marine environments providing some of the most economically important ecosystem services of any marine habitat. Many coastal traditional ways of life are intricately associated with seagrasses for food, recreation and spiritual fulfilment. These unique marine flowering plants are found mainly in clear, shallow, sheltered, estuarine and coastal waters with as many as β4 of the worlds‘ 7β seagrass species found in the region. Despite their importance, seagrass meadows are experiencing high rates of loss in some parts of the world. There are many threatening human activities to seagrasses including direct threats such as land reclamation and chemical spills as well as diffuse threats such as water quality and the influence of climate variability. In the Indo-Pacific conservation activity is focused on coral reefs, with little consideration and emphasis placed on inter- connectivity with other marine environments such as seagrasses. In recent years several seagrass monitoring programs have been implemented to monitor change in the Indo- Pacific region. Iconic marine parks such as the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park are a * Author for correspondence: Rob Coles, Northern Fisheries Centre, Fisheries Queensland, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, PO Box 5396 Cairns, QLD 4870, Australia. Rob.Coles@deedi.qld.gov.au The exclusive license for this PDF is limited to personal website use only. No part of this digital document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted commercially in any form or by any means. The publisher has taken reasonable care in the preparation of this digital document, but makes no expressed or implied warranty of any kind and assumes no responsibility for any errors or omissions. No liability is assumed for incidental or consequential damages in connection with or arising out of information contained herein. This digital document is sold with the clear understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, medical or any other professional services.