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Seagrasses are often called foundation plant species or ecosystem engineers because they modify their environments to create unique habitats. In this context, consider the following statements regarding the Seagrasses:
Seagrasses are a type of seaweed.
They do not require sunlight for growth.
The largest seagrass bed in the country is in the Gulf of Khambhat.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- a)1 and 2 only
- b)2 and 3 only
- c)1, 2 and 3
- d)None of the above
Correct answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
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Most Upvoted Answer
Seagrasses are often called foundation plant species or ecosystem eng...
Understanding Seagrasses
Seagrasses are vital marine plants that play a crucial role in coastal ecosystems. The statements provided regarding seagrasses can be evaluated as follows:
Statement 1: Seagrasses are a type of seaweed.
- This statement is incorrect.
- Seagrasses are flowering plants (angiosperms) that have adapted to live underwater.
- Unlike seaweeds, which are algae, seagrasses possess true roots, stems, and leaves.
Statement 2: They do not require sunlight for growth.
- This statement is also incorrect.
- Seagrasses are photosynthetic organisms that rely on sunlight to produce energy.
- They typically grow in shallow waters where light can penetrate to support their growth.
Statement 3: The largest seagrass bed in the country is in the Gulf of Khambhat.
- This statement is incorrect as well.
- While the Gulf of Khambhat does have seagrass beds, the largest seagrass bed in India is actually located in the Lakshadweep Islands and along the coasts of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Conclusion
Given the evaluations:
- All three statements are incorrect.
- Therefore, the correct answer is option 'D' - None of the above.
Understanding the true nature of seagrasses highlights their ecological importance and the need for conservation efforts to protect these valuable marine habitats.
Seagrasses are vital marine plants that play a crucial role in coastal ecosystems. The statements provided regarding seagrasses can be evaluated as follows:
Statement 1: Seagrasses are a type of seaweed.
- This statement is incorrect.
- Seagrasses are flowering plants (angiosperms) that have adapted to live underwater.
- Unlike seaweeds, which are algae, seagrasses possess true roots, stems, and leaves.
Statement 2: They do not require sunlight for growth.
- This statement is also incorrect.
- Seagrasses are photosynthetic organisms that rely on sunlight to produce energy.
- They typically grow in shallow waters where light can penetrate to support their growth.
Statement 3: The largest seagrass bed in the country is in the Gulf of Khambhat.
- This statement is incorrect as well.
- While the Gulf of Khambhat does have seagrass beds, the largest seagrass bed in India is actually located in the Lakshadweep Islands and along the coasts of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Conclusion
Given the evaluations:
- All three statements are incorrect.
- Therefore, the correct answer is option 'D' - None of the above.
Understanding the true nature of seagrasses highlights their ecological importance and the need for conservation efforts to protect these valuable marine habitats.
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Community Answer
Seagrasses are often called foundation plant species or ecosystem eng...
What Are Seagrasses?
- Even though seagrasses and seaweeds look superficially similar, they are very different organisms. Seagrasses belong to a group of plants called monocotyledons that include grasses, lilies and palms. Like their relatives, seagrasses have leaves, roots and veins, and produce flowers and seeds. In contrast, seaweeds (algae) are much simpler organisms. They have no flowers or veins, and their holdfasts simply attach to the bottom and are generally not specialized to take in nutrients. Hence statement 1 is not correct.
Where Are Seagrasses Found?
- Seagrasses grow in salty and brackish (semi-salty) waters around the world, typically along gently sloping, protected coastlines. Because they depend on light for photosynthesis, they are most commonly found in shallow depths where light levels are high. Hence statement 2 is not correct.
Growth & Reproduction:
- Seagrasses grow both vertically and horizontally—their blades reach upwards and their roots down and sideways—to capture sunlight and nutrients from the water and sediment. They spread by two methods: asexual clonal growth and sexual reproduction.
Ecosystem Benefits:
- Seagrasses are often called foundation plant species or ecosystem engineers because they modify their environments to create unique habitats. These modifications not only make coastal habitats more suitable for the seagrasses themselves but also have important effects on other animals and provide ecological functions and a variety of services for humans.
- Seagrasses have been used by humans for over 10,000 years. They've been used to fertilize fields, insulate houses, weave furniture, thatch roofs, make bandages, and fill mattresses and even car seats. But it's what they do in their native habitat that has the biggest benefits for humans and the ocean. Seagrasses support commercial fisheries and biodiversity, clean the surrounding water and help take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.
Key Services:
- Modification of the Physical Environment.
- Seagrasses are known as the "lungs of the sea" because one square meter of seagrass can generate 10 litres of oxygen every day through photosynthesis. Seagrass leaves also absorb nutrients and slow the flow of water, capturing sand, dirt and silt particles. Their roots trap and stabilize the sediment, which not only helps improve water clarity and quality but also reduces erosion and buffers coastlines against storms.
Creation of Living Habitat:
- Seagrasses are often called nursery habitats because the leafy underwater canopy they create provides shelter for small invertebrates (like crabs and shrimp and other types of crustaceans), small fish and juveniles of larger fish species. Many species of algae and microalgae (such as diatoms), bacteria and invertebrates grow as “epiphytes” directly on living seagrass leaves, much like lichens and Spanish moss grows on trees. Other invertebrates grow nestled between the blades or in the sediments—such as sponges, clams, polychaete worms and sea anemones.
