Species composition and distribution of seagrass beds in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida

Six species of seagrasses are found in the Indian River with Syringodium filiforme and Halodule wrightii being the most abundant. S. filiforme exhibits a disjunct distribution within the study area. Drift algae accumulations, difficult to distinguish from grassbeds by aerial photoanalysis alone, are extensive in some locations and apparently play an important role in the River's total ecosystem. Over the last 30 years the Indian River has not experienced major seagrass bed losses documented in other estuaries.