Why Are Seagrasses Important?

 Seagrasses provide food and habitat for a variety of marine life (more on
that below!).
 They can stabilize the ocean bottom with their root systems, which gives
greater protection from storms.
 Seagrasses filter runoff and trap sediments and other small particles. This
increases water clarity and the health of the marine environment. 
 Seagrasses help boost local economies through supporting vibrant
recreation opportunities.

The substrate is sandy-silty and becomes turbid when substrate is agitated.

Stream substrate can affect the life found within the stream habitat. Muddy
streams generally have more sediment in the water, reducing clarity. Clarity is one
guide to stream health. Marine substrate can be classified geologically as well.
See Green et al., 1999 for a reference.

Stream substrate (sediment) is the material that rests at the bottom of a stream. There are several
classification guides. One is:

 Mud – silt and clay.

 Sand – Particles between 0.06 and 2 mm in diameter.
 Granule – Between 2 and 4 mm in diameter.
 Pebble – Between 4 – 64 mm in diameter.
 Cobble – between 6.4 and 25.6 cm in diameter
 Boulder – more than 25.6 cm in diameter.

http://pubs.sciepub.com/aees/7/6/7/index.html (SUBSTRATE TO)