- The accumulation of smaller organisms amongst and on the seagrass blades, as well as the seagrass itself, attracts bigger animals. As a result, seagrasses can be home to many types of fish, sharks, turtles, marine mammals (dugongs and manatees), molluscs (octopus, squid, cuttlefish, snails, bivalves), sponges, crustaceans (shrimp, crabs, copepods, isopods and amphipods) polychaete worms, sea urchins and sea anemones.
Blue Carbon:
- Atmospheric carbon is captured by coastal mangroves, seagrasses and salt marshes at a rate five times faster than tropical forests.
- Seagrasses are capable of capturing and storing a large amount of carbon from the atmosphere. Similar to how trees take carbon from the air to build their trunks, seagrasses take carbon from the water to build their leaves and roots.
Seagrass in India:
- In India, seagrass is found at a shallow depth of 10m due to the turbidity of water along the coasts. Seagrass beds are found all across the Indian coast along with Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep Islands.
- The largest seagrass bed in the country is in the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay. These were once abundant in the Gulf of Mannar region but are now threatened. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.
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Seagrasses are often called foundation plant species or ecosystem engineers because they modify their environments to create unique habitats. In this context, consider the following statements regarding the Seagrasses: Seagrasses are a type of seaweed. They do not require sunlight for growth. The largest seagrass bed in the country is in the Gulf of Khambhat. Which of the statements given above are correct?a)1 and 2 onlyb)2 and 3 onlyc)1, 2 and 3d)None of the aboveCorrect answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?
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Seagrasses are often called foundation plant species or ecosystem engineers because they modify their environments to create unique habitats. In this context, consider the following statements regarding the Seagrasses: Seagrasses are a type of seaweed. They do not require sunlight for growth. The largest seagrass bed in the country is in the Gulf of Khambhat. Which of the statements given above are correct?a)1 and 2 onlyb)2 and 3 onlyc)1, 2 and 3d)None of the aboveCorrect answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? for UPSC 2024 is part of UPSC preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the UPSC exam syllabus. Information about Seagrasses are often called foundation plant species or ecosystem engineers because they modify their environments to create unique habitats. In this context, consider the following statements regarding the Seagrasses: Seagrasses are a type of seaweed. They do not require sunlight for growth. The largest seagrass bed in the country is in the Gulf of Khambhat. Which of the statements given above are correct?a)1 and 2 onlyb)2 and 3 onlyc)1, 2 and 3d)None of the aboveCorrect answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for UPSC 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for Seagrasses are often called foundation plant species or ecosystem engineers because they modify their environments to create unique habitats. In this context, consider the following statements regarding the Seagrasses: Seagrasses are a type of seaweed. They do not require sunlight for growth. The largest seagrass bed in the country is in the Gulf of Khambhat. Which of the statements given above are correct?a)1 and 2 onlyb)2 and 3 onlyc)1, 2 and 3d)None of the aboveCorrect answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?.
Seagrasses are often called foundation plant species or ecosystem engineers because they modify their environments to create unique habitats. In this context, consider the following statements regarding the Seagrasses: Seagrasses are a type of seaweed. They do not require sunlight for growth. The largest seagrass bed in the country is in the Gulf of Khambhat. Which of the statements given above are correct?a)1 and 2 onlyb)2 and 3 onlyc)1, 2 and 3d)None of the aboveCorrect answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? for UPSC 2024 is part of UPSC preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the UPSC exam syllabus. Information about Seagrasses are often called foundation plant species or ecosystem engineers because they modify their environments to create unique habitats. In this context, consider the following statements regarding the Seagrasses: Seagrasses are a type of seaweed. They do not require sunlight for growth. The largest seagrass bed in the country is in the Gulf of Khambhat. Which of the statements given above are correct?a)1 and 2 onlyb)2 and 3 onlyc)1, 2 and 3d)None of the aboveCorrect answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for UPSC 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for Seagrasses are often called foundation plant species or ecosystem engineers because they modify their environments to create unique habitats. In this context, consider the following statements regarding the Seagrasses: Seagrasses are a type of seaweed. They do not require sunlight for growth. The largest seagrass bed in the country is in the Gulf of Khambhat. Which of the statements given above are correct?a)1 and 2 onlyb)2 and 3 onlyc)1, 2 and 3d)None of the aboveCorrect answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?.
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Seagrasses are often called foundation plant species or ecosystem engineers because they modify their environments to create unique habitats. In this context, consider the following statements regarding the Seagrasses: Seagrasses are a type of seaweed. They do not require sunlight for growth. The largest seagrass bed in the country is in the Gulf of Khambhat. Which of the statements given above are correct?a)1 and 2 onlyb)2 and 3 onlyc)1, 2 and 3d)None of the aboveCorrect answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?, a detailed solution for Seagrasses are often called foundation plant species or ecosystem engineers because they modify their environments to create unique habitats. In this context, consider the following statements regarding the Seagrasses: Seagrasses are a type of seaweed. They do not require sunlight for growth. The largest seagrass bed in the country is in the Gulf of Khambhat. Which of the statements given above are correct?a)1 and 2 onlyb)2 and 3 onlyc)1, 2 and 3d)None of the aboveCorrect answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? has been provided alongside types of Seagrasses are often called foundation plant species or ecosystem engineers because they modify their environments to create unique habitats. In this context, consider the following statements regarding the Seagrasses: Seagrasses are a type of seaweed. They do not require sunlight for growth. The largest seagrass bed in the country is in the Gulf of Khambhat. Which of the statements given above are correct?a)1 and 2 onlyb)2 and 3 onlyc)1, 2 and 3d)None of the aboveCorrect answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer? theory, EduRev gives you an
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