A recent study by researchers from the Salk Institute and UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography reports the discovery of a hybrid seagrass in San Diego’s Mission Bay. The research, published in Nature on October 29, 2024, describes a cross between Zostera marina, which grows in shallow water, and Zostera pacifica, found in deeper water. This hybrid shows higher tolerance to low-light conditions, which may help improve seagrass restoration efforts.
Seagrass meadows, such as those in La Jolla’s Underwater Park, provide nursery habitats for juvenile fish and act as carbon sinks. These meadows face threats from human activity and environmental changes. Restoration projects in California and worldwide have about a 50% success rate, mainly due to limited light for photosynthesis.
Malia Moore, a PhD candidate at Scripps and the study’s first author, stated that light limitation is a major challenge for seagrass restoration. Coastal runoff, dredging, and increased water depth can reduce available light and hinder seagrass growth. The hybrid found in Mission Bay appears more resilient in low-light conditions…